Google Pixel Fold 2: rumors, specs and everything we wait to see

It’s almost that time of year where we see another wave of smartphones hitting the market. And if one thing is clear, it’s that there are a lot of expectations surrounding the Google Pixel Fold 2 and how it will differ from its predecessor. So what will we get with Google’s next foldable, and how will it improve on the fairly well-received Pixel Fold?

Luckily, we’ve learned a lot about the upcoming foldable, which we’ll detail in this article, but be sure to keep checking back for any new information as we get closer to launch.

Google Pixel Fold 2: Price and availability

Unless Google manages to cause a bit of “shock and awe”, we don’t expect the price of the Pixel Fold 2 to change much. That means we’re probably looking at a starting price of $1,800 for the base model. And you’ll have to pay a little more if you want more storage, as the 512GB model of the Pixel Fold costs $120 more than the 256GB version.

When it comes to availability, there’s still a lot up in the air. Last year’s Pixel Fold debuted at Google I/O 2023 before going on sale in June 2023. Google I/O 2024 is just around the corner, but things may go differently this time – this. Instead, rumors suggest that the Pixel Fold 2 will launch alongside the Pixel 9 series later this year.

Google Pixel Fold 2: design and screens

Unlike its contemporaries, Google could change things as the Pixel Fold 2 is unlikely to retain the same design as its predecessor. Instead of the now-iconic camera bar housing on the back, leaks and renders indicate a radical change. If the leaks are correct, the Pixel Fold 2 will use a smaller rectangular camera “block” with cutouts for dual-stack camera sensors.

There would also be slight changes in the overall design, as Google could take inspiration from the OnePlus Open. The current iteration features curved edges across the board, while the Fold 2 might ditch the curves in favor of flat edges. Similar changes are expected to come to the Pixel 9 series, although Google has already started using a flatter display on the Pixel 8 Pro.

After a purported photo of the Pixel Fold 2 made the rounds, this appears to have confirmed the design changes in the works. These also provided us with some measurements, as the leaked device is said to measure “155.2 x 150.2 x 5.27mm when opened and 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.54mm when open. is folded”. For comparison, the current Pixel Fold measures 5.8mm when opened and 12.1mm when folded.

When it comes to screens, it looks like we’re heading towards an overall larger device. According to Ross Young, Google will use a 6.29-inch cover screen and an 8.02-inch inner screen. Both of these represent an increase over the 5.8-inch and 7.6-inch screens of the current Pixel Fold.

Google Pixel Fold 2: specifications and performance

Perhaps the biggest reason Google might wait until the fall to launch its next foldable phone is the chipset. If rumors are to be believed, the Pixel Fold 2 will completely ignore the Tensor G3, in favor of the Tensor G4. For some, this move makes more sense than what we saw with last year’s model.

Google launched the Pixel Fold with the Tensor G2, which was revealed in fall 2022. However, a few months later, the Tensor G3 was introduced alongside the Pixel 8 family. Google’s Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 Pro brought Gemini Nano compatibility for more AI-based features. Meanwhile, the Pixel Fold has largely been left in the dust despite costing up to $1,000 more than the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

The Tensor G4 is not expected to be a game changer in the smartphone market, offering an incremental upgrade over the G3. However, considering that the Pixel Fold is already a generation behind, the upgrades will be more substantial.

Rumors suggest that Google will offer 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage on top of the Tensor G4. At least in terms of RAM, it’s an increase over the Pixel Fold’s 12GB. We believe Google will also offer the Pixel Fold 2 with 256GB or 512GB of storage, but it’s unclear if a 1TB model will be on the table.

Google Pixel Fold 2: cameras

Besides the aforementioned design changes to the rear camera module, hardly any other information has been leaked regarding the Pixel Fold 2s camera hardware. For reference, the original Pixel Fold has five cameras. It has a 48 MP primary wide-angle lens, a 10.8 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10.8 MP telephoto lens. From there, we have an 8 MP camera on the inner screen, while the cover screen uses a 9.5 MP sensor.

Another change we were able to glean from the leaked renders is that Google could introduce an under-display selfie camera on the inner display. It’s likely to be similar to what we have in other foldable phones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the OnePlus Open. By doing so, the Pixel Fold 2 would be able to ditch the unsightly bezel that borders the interior screen.

Google Pixel Fold 2: wish list

Although the rumor seems to produce something good for the Pixel Fold 2, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still things we want to see. Here are some of the items on our “wish list” that Google will hopefully check off when it unveils its next foldable phone.

Google must treat it like a flagship

The Pixel Fold 2 is rumored to launch alongside the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, which is expected to happen in fall 2024. If rumors are to be believed, this is because Google has chosen to use Tensor G4 rather than Tensor G4. G3 in its next foldable phone. Doing so would put it at the front of Google’s phone lineup, while the Pixel Fold ended up somewhere between the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7a.

This decision resulted in the Pixel Fold being left out of the “fun” surrounding Google’s Gemini Nano feature. It also left a bad taste for those who paid the $1,800 price tag, only to miss out on features available on much cheaper phones.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Google makes the right decisions with the Pixel Fold 2 and treats it like a true flagship device. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Pixel Fold 2 was the last foldable to get out of Mountain View.

Pen support

If there’s one thing Samsung got right with the Galaxy Z Fold series, it’s built-in stylus support. Of course, this was only introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but every model since then has supported the use of an S Pen. This is an area of ​​improvement we’d like to see Google make, as there are times when using a stylus makes more sense on the internal tablet-style screen.

Qi2 and faster charging

It’s been five months since the Qi2 standard was officially “launched”, and yet we have yet to see any phones actually released with this standard. With Qi2, you can enjoy the world of MagSafe accessories without needing to place a magnetic ring on the back of your phone. We were hoping to see Qi2 come to the Pixel 8 lineup, but it just wasn’t meant to be. So now we’re crossing our fingers that it makes its way into the Pixel Fold 2.

In addition to being able to use magnetic attachments, Qi2 also improves charging through magnetic alignment. By doing so, it’s possible that the phones will support charging speeds of at least 15W. Along with faster wireless charging speeds, we’d like to see Google improve wired charging, as the current Pixel Fold hits 30W. W.

PWM compatible displays

This last item on our wish list doesn’t affect many people, but it does affect our own Nick Sutrich. Although he’s a fan of foldable phones, he hasn’t been able to enjoy the fruits of Google’s labor with the Pixel Fold. Recently, he tried using the Fold only for it to last “about ten minutes,” making him feel like he was going to be sick.

Unfortunately, most of the best Android smartphones are not susceptible to PWM-related issues. There are a few phones that don’t do this, but the list is shrinking by the day. Google should do everything it can to adapt all potential buyers, not just the majority of the market.