Google enters the folding smartphone business

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Google has confirmed that the internet giant will launch a foldable smartphone. A short video released Thursday shows a phone that folds out into a tablet. Initially, there were no details about the device named Pixel Fold. However, reference was made to May 10, when the Google I/O developer conference was held at the Mountain View headquarters.

So far, Samsung has been particularly strong in the foldable phone business. The South Korean smartphone market leader has two model lines to offer: one that folds the device up to the size of a tablet, and the other is more compact and expands the size of an ordinary phone.

Chinese suppliers have also offered foldable smartphones in recent years. But Huawei, for example, has been halted in international trade due to US sanctions – and devices from other suppliers are also quite scarce, especially in China’s domestic market.

US broadcaster CNBC reported in April that Google’s Pixel Fold smartphone will have a 7.6-inch screen when opened. The rival device would be as big as the Samsung Fold. When folded, you will be able to use the 5.8-inch display on the outside.

In recent years, Google has expanded its foldable smartphone support with the Android operating system that the group is developing. But market researchers assume that devices will remain a niche segment of the smartphone market for years to come.

Analytics firm IDC expects sales to increase 50 percent this year to 21.4 million folding phones. Overall, however, more than 1.2 billion smartphones are likely to be sold. Market researchers expect sales of 48 million foldable smartphones for 2027 – a small share of the 1.37 billion total market.

(SDA)

Source :Blick