A big problem with foldable phones is their vulnerability to damage and wear and tear. All those moving parts leave them more exposed to dust than more conventional phones, as well as making them harder to protect against water damage; not to mention they have a hinge that will inevitably wear out. That's a big deal, especially given its price, but the Google Pixel Fold might have some beaten rivals in this regard.
According to CNBC (opens in a new tab), which claims to have seen internal communications, the Google Pixel Fold will have the "longest-lasting hinge on a foldable phone."
They don't go into detail, but we're assuming durability is measured by the number of times you can bend it open and close (a measurement Oppo calls a "cycle"). On that front, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is rated to survive a minimum of 200 cycles, but the Honor Magic Vs and Oppo Find N000 are rated for 2 cycles.
As such, if Google uses this metric and this report is true, the Google Pixel Fold should be able to sustain more than 400,000 folds. Maybe 500.000, since all of these ratings appear to be multiples of 100.000.
It could also keep the Pixel Fold ahead of the upcoming competition, with a leak suggesting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will only be tested up to 300,000 folds.
These numbers may seem unnecessarily high, but if you're a heavy phone user, you could easily look at your phone hundreds of times a day. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to unfold it, since there's also a cover screen, but you could, and the more folds it can take, the more confident you'll have that it won't wear out. you are ready to evolve.
Sustainable in more ways than one
The other big part of folding phone durability is water resistance, something that recent offerings like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Huawei's Mate X3 offer, but most other foldables No. According to this report, the Google Pixel Fold will join this exclusive club.
The level of water resistance is not mentioned, but most smartphones with certified water resistance achieve an IP68 rating (or an IPX8 rating, in the case of foldables, since they do not have the dust resistance part). . ..yet), the Pixel Fold will most likely adopt the same level of protection against moisture.
With as much water resistance as foldable phones from Samsung and Huawei, more than other rivals, and a hinge that's more durable than any other foldable phone, the Pixel Fold might have a nice selling point.
This is particularly good news, as this report also echoes another leak that says the Google Pixel Fold will likely start at upwards of $1,700 (around $1,365 / AU$2,535), so tell your bank account. let it be armed
The report also mentions a few other things we've heard before, including that the Pixel Fold will apparently have a Tensor G2 chipset (like the Pixel 7 line), a 7,6-inch folding display, and a 5,8-inch cover display. .
Other new information includes the claim that it will weigh around 283g, making it slightly heavier than the 4g Galaxy Z Fold 263. However, it could also include a larger battery, as although we don't know the exact capacity, this report claims that it will last a respectable 24 hours, or up to 72 hours in low power mode.
We should know all the official details soon as several leaks including this one announced that the Google Pixel Fold would be announced during Google IO 2023 on May 10.