The smartphone scene has been ‘boring’ over the past decade, but over the past few years, we have seen the advent of foldable smartphones. These have hit the headlines, and many OEMs have already dipped their toes into this scene.
Recently, there have been rumors that Google has also been looking to get into this space with the introduction of the alleged Google Pixel Fold. This device was rumored to be released alongside the company’s 2021 flagships, something that obviously didn’t come to pass.
Well, now, reports have it that Google had canceled this even before it got the chance to see the light of day.
A report that was recently published by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) goes to give us some credible information about the display that the rumored device would have rocked. In the report that mentioned the Pixel Fold as one of the foldable devices expected for release this year, DSCC goes into details of the supply chain.
Here, they confirm that Google might have chosen against the Pixel Fold after all, and as such, it won’t hit the market after all.
They then confirm that Google doesn’t plan to unveil it in 2021, or the first six months of next year:
Our sources indicated that Google believed the product wouldn’t be as competitive as it needed to be. They likely figured that competing against Samsung in the US and Europe in a small niche market facing higher costs than their primary competitor, would stack the odds against this project.
Had the Pixel Fold materialized, it would have featured a 120Hz LTPO panel with a variable refresh akin to the best smartphones in the market today. This would have been the same screen that we have seen with the Fold 3.
Interestingly, the Pixel Fold wouldn’t have come with the under-display selfie shooter that is picking up pace today in the industry.
But since Google had not committed to this device publicly in the first place, I guess it is what it is. But with the introduction of Android 12L, this would have been the perfect specimen for Google to showcase the possibilities that the new form factor holds.
Google might be sitting this one out, but we’re still interested to see what the other OEMs come up with in this regard.
