Google launched its new Pixel 3a at I/O 2019 earlier today, but that’s not the only phone the company has been talking about in the lead up to the conference.
A foldable device is also being prototypes, which shouldn’t be a surprise.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2019/05/the-google-pixel-3a-xl-australian-price-specs-release-date/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/hgkziyjelvfwehgnvzpn.jpg” title=”The Google Pixel 3a Is Available In Australia Now” excerpt=”Earlier this morning the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL were announced during the I/O 2019 keynote.”]
Speaking to CNET, Mario Queiroz (who leads Pixel development from Google) said “We’re definitely prototyping the technology. We’ve been doing it for a long time.”
But the company doesn’t sound particularly enthusiastic about the whole thing, with Queiroz adding that there isn’t a clear reason for it yet.
He continued, “I think it needs to be more innovative than that… 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.’”
There are currently not details regarding the design of Google’s foldable, but it’s possible that it will be different to what we have seen so far.
Both Samsung and Huawei differ when it comes to their own devices, so if Google does eventually come to the foldable table, we expect it to do its own thing.
Considering that this is an entirely new product category that doesn’t have any first gen phones available yet, it makes sense that some companies may want to hold back.
And this could be for a number of reasons – from to gauging consumer interest and longevity to simply taking the time to perfect their own models.
As we saw with Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, rushing in order to be the first to market isn’t necessarily worth it.
So while Google is working on the technology (everyone else is, so why not), don’t expect a foldable Pixel to turn up at I/O 2019, or to appear the shelves anytime soon.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2019/05/the-best-and-worst-from-google-io-2019s-day-one-keynote/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/pbsdyhtdiok5mlqbzomd.jpg” title=”The Best And Worst From Google I/O 2019’s Day One Keynote” excerpt=”Google executives just made the first batch of announcements and took their bows at this year’s I/O Developer Conference in Mountain View, California. That means the world got a sneak peek at new Google products, including some fancy AI software and even a new phone. Some of it looks awesome! Some of it looks awful.”]
[CNET]