The Google Pixel Fold 2 is expected to be released in the spring and is expected to bring a number of improvements over the original Google Pixel Fold. The first Pixel Fold was an impressive foldable device thanks to its wide front display, high-quality cameras and intuitive multitasking. And while the Pixel Fold has flaws in places (thick bezels, some apps don’t display in full screen), it still earns a spot on our list of the best foldable phones.
But Google is under pressure to break the mold with the Pixel Fold 2 as it faces stiff competition from the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6, OnePlus Open and other foldable devices. The Pixel Fold 2 is said to feature a narrower and slimmer design with fewer camera bumps, a much more powerful Tensor G4 chip (perhaps), and other upgrades. Here’s everything we know so far about the Google Pixel Fold 2.
Speculation about the release date and price of the Google Pixel Fold 2
We don’t know the Pixel Fold 2’s release date yet, but we assume Google is preparing to release a second foldable device at some point before the end of the year. The logical assumption would be that Google will announce the phone at Google I/O 2024 in May and launch it sometime in the summer – like it did last year. But that can’t happen.
Android Authority speculates that the Pixel Fold 2 may have a different shipping date than its predecessor. Apparently the phone didn’t start its Engineering Validation Test (EVT) until early 2024, suggesting it won’t be ready for launch soon after Google I/O. However, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of the phone launching later this year.
If the Pixel Fold 2 doesn’t boot at I/O, it may launch alongside the Pixel 9 series instead. That would fit nicely with the rumors that the new foldable device might skip the Tensor G3 in favor of the G4.
There is also no information on pricing at this early stage. We don’t expect the Pixel Fold 2 to cost less than the Pixel Fold’s starting price of $1,799, but given the current trend in smartphone price increases, we wouldn’t rule it out until we hear otherwise.
Design and display of the Google Pixel Fold 2
A Design leak suggests that the Pixel Fold 2 may look a little different than its predecessor. Instead of having a wider cover display, which we preferred over the narrow displays of phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Google may be slimming down a bit.
Sources also claim that the interior display will adopt a more square aspect ratio, similar to that of the OnePlus Open. It’s possible that both changes were in response to complaints that the Pixel Fold didn’t have enough optimized apps – resulting in black bars. Sources also told Android Authority that this would result in an even slimmer design, which will hopefully mean a little less weight to carry around.
Leaked images have also revealed that there could be big changes on the back of the Pixel Fold 2. Instead of the horizontal camera bar used since the Pixel 6’s release, the Fold 2 may feature a smaller, thicker camera bump that lives in the top right corner. The image shows four lenses stacked in pairs.
It doesn’t look particularly good, so we’re hoping it’s just a prototype that will either be replaced or slimmed down significantly for the final Pixel Fold 2 model.
Performance of the Google Pixel Fold 2
It has been claimed that the Pixel Fold 2 could see significant performance improvements. According to Android Authority, the phone could skip the Tensor G3 and Start with a Tensor G4 chipset. While Tensor chips are not known for their benchmarking capabilities, there are rumors that the G4 chip could be based on Samsung’s Exynos 2400 – the same chipset that powers the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus outside the US.
While Exynos chips won’t beat the flagship Snapdragon chipsets of other Android flagships, they could offer the Pixel Fold 2 (and Pixel 9) a significant boost in processing power. Not to mention the additional AI features that should surpass those of last year’s Pixel 8 series.
But how effective is this computing power? may depend on when the Pixel Fold 2 launches. If it happens before the end of the year, there will be a big boost. If we have to wait until mid-to-late 2025, it won’t seem quite as impressive.
It is was also suggested that the Pixel Fold 2 could offer 16GB more RAM, 4GB more than the Pixel Fold, and upgrade storage to UFS 4.0 – offering faster read/write speeds and improved power efficiency.
Google Pixel Fold 2 cameras
Design leaks seem to point to a possible Pixel Fold 2 a fourth camera lens, although the quality is not particularly good. What we can see, however, is that there appears to be only a single lens with the distinct square shape of a telephoto lens. Based on this image alone, the chances of the Pixel Fold 2 getting a second telephoto camera similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra are pretty slim.
We don’t know what changes the Pixel Fold 2 will offer compared to its predecessor – the one with a 48MP main lens, a 10.8MP ultra-wide lens and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom was equipped. An increase in the resolution of the latter two would be welcome, as would other changes such as a larger camera sensor or extended telephoto magnification.
Whatever happens, we can expect Google to do everything it can to improve the AI camera. Both in terms of creating better images out of the box and providing more powerful editing tools post-capture.
Google Pixel Fold 2: Battery and charging
It’s currently unclear what kind of battery we can expect from the Pixel Fold 2. At the very least, we’d expect something similar to the Pixel Fold’s 4,821mAh battery, which lasted 10 hours and 21 minutes in our battery test. Endurance would be desirable, which could be achieved through a more efficient chip, if not even through a larger battery.
We expect Qi wireless charging and wired charging of at least 30W to also make a comeback – although it would be nice if the Pixel Fold 2 supported the new Qi2 wireless charging standard.
Google Pixel Fold 2 Outlook
There are still many unknowns when it comes to the Google Pixel Fold 2. But Google has a lot to do if it wants to stay relevant in the foldable phone market. Samsung has a lot of experience, while OnePlus has leveraged its relationship with Oppo to make the OnePlus Open the best foldable phone you can buy.
So whether Google opts for a fresh design, powerful AI features, improved hardware, or a mix of both, the pressure is on. Let’s just hope that the rumors we see in the coming weeks and months make us optimistic about the Pixel Fold 2’s chances.
