Google's rumored Pixel foldable gets a hat-tip in Android 12 beta

There have been several suggestions that Google is working on a foldable phone. More evidence of this emerged in 2020 pointing to the device’s release in 2021. Now, yet another mention of this product has surfaced, this time in the Android 12 beta.

See also: Google I/O 2021: Everything announced at the keynote

Android 12 beta purportedly lists the Japanese model numbers and code-names of upcoming Pixel phones, according to 9to5Google. All four device code-names we’ve outed in previous reports, too. These include “Barbet,” believed to be the Pixel 5a 5G, and “Oriole” and “Raven,” believed to be part of the Pixel 6 troop. However, one standout fixture is “Passport.” This device is believed to be Google’s rumored Pixel foldable phone.

There are no details of specs, nor any further release info, but it’s notable that new evidence of Google’s purported foldable is present in the company’s latest OS build. Google confirmed in 2019 that it is working on such a device, but its mention in the Android 12 beta suggests the phone might not be too far away.

As for the code-name itself, it’s unclear if “Passport” is a hint to the shape of the foldable. If it is, the folding Pixel might be closer to the size and shape of the Galaxy Z Flip rather than the Galaxy Z Fold. Previous reports have also pointed to Samsung building in-folding displays for Google.

Of course, a mention in Android 12 beta doesn’t guarantee its official release. Now that the form factor is more mature, it could be the right time for Google to adopt the technology.

What do you think about the new evidence of an upcoming Google foldable phone? Let us know in the comments below.