Google is likely to introduce a new review process for foldable phone OEM makers to ensure a high level of quality among foldable devices. The process would involve a questionnaire and sending sample devices, with the requirement for foldables to last at least 200,000 folds and unfolds. Additionally, OEMs would need to provide at least two major OS updates and three years of security updates.
The main topic of the article is the author's experience with the Google Pixel Fold foldable phone.
Key points:
1. The author praises Google's implementation of multitasking and the big-screen layout.
2. The author highlights the unique usage pattern of using the phone mostly closed, thanks to the outer screen.
3. The author appreciates the camera quality and image processing of the Pixel Fold but criticizes the battery life and screen brightness.
- iFixit has obtained genuine parts for the Pixel 7a, allowing consumers to do DIY repairs at home.
- Consumers can purchase replacement parts such as the front screen, adhesive, rear cover, and battery.
- Google may partner with Best Buy for in-store repairs of its phones, including the Pixel 7a.
Google has partnered with iFixit to offer repair guides and genuine parts for the Pixel Tablet, including a $199.99 rear case, $200 screen, $59.99 battery, and $24.99 USB-C port.
Google has confirmed that there is currently no way to repair a broken Pixel Watch screen, leaving customers with limited options for repairing their smartwatches.
Google's latest Pixel Buds app update hints at the development of a new foldable device called "Comet," raising speculation that it could be either a Pixel Fold 2 or a Pixel Flip to rival Samsung's foldable styles.
Google announced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, as well as the Pixel Watch 2, during its Made by Google event, aiming to compete with Apple's iPhone, with the Pixel 8 starting at $699 and the Pixel 8 Pro starting at $999, while also introducing new features such as AI-powered editing tools and stress tracking on the smartwatch.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, considered one of the best foldable smartphones, is currently available on Amazon for a discounted price of $1500, $300 less than its original price of $1800, offering a great deal on this premium device.
The Pixel Watch 2 will not be repairable, but Google is offering an insurance policy called Preferred Care that covers accidental damage and mechanical issues for a monthly fee of $4 or a one-time fee of $89 for two years.
The OnePlus Open, a foldable phone with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, is rumored to cost $1,699 in the US, making it cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold, and it is expected to launch in Europe excluding Germany, featuring a 7.8-inch OLED folding display, a Hasselblad-tuned camera system, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage.
Motorola has released the Motorola Edge (2023), a midrange device that undercuts the Google Pixel 8 by $100 with its sleek design, MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 256GB storage, 6.6-inch HDR-ready OLED display, and 50-megapixel main camera, available for $599.
The upcoming OnePlus Open foldable phone may surpass the Google Pixel Fold as the thinnest foldable available in North America, potentially challenging Google's marketing campaign.
Self-repairing screens for smartphones, capable of fixing minor damage like scratches, are predicted to be available in consumer devices within the next five years, according to analyst firm CCS Insight, with a release expected before 2028.
