Last year there was speculation that Google could one of the next few companies to launch a foldable smartphone. This was because Google had announced that Android would start to support foldable devices, and following that, there was a patent that revealed that Google could indeed be exploring the idea of such a device.As it turns out, all the speculation was right because during an interview with CNET, Google’s Mario Queiroz, who leads the development of Pixel phones, confirmed that Google has been exploring the technology. However, before you get too excited, we should note that Queiroz says that Google has been prototyping the tech but it seems that they have yet to figure out a use for it.
According to Queiroz, “We’re definitely prototyping the technology. We’ve been doing it for a long time. I don’t think there’s a clear use case yet.” He adds, “I think it needs to be more innovative than that. The use case is going to need to be something where you go, ‘Hey, I definitely need to have this.’ Right now, you don’t need to have a foldable. It’s kind of a ‘nice-to-have.'”
Whether or not Google will figure something out before the Pixel 4 is released later this year remains to be seen, but maybe you shouldn’t hold your breath just yet.