Google might’ve been late to the foldable party, but it was worth the wait.
The Pixel Fold is undoubtedly one of the best folding phones you can buy, combining a slender, premium design with impressive cameras and great displays. But there are a few key drawbacks, including that high price tag.
So, what will change on the upcoming second generation? There’s evidence that Google is working on a potential Pixel Fold 2, and we already have a good idea of what to expect.
When will the Google Pixel Fold 2 be released?
Google unveils new flagships in the Pixel series every year. Assuming the Pixel Fold series also adopts this schedule, it’s reasonable to anticipate Pixel Fold 2’s arrival at some point in 2024.
Given that Google officially launched the Pixel Fold at its Google I/O developer conference in May 2023, we may see a new model this year. And while it hasn’t been confirmed, the next Google I/O is likely to take place in May 2024.
However, as Android Authority reports, Google may skip straight from the current Tensor G2 to Tensor G4 in the Fold 2, so might not be ready in time for the summer. The article goes on to suggest that the device could arrive alongside the Pixel 9 phones, which are expected in October 2024.
Samsung also updates its book-style foldable each year, with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 likely in 2024. These two devices will likely go head-to-head once again.
How much will the Google Pixel Fold 2 cost?
As for pricing, it is currently also a matter of speculation.
The original Pixel Fold starts at £1,749/$1,799, putting it right in line with the £1,748/$1,799.99 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
However, the Honor Magic V2 has recently launched, and it undercuts both at £1,699.99/€1,999.
There’s also the OnePlus Open, which remains the cheapest of them all with a price tag of £1,599/$1,799.
Will Google reduce the price to put the Pixel Fold 2 in line with OnePlus or Honor? It’s unlikely, especially if there are significant upgrade. But foldables also need to get cheaper in order to achieve mainstream appeal, and the next Pixel Fold may start moving in that direction.
What specs and features will the Google Pixel Fold 2 have?
9to5Google has discovered a device with the codename “Comet’ in the most recent update of the Google Pixel Buds app. Despite being positioned between the Pixel 8 series phones, a “Comet” doesn’t quite align with the dog breed theme associated with this series (“Shiba”, “Husky”, and “Akita”).
Simultaneously, it seems improbable that “Comet” corresponds to the Pixel 9, as there is an expectation that Google will employ reptile-related codenames for that particular generation. That’s why it is believed that it may be the upcoming Pixel Fold 2, or potentially a new Pixel Flip phone.
Either way, it’s evidence that Google is working on more foldables, which is good news.
Design
Recent CAD-based renders posted on SmartPrix offer the most detailed look yet at the device.
Based on these, the Pixel Fold 2 features a taller, rounded outer display and a new camera module, a departure from previous Pixel designs. When folded, the Pixel Fold 2 measures 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.54 mm, thinner than its predecessor.
The new camera module is split into two sections, and houses three cameras, a flash and a microphone. That tallies with early Pixel 9 renders (also from OnLeaks) that share very similar camera module design.
Display
A respected analyst, Ross Young, suggested back in October that the Pixel Fold will be getting a bigger screen:
And now those recent renders seems to back it up. According to OnLeaks (via SmartPrix), the inner display measures 7.9 inches (8.1 inches with corners), an upgrade from the original Pixel Fold’s 7.6-inch screen, with a smaller and more uniform bezel. The outer display has also been enlarged to 6.4 inches (6.6 inches with corners).
The hinge design resembles that of the OnePlus Open, with a rounded display meeting a sharper hinge corner. The aspect ratio and display sizes are similar to the OnePlus Open, making the Pixel Fold 2 a noteworthy competitor in the foldable market. It could also rival the Honor Magic V2, which is the thinnest foldable at the moment.
Performance
An undisclosed source revealed to Android Authority that Google is testing the Pixel Fold 2 internally with the Tensor G4 chipset (codenamed “zumapro”), shifting from earlier versions using the Tensor G3 (codenamed “zuma”).
If true, it’d mean the Fold 2 would probably use the same chipset as the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. However, even the Tensor G3 would be a significant upgrade on the current Tensor G2.
Jim Martin / Foundry
The Tensor G4 is anticipated to bring slight improvements over the G3, though it’s not clear what these might entail.
According to the Android Authority leak, prototype versions of the Pixel Fold 2 boast 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage, both of which would be upgrades. The original Pixel Fold shipped with a base 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The increase to 16GB of RAM is significant as it would mark the first time Google launches a smartphone with more than 12GB of RAM. This upgrade also seems to support Google’s strategy to enhance on-device AI capabilities through its assistant named Pixie, as per The Information.
Cameras
There’s no evidence of this yet, but it’s possible the Pixel Fold 2 will see improvements to some or all of its current five camera lenses.
However, the cameras on the original Fold were already very good, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Google leave them alone, at least from a hardware perspective.
Battery
Regarding the battery, we have no information at the moment, but we hope it will be more than Pixel Fold’s 4800mAh, or at least the same this time.
The 30W wired charging is also in need of improvement.
Software
If released in 2024, it’s highly likely that the Pixel Fold 2 will run on Android 14.
However, unlike the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, which received seven years of OS and security updates, there’s no assurance that the same extended support will be available for the Fold 2. Nevertheless, it’s reasonable to anticipate at least the current five years of security updates.
This is all the information we have at the moment, but stay tuned, as we’ll continue to update this article as more details emerge.
In the meantime, you may also be interested in the best foldables and best Android phone to see what the Fold 2 will be up against.
