Pixel Fold: A week with Google’s first foldable phone shows that this technology is still far from catching on | Science and technology news

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Four years after Samsung spearheaded their arrival, foldable phones are still waiting for their breakthrough into the mass market.

Not helped by the fact that the South Korean firm’s first attempt in 2019 was plagued with reports of screens breaking when users tried to, well, bend them, the adoption of smartphone-tablet hybrids has been undeniably slow.

Just over 14 million foldable devices were shipped in 2022 (including 12 million from Samsung alone), according to a Financial Times report earlier this year, compared to 1.2 billion smartphones overall.

And despite more choice than ever, including efforts by Samsung and Motorola to evoke the flip phone era, foldable sales slowed in the last quarter of the year.

It’s certainly a far cry from Motorola’s Razr line of the early 2000s, a time when it seemed like phones that could be folded away neatly had found their way into almost everyone’s pocket. Razr’s V3 model, now close to its 19th birthday, has sold more than 130 million units, making it the most popular phone of its kind.

It’s hard to imagine a current brochure that guarantees that level of mainstream appeal. And Google’s first attempt, launched this week, probably won’t help.

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Image: Motorola’s Razr line was among the most desirable cell phones around in the early 2000s

A mind-boggling price point

The Pixel Fold was announced in May after months of anticipation and speculation, as – outside of Apple – the search giant represented the best hope of a true competitor to Samsung’s dominance in the space. Google has long made smartphones popular, and its Pixel range is one of the best for anyone who prefers Android.

Reactions to the Fold’s unveiling event were positive as it showcased features, with many components of the company’s flagship Pixel 7 Pro redesigned to fit a particularly slim design.

But the elephant in the room was the elephant-sized price: £1,749.

PIXEL FOLD: THE KEY SPECS

Screen: 5.8-inch, 7.6-inch when open, up to 120Hz Battery: 24 hours as standard, up to 72 hours in low power mode, supports fast and wireless charging Memory: 12GB RAM and up to 512 GB of storage Processor: Google Tensor G2 Rear camera: 48 megapixel standard lens, plus ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lenses with 5x optical zoom Front and internal camera: 9.5 and 8 megapixel lenses respectively Security: Fingerprints and face unlock, five years of guaranteed security updates

Family folding problems

Big prices come with the territory when it comes to leaflets. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold is north of £1,500 and the cheapest Z Flip is still £900. Foldables from Motorola and Oppo fall somewhere in between, all above starting prices for most non-foldable smartphones with similar, and often even better, specifications.

It may be Google’s first foldable, but for £1,749 you wouldn’t want to compromise. The Pixel Fold may be fast, capable of running two apps side-by-side on its internal screen, but its Tensor G2 processor isn’t any better or more future-proof than that of Google’s Pixel 7a, which costs just £449.

Also, the Pixel Fold doesn’t address issues that have hitherto been inherent in foldables, such as a noticeable crease in the center of the internal screen and its heavy build. It might be the thinnest foldable out there, with a 5.8-inch external display that’s as comfortable to use as a standard phone, but it weighs a hefty 283g (40g more than Apple’s chunky iPhone 14 Pro Max).

And while there are no reports of embarrassing breakages like Samsung’s first foldable, fragility is still a very real concern. A note in the Pixel Fold’s packaging warns you to be careful how you handle it to avoid damage, as if you need a clear sign that this is not a device to be left unattended around adventurous pets or boisterous children.

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Image: Its enclosed form factor is much more comparable to a standard smartphone than Samsung’s taller foldable. photo: Google

Will leaflets ever catch on?

Those concerns may not be enough to deter enthusiasts, and the current estimated August delivery dates suggest that Google has enjoyed decent demand thus far.

I’ve been testing a review unit of the Pixel Fold for a week, and like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Flip, there’s a sense of wonder in having such an adaptable gadget in your pocket. I positioned it as a laptop for taking group photos on a hike, propped it up as a tent for watching YouTube on a train table, and held it open like a book before bed to read…a book.

Despite the above concerns, I can’t deny that it has often been a pleasure to use, like the cool new Buzz Lightyear for my old iPhone’s Woody doll, and has been a conversation starter with friends and family who – like the vast majority of people on Earth: They’ve been using the same slab-shaped smartphones for over a decade.

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Image: The Fold offers a pleasant reading experience. photo: Google

But their interest tended to wane when the question of price arose. Whether you want top specs, a no-nonsense phone for grandpa, or even a new phone and tablet, there are options out there many hundreds of pounds cheaper – and probably tougher against those pets and small children – than the Pixel. Fold.

It also seems significant that since the unveiling of the Pixel Fold, Apple, the world’s largest smartphone maker, has announced it was entering the niche market of mixed reality headsets, having offered not so much as a tease about the introduction of an iPhone. folding. The company that helped eliminate the flip phone will surely have to take part if a foldable revolution is ever to begin.

In its current form, the Pixel Fold won’t be the one to kick off.

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