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Google is working on a foldable phone, but you won't see it soon

Google's Pixel chief says the firm is working on foldable phone tech, but adds that a larger screen isn't enough to succeed.
By
May 8, 2019
Google has just revealed the Pixel 3a, but it's working on a foldable phone too.

It seems like most smartphone brands today are working on a foldable phone of some kind. Now, Google has reportedly confirmed that it’s working on the technology too.

“We’re definitely prototyping the technology. We’ve been doing it for a long time,” Google Pixel chief Mario Queiroz told CNET. “I don’t think there’s a clear use case yet.”

Queiroz said foldable phones are ideal for people who want larger screens, but argued that this won’t be enough to drive sales and interest.

“The use case is going to need to be something where you go, ‘Hey, I definitely need to have this.’ Right now, you don’t need to have a foldable. It’s kind of a ‘nice-to-have,'” the executive was quoted as saying.

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The Pixel chief later told CNET that Google had “no related product announcements” to make right now. So people waiting for a Pixel foldable will need to keep waiting — or buy another foldable phone.

Google is no stranger to the foldable phone experience though, as it’s already baked foldable support into Android Q. And with an eclectic variety of phones from the likes of Huawei, Oppo, Samsung, and Xiaomi, it might not hurt if Google hangs back to figure out the most practical design. Would you buy a foldable Pixel phone? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

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