Google is working on a foldable Pixel but don't expect it to be released anytime soon

While Google unveiled the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL today at Google I/O, and is working on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, CNET says that the company is producing prototypes of foldable Pixel handsets. Mario Queiroz, the man in charge of the development of Pixel phones for Google, admits that the foldable form factor is something that the company is working on. However, it seems that as far as Google is concerned, there is no rush to compete in this niche of the smartphone market.

While Queiroz says that foldable phones are good for consumers who want to use a large tablet-sized display, he says that this is not enough to get people to shell out the huge sums required to buy such a device. While the goal is to to build a product that people feel they must have, he says that as things stand right now, foldables are currently at the nice-to-have stage. And it is too early to know how the Samsung Galaxy Fold debacle will affect demand for foldable handsets. The Galaxy Fold, which was supposed to launch on April 26th, has been delayed indefinitely after a number of influencers damaged their review units. This was done when they mistakenly peeled off what was thought to be a protective film on the internal screen. Samsung did include a warning with these units that said that the Galaxy Fold's large screen could be damaged by the removal of the film.

There were other issues as well. One review unit was infiltrated by debris, which entered through the hinge and resulted in a bulge that appeared on the internal display. Several other Galaxy Fold review units suffered problems with the 7.3-inch screen. Just yesterday, Samsung sent an email to those who pre-ordered the Galaxy Fold telling them that unless they say otherwise, their reservation will be cancelled on May 31st if the phone does not ship by that date.

While the Galaxy Fold opens inward, the foldable Huawei Mate X opens outward and the yet to be announced Motorola RAZR (2019) is expected to open vertically, Queiroz didn't say anything about the designs that Google is looking at for its foldable unit. What he did say was that there are no plans to launch a foldable Pixel at this time. While foldable and 5G phones are expected to provide a lift to a struggling global smartphone market, prices of both will have to come down before these devices can be considered saviors. For example, the Galaxy Fold is priced at $1,980, the Mate X costs the equivalent of $2,600 and the RAZR (2019) is rumored to carry a $1,500 price tag. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G can be pre-ordered at Verizon for $1,299.99. Research firm Gartner says that foldable units probably won't be coming down in price anytime soon; they see 30 million units getting rung up by 2023, accounting for only 5% of the premium smartphone market.

Not only isn't Google ready to introduce a foldable Pixel, it first needs to fix what ails the current Pixel line. Following the release of Google parent Alphabet's fiscal first quarter earnings report last week, Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said that Pixel sales declined in the period on a year-over-year basis.