Google’s Pixel Fold can make foldable phones exciting again

Back in 2021 I wrote that foldable phones were disappointing, offering little to no revolution in the way we use our phones every day, beyond the novelty of a screen that folds. They are perfectly fine. But once you get over the initial fun of the fold, it’s really just another Android phone. The problem is that with less common sizes and aspect ratios used on today’s foldables, apps and games won’t run smoothly natively. The audience is small, and developers lack the motivation to spend time, effort, and cost developing their apps for odd shapes and sizes.

But Google could change that soon enough, with a Rumored foldable Pixel phone which could appear at Google I/O in May. The company is in one place to address software issues while creating compelling phone hardware that doesn’t break the bank.

To be clear, I like foldable phones. I particularly like the large “book fold” models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 And Honor Magic Vs, which transforms from a full-sized phone to an almost tablet-sized device, providing more screen real estate for videos, games and documents. I remember when I got the first-gen Galaxy Fold and felt really excited to see the screen bend in the middle. And I remember the various strangers stopping by and asking to see it when I used it in public – with one bartender so enthralled by the demo I gave that he returned the favor with a free beer . Score.

Learn more: Best foldable phones to buy in 2023

But software is still where folding phones lag. Android is designed primarily for regular Candybar smartphones, which typically measure between 6 and 6.8 inches and have standard aspect ratios like 16:9. In other words, phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra Or Pixel 7 Pro take full advantage of Android, and app developers are designing their apps for those same form factors. For what? Because these are the most commonly used sizes, their applications will therefore be optimized for the greatest number of devices.

Android 12L And 13 fix some of the sizing issues, but not all apps are optimized and either leave too much blank screen space or have to stretch awkwardly to fit the screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 4, for example, has a tall and narrow 23.1:9 aspect ratio on the outside and a more boxy 21.6:18 aspect ratio for the interior screen — two non-standard sizes including developers should consider. And that’s right A device.

It’s the same Android fragmentation problem that has plagued the platform from the start: too many different devices means it’s hard for developers to build. Apple’s strategy of having fewer display sizes and nearly identical aspect ratios means it’s generally the easiest platform for developers to use. But Google has worked hard over the years to make Android an easier playground, and it could do the same for foldables.

So, could a foldable Pixel phone be just another device developers have to grapple with? Maybe not. While Google is committed to using folding screen technology in its product line, it’s safe to assume that we’ll see key updates in Android that are specifically tailored to folding phones and different form factors. I’d like to see software that does a better job of automatically resizing apps, dual-screening when using a large screen like the Z Fold 4, or creating more tricks in default apps that take advantage of indoor and outdoor screens.

Additionally, Google will likely work more closely with key developer partners like Samsung, helping them not only optimize their existing apps for foldable devices, but also create brand new ones that can only be done with phones from this guy. These partnerships will be crucial in helping Google create a compelling first-generation foldable phone, especially since non-folding Pixel phones account for just over 2% of the smartphone market share in the United States, according to the company. StatCounter analysis. In comparison, Samsung has almost 30% of the shares in the United States.

Pixel phones tend to offer a great Android experience in good hardware that costs hundreds less than flagship iPhone or Galaxy S phones. Partnerships with Google will be key to getting an affordable foldable Pixel off the ground. A cheaper price is key to gaining a larger audience that would entice developers to create more ply-centric apps.

There’s a lot of “ifs” and “coulds”, and we don’t know for sure if Google will launch a foldable. We also don’t know if Google has a strategy in place to encourage adoption by working with software developers. Google will also have to rely on more than its recognizable name to catapult the category into the big leagues. Let’s not forget that Microsoft Surface Duo 2 isn’t exactly ubiquitous, and neither is Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold.

But I keep hope, if only because I need it. Standard smartphones have become increasingly dull and repetitive. For someone who writes on phones for a living, that’s a problem. Foldables offer an opportunity to do things in a different and more exciting way, but whether or not the category flourishes will be up to Google.