Google confirms new Pixel Fold coming at Pixel 9 launch in August
Google has revealed that its Pixel 9 launch event will kick off on August 13 at 10 a.m. PT, which is about a month earlier than when we’re expected to see Apple’s iPhone 16 launch. The Pixel 9 will include the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — the name of its next foldable, though it’s unclear how much more “pro” it will be than the first Pixel Fold.
Google has announced the Pixel 9 launch time via a message on X (formerly Twitter)which also included a search function for the words “reasons why you should turn off your phone.” (When I quickly look at it, the words I can find are “screenshots,” “email,” “costs,” and “pogs.”)
The event invite specifically mentioned the Pixel 9 Pro, with a link to a site that only mentioned that phone and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This confirms rumors that Google was working on another feature-packed version of its foldable phone, the Google Pixel Foldthat launched in June 2023. With the addition of ‘Pro’ to the name, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will likely have more features than its foldable predecessor.
The post doesn’t mention the standard Pixel 9, but it would be odd if Google didn’t also release that on the same date. Google probably just wants to hype up its flagship phone before launch.
Regardless, the photos on Google’s site show a different look for the Pixel 9 family. The rear-spanning “visor” look that debuted with the Pixel 6 has been retired in favor of a wide, pill-shaped, triple-camera block that simply protrudes from the back of the phone. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has four cameras in total spread across two rows, though that camera block is also rounded.
To top it off, the sides of the Pixel 9 Pro are flat, much like iPhones from the past few years, a step up from the rounded edges of previous Pixel phones. While we can’t see the sides of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, it appears similar in appearance to the Pixel 9 Pro — though the rounded edges of the cover’s display are more pronounced, making it appear as if it’s nestled into the metal frame in a way that the Pixel Fold hid with a layer of black between the display and hinge.
Google often previews its own products before they hit the market, so it’s no surprise that we’ll be seeing its new phones ahead of the August 13 launch. We’ll have to wait and see if any other devices are revealed next month, though.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: almost my favorite foldable phone yet
Look at this: Galaxy Z Fold 6: My day in Paris with Samsung’s new phone
