Google Pixel Fold with a wide second display, 48 MP triple camera, and five years of updates

Google has unveiled its very first Pixel foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold, which boasts a super-slim and waterproof casing, along with a relatively wide format. Equipped with Tensor G2 and a new triple camera, the Google foldable Pixel Fold offers some intriguing features.

Apart from the Pixel 7a and the Pixel Tablet 2023, the Pixel Fold was also presented during Google I/O. This puts it in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 5G (which is priced at around $1,099 / £1,649 on Amazon) as one of its toughest competitors yet. However, the Pixel Fold is half a millimeter thinner than the Z Fold4, with a height of 5.8 millimeters when opened. When closed, Google has managed to save a height of 3.7 millimeters, as the hinge allows the smartphone to be folded without any visible gaps.

At 283 grams, the pixel foldable is not the lightest device around, but the casing is IPX8-certified, making it waterproof. The hinge is made of stainless steel, the frame is made of aluminum, and both the back and the secondary display are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.

The main display has a format of 17.4:9, which is much wider than the Galaxy Z Fold4 5G’s 23.1:9 display. The diagonal size is smaller at 5.8 inches, but the OLED panel offers a resolution of 2,092 x 1,080 pixels, a peak brightness of 1,550 nits, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and an always-on mode.

The 7.6-inch main display in 6:5 format offers 2,208 x 1,840 pixels, 120 Hz, 1,450 nits, and an ultra-thin glass cover. The fingerprint sensor is located on the side of the casing. Google has installed a 9.5 MP selfie camera in the secondary display, an 8 MP f/2.0 camera inside, and a triple camera on the back, which consists of a 48 MP f/1.7 main camera with a 1/2 inch sensor, a 10.8 MP f/2.2 ultra wide-angle camera with a 1/3 inch sensor, and a 10.8 MP f/3.05 telephoto camera with a 1/3.1 inch sensor and 5x zoom.

The Google foldable Pixel Fold has a laser on the back that speeds up autofocus. A spectral and flicker sensor helps to improve color representation and prevent flickering in artificial light. Similar to the Pixel 7, features such as Google Night Sight, portrait mode, and Google’s Magic Eraser are included. The foldable Google device can record videos in 4K with up to 60 fps. The Pixel Fold is powered by a Google Tensor G2 ARM chip, 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 256 GB to 512 GB of flash memory.

The 4,821 mAh battery can be charged either via USB-C or wirelessly. Google has equipped the Pixel Fold with Android 13 and promises five years of “pixel updates” – although, as per the small print, only security updates are guaranteed.

Google Pixel Fold release date & price

The Pixel Fold comes in Porcelain and Obsidian colors, and the 256GB model is priced at $1799, while the 512GB model costs $1919. It is available for pre-order in the US and will be rolled out soon. Those who pre-order the device will receive a free Pixel Watch. The Google foldable Pixel Fold will also be available in the United Kingdom soon.

Google Pixel Fold specifications

• Display: 7.6-inch (1840 x 2208 pixels) 6:5 aspect ratio OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 380 PPI, up to 1450 nits peak brightness, Ultra Thin Glass with protective plastic layer / 5.8-inch (1080 x 2092 pixels) 17.4:9 aspect ratio FHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 408 PPI, up to 1550 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
• CPU: Google Tensor G2 processor with Titan M2 security chip
• RAM/ROM: 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1 storage
• OS: Android 13
• Features: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C audio, Stereo speakers, Water-resistant (IPX8), Dual SIM (Single Nano SIM and eSIM)
• Rear camera: 48MP rear camera with 1/2″ sensor f/1.7 aperture, OIS, CLAF, 10.8MP 121.1° Ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 10.8MP telephoto camera with f/3.05 aperture, 5x optical zoom, 20x Super Res zoom, LDAF sensor, 4K video recording
• Front camera: 9.5MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture / 8MP front camera for inner display with ƒ/2.0 aperture
• Connectivity: 5G SA/NA, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6E 802.11 ax (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE, GPS, USB Type C 3.2 gen 2, NFC
• Battery: 4821mAh battery with over 24 hours of battery life, up to 72 hours with extreme battery saver, 30W wired charging, wireless charging
• Dimensions: 139.7mm x 79.5mm (158.7mm unfolded) x 12.1mm (5.8mm unfolded)
• Weight: 283g