During the recent Google I/O event, one of the most talked-about announcements was the Google Pixel Fold, a foldable phone designed to provide users with a larger, more versatile screen. Foldable phones have been on the market for some time, but they are yet to make a significant impact. The Google Pixel Fold aims to change that with its durable hinge, Tensor 2 processor, and Google apps optimized for a larger screen.
A major selling point of the Pixel Fold is its camera functionalities. It comes with features such as Super Res Zoom with 5x optical zoom, Real Tone, Night Sight, and Portrait, as well as 10-bit HDR video capabilities. Google claims that the Pixel Fold offers the highest quality selfie on a Pixel device, especially when using the exterior screen as a viewfinder and the 48-megapixel main camera.
An upcoming Android 14 update will introduce a dual-screen interpreter mode for the Pixel Fold. This mode will utilize both the inner and outer screens to translate live conversations, enabling people to converse in different languages without crowding around a single screen.
The Pixel Fold also offers a ‘Tabletop mode,’ allowing users to place it like a small laptop. A future update will allow YouTube to play on the top half of the screen and display playback controls on the bottom half. With pre-orders in the US, customers will also receive a free Google Pixel Watch.
Other notable launches at the Google I/O event included the Pixel Tablet and the Pixel 7a, their latest high-end non-foldable phone. Additionally, various AI-related announcements were made, such as the new Large Language Model called PaLM 2, which will power Google’s updated ChatGPT rival Bard, Music LM, AI art generation functionality in Bard, and auto-generating phone wallpaper.
Despite the relatively slow pace of innovation in the smartphone sector in recent years, foldable phones like the Google Pixel Fold may breathe new life into the market. As these devices become more refined and popular, their practical applications could potentially boost both manufacturers and operators offering upgrades.
