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Don’t expect a Pixel flip phone anytime soon. In an interview with Bloomberg, Google confirmed it has no plans to make a clamshell-style foldable. The company’s reasoning? That pesky crease in the middle of the display.
Google’s hardware lead, Shakil Barkat, called the crease “super painful” and admitted it remains a problem that could get worse over time. While he’s confident it can be solved eventually, Google is sitting out for now.
That puts the company at odds with partners like Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, Honor, and Motorola, all of whom already have flip phones on the market. These smaller foldables are popular with buyers who want something compact and more affordable than tablet-style devices. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola’s Razr, for example, are big sellers in this category.
So why not Google? Part of it comes down to strategy. Google doesn’t release as much hardware as rivals, and the Pixel Fold already acts as a showcase for how Android adapts to larger screens. A flip-style foldable wouldn’t offer the same opportunity to flex software features, making it less compelling for Google to pursue.
Still, the demand for flip phones is clear. They’re stylish, pocket-friendly, and often cheaper than book-style foldables. For now, though, the Pixel flip phone isn’t happening. If Google changes its stance, it’ll be because it finds a way to make foldables crease-free. Until then, Samsung and Motorola can keep fighting over the clamshell crown.
The post Google confirms it doesn’t have plans for a Pixel flip phone appeared first on Phandroid.
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Google’s hardware lead, Shakil Barkat, called the crease “super painful” and admitted it remains a problem that could get worse over time. While he’s confident it can be solved eventually, Google is sitting out for now.
That puts the company at odds with partners like Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, Honor, and Motorola, all of whom already have flip phones on the market. These smaller foldables are popular with buyers who want something compact and more affordable than tablet-style devices. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola’s Razr, for example, are big sellers in this category.
So why not Google? Part of it comes down to strategy. Google doesn’t release as much hardware as rivals, and the Pixel Fold already acts as a showcase for how Android adapts to larger screens. A flip-style foldable wouldn’t offer the same opportunity to flex software features, making it less compelling for Google to pursue.
Still, the demand for flip phones is clear. They’re stylish, pocket-friendly, and often cheaper than book-style foldables. For now, though, the Pixel flip phone isn’t happening. If Google changes its stance, it’ll be because it finds a way to make foldables crease-free. Until then, Samsung and Motorola can keep fighting over the clamshell crown.
The post Google confirms it doesn’t have plans for a Pixel flip phone appeared first on Phandroid.
More...
