The closed display halves almost touch, and that can smash debris into the screen.
I like the general direction things are going here, but this device really seems like a prototype they put out before the tech was quite there. I’d like to have a device that’s the size and weight of a Pixel 7a (when folded). I don’t think that’s possible yet. So instead we get this monstrosity that’s too wide, way too heavy, and way too expensive.
Pixel Fold does seem like a customer funded tech demo device, enriching Google and allowing them to get real world usage data. They’d hopefully implement everything learned into the next gen device. I never buy the first version of any device as there are going to be teething issues which are unexpected by product testers.
It looks pretty, but I’d risk buying the latest Samsung Galaxy Fold iteration than this. As I have big hands, I’ve always preferred larger phones as smaller phones are awkward for me to use. I chose the Pixel 7 Pro as my daily driver and if they could emulate that with a future fold device and make it durable…I’m all in.
Never buy the first version of new tech
This plastic layer is critical to the OLED’s survival, but it doesn’t stretch to the edges. Every company that builds these screens leaves a margin around the perimeter of the display where there is no plastic layer, just a raw, exposed OLED panel peeking out into the world.
Question: why?? If the OLED panel is that fragile, and it is known that dust will be collecting in those little grooves where there is no plastic layer, and smashed in when the phone folds shut… Why not make the plastic layer go to the edge? Is there some sort of technical reason? Could the plastic layer not like go under a top bezel which reinforces it? Would that hamper our quest for “the thinnest phone imaginable” (I literally do not care if my phone is a few millimeters thicker)?
I want a foldable phone. I want a durable foldable phone that has enough battery life to get me through the day. That’s all I ask.
Any reason the Fold 4 didn’t fit what you were looking for? By all accounts it’s the first foldable with battery life to match a normal phone.
I forgot my other criteria - I want a phone which folds out to phone size and folds in to half size. Looking at the new RAZR right now for that reason and I’ll have to check on this OLED panel thing.
Frankly, there are so few phones out there for tiny little hands like mine or that fit in short people pockets without falling out. I can barely one-hand my Pixel 4a - when I’m holding it securely I can basically only tap the bottom right quadrant of the screen. I was considering switching to iPhone for this very reason but then I’d end up in the Apple ecosystem.
Oh right, yea, those tend to still have so-so battery life. The new RAZR seems to still fall a bit short there.
to be honest you know what you buy when you purchase a google phone.
All pixel phone had severe issue.I have the pixel 6 and my SO has the 6a. We have 0 problems so far, i have had mine for nearly 2 years the 6a for about 4 months. I mean yeah pixel 3 and 4 had huge problems at first but imo they have improved a lot as a smartphone company.
Yeah my sister and I both had Pixel 6s until I upgraded to the 7 Pro. I feel like the only problem I had was that in the early days, the 6 would get kind of hot on 5G. 0 problems with the 7 Pro.
Sadly i am in Greece where “Google” is not yet, meaning that since i have to buy the phone from ( let’s say ) Germany (or France or any other European country ) i do not have 5G support so i cant relate to the problem.
I have 2 ( or sometimes 3 ) days of battery life since i really dont use my phone much except calls, messages and sometimes using it as a debugger for the projects i develop ( android debugging and testing ).
Overall im VERY happy with the phone, 100% recommended.
I don’t think that’s fair, the first Samsung Fold didn’t do that well either, they had to withdraw it and redesign it before relaunching it.
