According to internal documents and photographs seen by CNBC, Google intends to introduce its first foldable smartphone in June at around $1,700, making it the most expensive model in its line of smartphones.
According to the docs, the Pixel Fold, also known internally as "Felix," will contain a folding phone with the "most durable hinge." It will cost more over $1,700 in comparison to the $1,799 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Google intends to advertise the Pixel Fold as a tiny, waterproof smartphone with an exterior 5.8-inch screen, according to the docs. According to images obtained by CNBC, a book-like opening on the phone would expose a small tablet-sized 7.6-inch screen, the same size as the display on Samsung's competitor. With a 10 ounce reduced weight, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 features a larger battery that, according to Google, can last up to 24 hours or 72 hours on low power.
According to the description, the Pixel Fold is powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip. Last year's Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones had the same processor. The Pixel Fold is the most expensive smartphone in Google's Pixel lineup. Google has been working on software for third-party devices created by companies such as Samsung, the current market leader in folding phones, including Android and its app store Google Play. Google will be able to display what a totally Google-made foldable phone experience looks like with the Pixel Fold. Some Pixels, for example, include unique capabilities not found on other Android phones, such as photo editing tools powered by Tensor processors.
The unveiling occurs in the midst of a disagreement between Google and Samsung. Following a story in the New York Times on Monday that Samsung was considering making Microsoft's Bing the default search engine for its smartphone portfolio rather than Google, a move that would cost Google an estimated $3 billion in annual sales. According to documents, the Alphabet-owned firm will give incentives to users who migrate to the Pixel Fold.