Late last year, there were many leaks that point towards Google working on a folding Pixel device, a first for the company and it is now reported that the device is scheduled to be released in late 2021 with Samsung producing the OLED display for it.
In 2019, Google published patent applications for its own folding screens and made it public knowledge that they had been working on one for a while now. They told CNET that they had not released one yet because there was no clear use case yet but now it appears Google has found a clear use case with the device being codenamed “Passport”. 9to5Google also reported that they spotted a reference to it in the code for Android 12, along with the codenames for the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 5a 5G. Korean site TheElec reports that the device will come with a 7.6-inch panel which folds inwards and they also reported that Vivo and Xiaomi are also set to release folding phones this year with the Vivo device set to have a 8-inch main screen and a 6.5-inch outer screen.
The “Pixel Fold” may not come with a display made by Google as Samsung acts as a contract manufacturer for many other companies, producing some of Apple’s homegrown processors as one example. Google may opt to use Samsungs ultra-thin cover glass on their first folding device, the same screen used on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Z Flip.
