Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is great — but I’m holding out for Google Pixel Fold

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is great — only I'k holding out for Google Pixel Fold

(Image credit: Waqar Khan | Remix via Nick Bush)

I've been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 for several weeks, and other than its impaired name, I'm rather impressed by it. Having a meaty tablet that you can easily slip into or pocket or pocketbook is bully. And the overall feel of the hardware is top notch, too.

So it's no surprise that the Milky way Z Fold 3 is 1 of the best foldable phones you can get right now. But would I buy 1 of my own? No. That'due south because I'm waiting to come across if the Google Pixel Fold makes the jump from rumor to reality.

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For some time now Google has been tipped to be working on a foldable telephone. And those rumors have stepped up recently, suggesting a Pixel Fold could exist revealed at the upcoming Google Pixel Fall launch issue on October 19.

Now, I'd take that with a pinch of salt. Only the Google Pixel 6 has been well and truly leaked, with the search giant pretty much spilling the beans itself, meaning a surprise product at the next Google showcase could happen. And a new advertizing from Google would propose at that place's some foldable news on the horizon.

Fifty-fifty if it's not revealed, there's a potent run a risk that Google is indeed working on a Pixel Fold. And it'due south got me thinking what it needs to deliver to vanquish the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and make folding phones truly compelling.

Google Pixel Fold: Slimmer and sleeker?

(Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

First off, let me address my biggest gripe with the Galaxy Z Fold 3; it'due south too frickin' big. Obviously, making a device with two screens, 1 of which is tablet-sized, is no mean feat and requires some handset girth. Only oh boy, do you feel the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in your pocket. And then much and then that I tend to put information technology in a backpack rather than slip it into the pocket of my jeans or glaze; that'south hardly handy.

So the Pixel Fold could offer a slimmer overall packet. Google hasn't got a reputation for making super-slim phones  — in fact, Samsung tends to be the one for that given how svelte the Galaxy S21 is — merely the company is no stranger to highly-engineered devices; the Pixelbook, a loftier-end Chromebook, is 1 such example.

And Google has proven it can practice more than with less, given the Pixel 5 only has two rear cameras but is still one of the best camera phones around. So the Pixel Fold could describe on that expertise and perhaps come with one rear photographic camera that cuts down on the need for a lot of internal hardware and relies on Google's computational photography chops to deliver impressive photos.

Give the Pixel 6 is coming with Google'south own Tensor fleck, there's a chance it could also utilise that piece of silicon in the Pixel Fold. Having a custom chip would give Google greater control over the internal hardware layout of a folding phone, such equally treatment cooling, meaning information technology tin can get smarter with packaging and make a slimmer folding device.

The Tensor scrap advantage

(Image credit: Google)

Speaking of Tensor, it could be the use of a custom chip that would give the Pixel Fold a competitive edge over other foldable phones.

The Galaxy Z Fold three makes use of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 chipset, a high-finish chip found in many flagship Android phones. Every bit such, Samsung's foldable phone will easily chew through benchmarks.

Nonetheless, in real-earth use, I establish that the Galaxy Z Fold 3 can occasionally feel less than screaming-quick. Maybe information technology'due south simply my perception for using the seriously optimized iPhone 12 or the very fast Oppo Find X3 Pro, but when multitasking or trying to bounce between using apps on the Galaxy Z Fold three's encompass screen and its tablet display, the phone can occasionally feel a step behind my actions. Information technology's not a huge deal, but it lessens the feel I'd hope to get from a folding telephone.

This is where the Tensor could be an ace in the hole for Pixel Fold, or indeed other time to come Google phones. While we don't know the official capabilities of the Tensor chip, Google has already talked upward its potential to help a phone react meliorate to how the device is used.

For example, if I were to open up the Pixel Fold at eight a.m. on a Monday, the phone would open the Amazon Kindle app having learnt that I tend to read digital books and magazines when commuting. Equally, Tensor could better learn how I type on the touchscreen display, so when I'thousand tapping out an email at speed, the Pixel Fold's Tensor chip smarts could more intuitively correct my rampant typos.

In essence, these smarts could exist used to make information technology feel similar a foldable phone that'south working for me rather than needing me to adapt to its diverse functions; I've never constitute it piece of cake to manage separate screen apps on Samsung phones, for example.

Pixel Fold: Slicker software

(Image credit: Google)

And that leads me onto the Pixel Fold's potential software. Like previous Pixel phones, it would be safe to assume the Pixel Fold would brand use of Android 12 with the Pixel Launcher on top. That ways a make clean Android experience with a few extras on top that add together to the experience rather than bloat Google's mobile operating system.

I'd expect any software for the Pixel Fold to be perfectly optimized by Google, with apps like Gmail, Chrome, Docs and and so on rebuild from the ground up to neatly work across both a meaty tablet display as well as a standard phone screen. Whereas the likes of Samsung need to rework their standard apps and rely on third-political party developer support to go apps to piece of work on foldable displays; in my feel with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the results thus far accept been varied.

Google has already gone some way to enable developers to more easily design apps for foldables, and it is a key parter of Samsung for its foldables. But I reckon if Google does indeed brand a foldable phone, information technology'due south development kit, optimizations and app tweaks will become more prolific and embedded into the cadre of Android.

I've ever found Pixel handsets to offering the very all-time Android phone experience around, so I would expect the Pixel Fold to do the same for folding phones. And the idea of super optimized apps on a folding phone really boost the appeal of such devices, particularly if well-integrated gesture control is used.

Of course, all this could stop upwards beingness wishful thinking if information technology turns out that Google isn't working on a foldable phone; afterward all, there have been a lot of rumors effectually a Pixel Watch and that has yet to materialize.

Nevertheless, I'm hopeful that as more than foldable phones go far, Google will make them equally intuitive and effective as possible. That'll make them compelling phones for more people rather than expensive niche handsets.

• More: Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 5a: Which Pixel is best for you?

Roland Moore-Colyer is U.K. Editor at Tom'south Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he's as well got an involvement in cars. When not at his desk Roland can exist plant wandering effectually London, often with a look of curiosity on his confront.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-is-great-but-im-holding-out-for-google-pixel-fold

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