Just days before its official product launch, Google has given a sneak peek at its first foldable smartphone.

In a video shared on Twitter and YouTube, Google showcased the Pixel Fold, featuring a vertical hinge that opens up to reveal a tablet-sized display.

The company’s annual developer conference will take place next week at its headquarters in Mountain View, California. Alongside the Pixel Fold, Google is expected to introduce the Pixel 7a budget phone, the latest version of Android, and updates to its AI-powered Bard chatbot.

While Google hasn’t yet disclosed the full specifications of the Pixel Fold, it’s common for tech companies to tease products ahead of major events to build anticipation and set expectations. Surprises are rare in today’s tech landscape, where rumors and leaks often emerge early.

Although foldable phones are generating buzz, particularly among celebrities and influencers, the market remains niche. Samsung leads the way in this space, with other competitors like Motorola/Lenovo, Oppo, and Huawei. According to ABI Research, foldable and flexible displays accounted for just 0.7% of the smartphone market in 2021, with the share expected to approach 2% in 2022.

One barrier to wider adoption has been the high price point. The Pixel Fold is rumored to start at $1,700.

Google’s move into foldable phones isn’t surprising, but the company may have waited until the technology matured. Early iterations of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold faced challenges with screen durability, and many apps were not optimized for the foldable format.

‘Google has been improving the software experience for foldable devices,’ said Michael Inouye, an analyst at ABI Research. ‘With hardware advancements, the market is now at a point where a Pixel Fold makes sense.'”