No Google Pixel Fold 2 news is actually good news

We’re nonetheless in January and we’ve already seen leaked renders of the upcoming Google Pixel 9 and 9 Professional, that are very more likely to launch in October, in 9 months. We’ve additionally gotten a number of glimpses of the Pixel 8a, which ought to come round Might-June. However nothing concerning the Pixel Fold 2. What provides?

Did Google instantly determine the best way to hold a telephone below wraps for as soon as? Or is Google not making a Pixel Fold 2 in any respect? I feel it’s neither of those and, truly, I feel the dearth of Pixel Fold 2 information is definitely excellent news. Hear me out.

Final yr, the Google Pixel Fold had already been leaked 1,000,000 instances by January. We knew what it appeared like, we knew a lot of its specs, and we have been anticipating it to launch round Google I/O 2023. Most of these particulars turned out to be true, with the one distinction being that the telephone was introduced in Might, however solely grew to become obtainable on the finish of June.

And therein lies the issue. The Pixel Fold, Google’s top-of-the-line $1,799 foldable telephone launched solely three months earlier than the Pixel 8 collection, however with cameras and specs much like the Pixel 7 Professional — a nine-month-old telephone. Notably, it had the Tensor G2 processor, which was already a middling chip 9 months earlier.

So those that paid for this absurdly costly Pixel in June needed to deal with a mean chip and watch because the less expensive (compared) Pixel 8 collection received the higher Tensor G3 solely three months later. Feels unfair, doesn’t it? And that specific misstep garnered the Pixel Fold a whole lot of criticism, too. Granted, a first-generation Pixel of any variety ought to be thought of a proof of idea greater than a product, actually, and even Google implicitly admitted that by solely launching it in three international locations as a substitute of the standard 17+ international locations that Pixels can be found in.

I feel Google realized a lesson with its experiment there: a mid-cycle launch works for finances telephones just like the Pixel A-series, but it surely doesn’t work for the top-of-the-line Pixel.

Which brings me again to the Pixel Fold 2. Right here’s what we all know for positive:

1. Each Google product leaks many, many months forward of its launch. It is a reality at this level.
2. The one rumor we’ve heard concerning the Pixel Fold 2 is that it could possibly be codenamed “comet” and nobody is bound if it’s a book-style foldable like the unique Fold or a flip-style foldable just like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Moto Razr (2023).

So, the truth that there isn’t any correct Pixel Fold 2 leak up to now would inform me that it’s extremely unlikely to launch in Might/June like its predecessor. We’re probably a later date, both alongside the Pixel 9 collection or probably even after.

And that’s excellent news in my ebook as a result of it means the Pixel Fold 2 — every time it launches — gained’t get outdated specs at an exorbitant worth and gained’t be thought of uncompetitive the second it hits cabinets.

Now, whether or not or not we get a Pixel Fold 2 this yr or not stays to be seen. Even our leak of the Pixel roadmap for 2024-2025 (which has turned out to be fairly correct up to now) didn’t have a lot element concerning the Pixel Fold 2. All it mentioned was that Google could be evaluating a follow-up foldable on the premise of the unique Pixel Fold. (And the market’s standing, I suppose.)

As a fan of the unique Pixel Fold, and of Android on bigger screens typically, I actually need to see a follow-up, maybe with a type issue that resembles the OnePlus Fold extra. That, plus a Tensor G4, a extra highly effective digital camera setup, and a few additional dual-screen performance would make it a compelling product. Simply make it extra sturdy, Google, please?