Google is working on a new pixel to compete with Samsung and Motorola

The latest episode of Made by Google podcast has revealed an interesting tidbit about a new Pixel device in the works.

Vice president and head of design for hardware, Ivy Ross, said just short of the middle of the discussion that the company had another foldable phone ready to go, but the team decided not to release it because it fell short. .

I’m really proud of the team because there was another foldable model that we had created, that we had the discipline to hold back and say no – it’s still not good enough – and really wait until we felt like we could do something that was good enough as good, or better, than what was already out there. It’s a true testament that we were able to do that and recognize that something isn’t good enough. Ross explained.

Unfortunately the discussion ended there and the conductor moved on to another topic. This is an internal podcast, so there weren’t any annoying journalists, like me, pressing for more details on the mysterious device. Unless Google is crafting an entirely new device category, like Motorola’s recently unveiled roll-up concept phone, it looks like the tech company is building a clamshell flip phone. The best of what was out there says why it suggests that the new device already has some competition.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip range is in its fourth iteration and was about to see a fourth iteration of Motorola’s Razr on June 1st. There are no spec details or rumors yet, but Google has the pedigree of getting the most out of its hardware by tricking the software. This is especially important for flip phones that have limited internal space due to a huge hinge in the center of the device.

It’s likely a Tensor chip powering the mystery phone, but what Google does with the camera setup is the real question. The Pixel Fold appears to have a similar configuration to the Pixel 7 range. We know that even the budget Pixel 7a can produce images on par with the 7 Pro with inferior hardware, so I’m confident Google can conjure similar magic with the unreleased device.

The conversation in the podcast leading up to the reveal of the new gadget is about Google’s design principles and the work they’ve done to make the Fold the thinnest on the market by designing a strong yet compact hinge. So the company may still be working on making and finding space inside the phone.

There’s no guarantee that it’s a flip phone, of course. Nor that it will ever be released. Google had planned to release a Pixel Watch in 2016 alongside the original Pixel phone, but the wearable was pulled at the last minute because it fell short. The official Pixel Watch was released in 2022, six years later. We’ll have to see if this device ever hits the market, but considering Google is already releasing a foldable phone soon, I doubt we’ll wait another six years.

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