Name, release date, specs and rumors

When using a first-generation device, it’s reasonable to expect that it will have some flaws. The first-generation Pixel Fold device itself wasn’t exactly a home run as far as Google was concerned. Google is generally known for its smooth software experience, but this is actually a weakness of the Pixel Fold. It’s riddled with application compatibility issues and performance question marks.

Google is generally known for its smooth software experience, but this is actually a weakness of the Pixel Fold.

Now, as we delve deeper into the new smartphones of 2024, we’re gearing up for Google’s next foldable phone, the Pixel Fold 2. It’s still early days, but we’ve already accumulated a lot of information about the product. Upcoming devices. We have some idea of ​​when it will be released, how it will look, how much it will cost, and how it will perform. Let’s review the Pixel Fold 2’s features.

Pricing, title and release date

What’s in the name?

We’ve been referring to Google’s next foldable device as the Fold 2 because the company usually follows a product numbering naming scheme. The iPhone 15 was launched after the iPhone 14, and the Pixel 8 was launched after the Pixel 8. Therefore, the name Fold 2 makes sense. However, this may be wrong. According to a recent report from Android Authority, it will actually be called the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This is consistent with the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

We’ll still call it the Pixel Fold 2 for now, though.

What’s the fare?

We’ve yet to get details from Google about the Pixel Fold 2’s final price tag. However, since we’ve seen price increases on the Pixel 8 series, it’s safe to assume there won’t be much of a savings on the Pixel Fold 2. It will likely carry over last year’s model, with a starting price of $1,800 or more.

When will Fold 2 be released?

The first Google Pixel Fold was unveiled during Google I/O 2023 and launched the following month. If the Pixel Fold 2 follows the same release schedule, we’d expect it to launch in May and go on sale in June. However, according to recent rumors, that may be changing.

According to Android Authority, citing sources, the Pixel Fold 2 may be launched in October. The sample device this leak is based on runs on the upcoming Tensor G4 platform, not the Tensor G3 SoC. This generational jump from the Tensor G2 chip used in last year’s Pixel Fold will result in a release date delay, as Google is expected to launch its next-generation processor, the Tensor G4, with the Pixel 9 series.

If Google chooses to use Tensor G4 in Pixel Fold 2, The second-generation foldable device is likely to launch in October 2024 along with Google’s other non-foldable Pixel devices.

Design and performance

Say goodbye to Cyclops

The first Pixel Fold featured Google’s signature visor-style camera module, and according to a recent leak posted by Android Authority, the upcoming Pixel Fold 2 may actually do away with the visor-style camera bar that’s been in place since the Pixel 6. Engineering samples of the Pixel Fold 2 are said to feature a rectangular rear camera setup with four lenses. It’s a bit lackluster compared to the now-iconic visor, but it’s a design choice that might help solve the Pixel Fold’s inability to lay flat.

Pixel Fold 2 may solve the problems caused by the abnormal aspect ratio of the first-generation Pixel Fold. For the uninitiated, the original Pixel Fold had some app compatibility issues due to its rather wide unfolded display. Mobile apps that don’t adapt well to this aspect ratio will look ugly when launched, and it’s not a very pleasant experience at all.

For the Pixel Fold 2, Google may go for a slimmer overall design, as a leak from Android Authority suggests. That means a thinner cover display, as well as a unfolded display with more apps and a user-friendly aspect ratio — closer to a square shape. We’re not sure how this will affect the physical battery size, so it’s safe to assume there won’t be many changes to the Pixel Fold 2’s battery setup.

The internal display is also rumored to have thinner bezels, which many people will be happy with. Previously, in the first Pixel Fold, the internal selfie camera was housed within thick bezels. Now, it sounds like the company has decided to integrate the camera cutout into the screen.

surpassing its predecessor

Regarding rumors of Pixel Fold 2 spec upgrades, this is where things really get interesting.

As mentioned earlier, Pixel Fold 2 is likely to run on Google’s exclusive Tensor G4 platform in terms of SoC. According to leaks provided by user @OreXda on the X, the octa-core chip will be based on Samsung’s Exynos 2400. It will have one Cortex X4 core clocked at 3.1 GHz, three Cortex A720 cores clocked at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex A520 cores clocked at 1.95GHz.

What this all means is that this could give the Pixel Fold 2 a pretty significant performance jump. It could also pave the way for Google to implement major advances in artificial intelligence. However, will this be enough to give the device a place among other foldable flagships coming later this year? That remains to be seen.

There are also rumors that the RAM of Google Pixel Fold 2 will be significantly increased. It may come with 16GB of RAM instead of 12GB, which would be the largest RAM on a Pixel device.

Google has always been good at getting the most out of as little RAM as possible, and a physical increase in RAM could mean big changes are coming on the software side. At the very least, the Pixel Fold 2 will perform better than its predecessor and run smoother.

What to expect from the Pixel Fold 2

As we all know, the first-generation Pixel Fold still has room for improvement. a lot of. But the good news is that the second-generation foldable phone looks like a good chance at redemption. Given the rumors, here are some features we hope will improve this issue.

Updated design, can lay completely flat

The first thing we’re looking forward to with the Pixel Fold 2 is an update to the design. This will likely result in smaller bezels for the internal screen, as well as the ability for the device to lie flat. The first Pixel Fold didn’t actually unfold all the way, and while that’s not the biggest problem in the world, it does make things difficult when trying to use the unfolded device on a table.

Improving battery performance would be a win

We’d like to see Google’s foldable successor have better battery performance. Hopefully if the device does run on Tensor G4, further optimizations will be made. Combined with more impressive AI implementations, we’d like to see a device that lasts more than a day on a single charge, regardless of heavy or light use.

Camera sensor upgraded from previous model

According to a leak from Android Authority, we may see a new set of cameras in the new camera module. Google doesn’t always use the latest and greatest sensors, and sometimes doesn’t even replace them year after year. However, in a device that looks to be near the top of the price category, we do expect to see camera performance on par with the upcoming Pixel 9 series. This is an area where the first-generation Pixel Fold fell quite flat.

Release globally outside the US, UK, Germany and Japan

Finally, we’d like to see the Pixel Fold available in more regions. Google released the first Pixel Fold only to the US, UK, Germany and Japan. While this rather unique availability isn’t unheard of in the foldable space, we’d like to see the next generation of products become more widely available.