Google to Unveil 1st Foldable Smartphone Design

Google showed possible design for foldable Pixel device, according to WindowsUnited.de report on Tuesday. the firm filed two patents for a foldable smartphone to WIPO ''World Intellectual Property Organization'' last year. The designs were recently published.

The Patents filed by Google at WIPO. Publication numbered 2021/011949 and 20210018961, it shows that the designs in question has a hinge mechanism.

we can see thick ridge-like structures supporting the frame. Google specifies it as a plurality of hinge assemblies suggesting a multi-segment hinge. One of the images also shows what looks to be a separate assembly with hinges to join the display and the frame.

Meanwhile, the firm shows two different implementations for a foldable device. Where the 1st device would fold inwards like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, the 2nd one would fold outwards like the Huawei Mate Xs instead.

Later, the firm announced its plans to release its first foldable Pixel phone in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a report from 9to5Google citing an internal company document.

The document is said to list versions of Google's mobile operating system for all of the company's existing phones and unreleased models, including a foldable device codenamed "passport."

Noteworthy, the companies such as; Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei introduced their first foldable phone models in 2019, although it's unclear how well those models have been selling. Samsung is on its third foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which it announced in 2020.