The first foldable mobile phone and more: that’s what Google’s new mobile devices offer

The Google I/O developer conference is actually a software event. This is about presenting the next Android version and its highlights to the world – and to all software developers.

But Google also uses the opening show to showcase new hardware products – and three very exciting mobile devices were presented this year. The most important facts about the new products.

The Pixel 7a: Mid-range without compromise

The new Pixel 7a should be the least surprising. The slimmed-down version of the Pixel 7 is available in Germany for 509 euros. Still, buyers hardly have to compromise compared to the Pixel 7:

The 6.1-inch OLED display also offers a refresh rate of 90 Hz and the device also uses the same Tensor G2 chip as the more expensive models. On the back is a main camera with 64 MP and an ultra-wide-angle camera with a resolution of 13 MP – according to Google the best camera in the smartphone class.

The battery is also the same size, the dimensions of the device are almost identical, even the design with the metal strap on the back has been adopted. Even demanding smartphone users should hardly miss anything in this cheaper A model, only a camera with optical magnification is missing.

This should make the new Pixel 7a extremely interesting for many users who have high smartphone requirements but don’t want to spend 800 euros or more. So the question is whether the Pixel 7a is not generally the better and cheaper alternative to the Pixel 7. We answer that in our short test in a separate article.

Incidentally, the Pixel 7a is now available in Germany from 509 euros. A franc price is unknown.

Google Fold: Now fold

Smartphones with a flexible display and folding hinge are probably the biggest innovation in the smartphone market in years – however, they still haven’t reached the mass market, which is probably partly due to the high prices.

Now Google is launching its first smartphone in this category: the Pixel Fold (from 1899 euros). When folded, the device uses a 5.8-inch touchscreen in 17.4:9 format at the front. When you open the device, it becomes a mini tablet: a 7.6-inch display appears in an almost square 6:5 format.

What is special, according to Google, is that the device would be the thinnest on the market when folded: the smartphone measures 5.8 millimeters when unfolded and 12.1 millimeters when folded. This is actually thinner than, for example, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4, which is 15.8 millimeters deep at its thickest point.

However, this is noticeably more than a classic smartphone. For comparison: the Pixel 7 Pro is only eight millimeters thick, we will have to try whether the Pixel Fold is comfortable in the hand and pocket.

Technically, there is nothing to complain about the Fold: both OLED screens have a high resolution (2092 x 1080 pixels on the front, 2208 x 1840 pixels on the inside), scroll smoothly up to 120 Hz and are absolutely sufficiently bright with more than 1000 nits .

Google’s self-developed Tensor G2 acts as a computing core – although it is significantly slower in comparison tests than the top models from Apple, Samsung and Qualcomm – Google promises that it is particularly optimized for practical AI functions on the smartphone. The Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 have never noticed that the processor is slow in daily use.

12 GB RAM and 256 or 512 GB storage are also suitable for a top model.

The quality of the cameras should be interesting, as many foldable phones here have been weak for space and cost reasons so far. According to Google, special models have been developed for the very slim Pixel Fold. Users can use a main camera with 48 megapixel (MP) resolution on the back, as well as an ultra-wide-angle and a telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. .

There’s also a front camera (9.5MP) and an interior camera for video calling when the screen is open (8MP). However, only a test will show the quality of the photos. However, the Pixel Fold is an exciting option among the foldable smartphones, also because Android should be even better adapted to the size. It is not yet clear when exactly it will be available.

Pixel Tablets: Google is closing in on the iPad

A tablet was also introduced – and that’s a big deal for Google. The company’s last tablet was the Pixel C, from 2015 – a very fancy, good tablet at the time, but without significant tablet optimization in the operating system or apps.

With the Pixel Tablet, Google is now making a second attempt and launching a high-quality Android tablet with a special feature: it comes standard with a charging station for speakers.

But briefly to the device itself: the tablet itself is a well-equipped but rather ordinary tablet. Google’s Tensor G2 is also included here, the LCD screen has a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels and is sufficiently bright at 500 nits.

Two 8 MP cameras for video calling and a fingerprint scanner are also installed – as far as a normal tablet is concerned. The nano-coating on the aluminum housing, which should feel like porcelain, could be interesting – but a test device will have to tell.

What is special about the device is that Google only supplies it together with the audio charging station. It’s intended to ensure that when the device isn’t being used as a tablet, it’s instead a digital photo frame, video streaming device, or smart home control center.

The sound of the charging station should be remarkable, says Google, and it also ensures that the device is always charged. These different modes of use are, of course, integrated directly into the operating system – the tablet then switches to hub mode as soon as it is magnetically coupled to the station. There is no particularly fast charging there – Google indicates a charging capacity of 15 watts.

This concept is indeed interesting, but it remains to be seen how well it really works in everyday life.

After all, Android is now much better equipped for big screen use than it was in the days of the ill-fated Pixel C. This could finally pave the way for greater success for Android tablets.

An obstacle, however, could be the rather high price: 679 euros is a lot of money for the Pixel tablet and puts it in direct competition with the much more powerful iPad Air with Apple’s M1 chip. Interestingly, the device is significantly cheaper in the US: with a retail price of $499, the tablet should have a much easier time in the home market.

Here again, only a daily test will show the real value of the dock concept – as well as how well and unchanged Android now works on a tablet.

Those who are already convinced can pre-order the Pixel Tablet in Germany, but delivery will not start until June 20.

Sources

(t-online/dsc)