• By Vikas Yadav
  • Fri, 12 May 2023 11:41 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

GOOGLE Pixel Fold was the official entry of the tech giant in the foldable market announced at the Google I/O 2023 event. In the latest series of updates about the phone, reports hint that the smartphone cannot be easily unfolded at 180 degrees. Though Google claims their fresh foldable can lie flat on the table, users and media reports argue otherwise.

A report from Android Police claims it stops somewhere at 176 degrees from the hinge point. 9To5Google claimed an arc of 178-179 degrees. Further, Michael Fisher (MrMobile) highlighted the matter in a thread on the micro-blogging platform Twitter.

Also Read: Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a: Comparison For You To Zero Down Your Decision; Check Prices And Specs Here

He said, "Pixel Fold can fold flat (or nearly flat). But you need to really bend it to get it there – too much for comfort. Explanation I was given (by an engineer, not PR): they used a high-friction hinge for rigid positioning. This was the tradeoff."

While readers might think of it as an issue plaguing only the Pixel Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 also has a turning radius of 178 degrees, which has to be forced to clock perfect 180, as per 9To5Google. The under 180 degrees flex on the Pixel Fold is more evident because of the horizontal camera module, which doesn't let the phone rest flat.

Meanwhile, Google said at the I/O event, "You unfold it [Google Pixel Fold], and you're treated to an expansive 7.6-inch display that opens flat with a custom 180-degree fluid friction hinge."

Google Pixel Fold specifications and price

Speaking of the specifications of the Google Pixel Fold, it has a 7.6-inch OLED main and a 5.8-inch cover screen. Under the hood, it comes with a Tensor G2 chip. Speaking of memory, it comes with 12GB RAM and two storage variants - 256GB/512GB. The foldable phone comes with a 4,821mAh battery, 48MP + 10.8MP + 10.8MP back setup and 9.5MP (cover) and 8MP selfie shooter on the screen. Coming to price, the Google Pixel Fold has a starting price tag of $1,799.

As for more updates on Google I/O, the tech giant announced a flurry of hardware and software products that include Pixel 7a, improved Bard, and generative AI in Search in the mega event.