So far, Google has launched only two phones in its flagship lineup. This has been the case since the first generation of Pixel phones in 2016, but it’s been known for some time that this is changing with the introduction of a smaller Pro device in the upcoming Pixel 9 range.
Thanks Google Insider Robot body I learned that a fourth Pixel 9 could arrive this fall, which we didn’t expect. Google’s next foldable phone also seems to be on the horizon.
The fourth is the Pixel 9
According to data from Robot bodyGoogle has revised its naming convention for Pixel devices by the end of 2024 as follows:
- Pixel 9 – codenamed “Toke”
- Pixel 9 Pro – Codenamed “Cayman”
- Pixel 9 Pro XL – codenamed “Comodo”
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold – Codenamed “Comet”
These names are also confirmed by some software developed for Google’s 2024 devices.
It’s worth noting that Google has codenamed the “Comet” device as the “Pixel Fold 2” until the relatively new stage of development. It’s quite possible that the “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” name isn’t final either. However, it is currently used by Google.
Is renaming the Pixel 9 Pro Fold a good move for Google?
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Will Google consider the Pixel 9 Pro Fold a true flagship?
Chris Carlone/Android Authority
If Google follows through and reveals the next-generation foldable device as a full-fledged member of the Pixel 9 series, it will be a complete step up from the first-generation Pixel Fold.
The first Pixel Fold (2023) was an unfortunate device: it was announced at Google I/O on May 10, 2023, in what Google internally calls a “mid-year” device. This was perhaps the first sign that Google might not be considering the Fold as a proper flagship, as it undoubtedly should have been given its eye-watering $1,799 price tag. Google usually unveils Pixel products at two big events every year: the fall event, where the flagship Pixel phones grab the headlines, and the spring Google I/O, where we usually see lesser-known phones like the Pixel-A series.
The Pixel Fold seemed like an afterthought for the Pixel 7. Which is fine for something like the Pixel 7a, but inexcusable for an $1,800 flagship.
The Pixel Fold started shipping to customers in late June, more than two months after the original announcement. At the starting price, buyers will get a nine-month-old processor – the Tensor G2, which is a slight improvement over the original Tensor – and only three years of Android version updates. Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about it was that three months later, in October 2023, Google launched the Pixel 8 series not only with a significantly improved SoC, the Tensor G3, but with a seven-year-old Android update. A number of exclusive software features were also introduced, such as: b. Magic Editor and Gemini Nano LLM Recorder support app with features like summaries.
Ryan Haynes/Android Authority
If Google decides to go with the new name, it could mean that it wants to integrate the next Fold more closely into its flagship division rather than leaving it as a separate, specialized and expensive device that seems like an afterthought. Compared to other devices in Google’s lineup.
We’ve already seen Google do this. already published Robot body, the second-generation Pixel Fold will skip the Tensor G3 and instead use a new Tensor G4 chip. This alone fixes one of the main problems with the Pixel Fold. Additionally, the leaked images show that the design of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is more similar to other Pixel 9 devices, unlike the original Pixel Fold, which looks more like the Pixel 7 than the Pixel 8.
Interestingly, such a move would make Google the only manufacturer to integrate its foldable devices into the “flagship” family of devices. Other brands make entirely separate lines of foldable smartphones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z or Motorola’s Razr. This would show Google’s commitment to making the foldable device available as an option when purchasing its flagship Pixel phone, rather than a separate option that feels like another device.
The upcoming Pixel Fold has a lot to prove
It’s interesting to see such a move from Google after treating the original Pixel Fold like a second-tier flagship. We’ll definitely be watching to see if the phone really lives up to its new name if Google decides to go ahead with this different name and approach. We’ll have to wait and see if this means a date change and the phone will be unveiled alongside the rest of the Pixel 9 series in October instead of Google I/O in May.