Google is set to launch its first-ever foldable smartphone in June, taking on Samsung‘s market-leading foldable phone business. According to the report, the device, known as “Felix” internally, will be announced at the Google I/O annual developer conference on May 10.
The Pixel Fold will have the “most durable hinge on a foldable” phone, with a price tag of over $1,700, putting it in direct competition with Samsung’s $1,799 Galaxy Z Fold 4. Google plans to market the phone as water-resistant and pocket-sized, with an outside screen measuring 5.8 inches across. Once opened, the phone reveals a small tablet-sized 7.6-inch screen, the same size as Samsung’s competitor.
The device is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, the same processor used in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones last year. It weighs 10oz, slightly heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, but has a larger battery that Google says will last for 24 hours, or up to 72 hours in low power mode.
The Pixel Fold is the most expensive phone in Google’s Pixel family, and the launch gives the company a chance to demonstrate a fully Google-made foldable phone experience. This is significant since other Pixels, such as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, have exclusive features powered by the Tensor processor that are unavailable on all Android phones.
The launch comes amid questions about the relationship between Google and Samsung. A Times report earlier this week suggested that Samsung is considering changing its default search engine from Google to Microsoft’s Bing for its lineup of smartphones. This move could drive an estimated $3 billion in annual revenue to Microsoft, which would be a significant loss for Google.
To encourage customers to switch to the Pixel Fold, Google will offer incentives such as a trade-in option to swap in a current Pixel, iPhone, or an Android-powered phone for a discount on the Pixel Fold. The company also plans to offer a free Pixel Watch, its latest smartwatch, to Pixel Fold buyers.
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