Evidence continues to pile up that Google is hopping on the foldable phone train soon.
A new report from 9to5Google this week said Google’s rumored foldable device, which could launch by the end of 2022, may be called “Pixel Notepad” and come in at a more reasonable price point than the $1,799 Samsung demands for its Galaxy Z Fold 3, released last year. The report didn’t put a specific number on the price, so even if it’s less than $1,799, it may still be prohibitively expensive whenever it comes out.
9to5Google also emphasized that the “Pixel Notepad” name could change prior to the device’s announcement. Apparently, at one point it was referred to internally as “Logbook.” Actual technical specifics about the unconfirmed device are scant, of course, but 9to5Google previously reported that it would run on the new Tensor chips that power the Pixel 6 phones. Aside from that, some art found in a recent Android 12 beta build suggests in almost square 7:8 aspect ratio when fully unfolded.
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Whispers of a foldable Pixel have been going around since at least February of last year. At the time, folks were calling it “Pixel Fold” and some thought it could come out by the end of 2021. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Not only is it not in our hands, but we don’t even know what it’s called, what it looks like, or if it truly exists.
But if Google can make a quality foldable that doesn’t cost three times as much as some people’s rent, that could be a big deal.