Ben Schoon Argues the Original Pixel Fold Was Ahead of Its Time
- In a recent column for 9To5Google, tech writer Ben Schoon argues that Google’s original Pixel Fold was way ahead of its time.
- Schoon notes that while he previously called the first-generation device better than it should be, but far from perfect, the hardware has not aged particularly well over three...
- Despite its flaws, Schoon argues that the original Pixel Fold nailed the core idea of its wider form factor.
In a recent column for 9To5Google, tech writer Ben Schoon argues that Google’s original Pixel Fold was way ahead of its time. Released in 2023 during the early growing pains of the foldable market, the device offered sturdy hardware, respectable cameras, and fewer compromises than most other foldables of that era.
Schoon notes that while he previously called the first-generation device better than it should be, but far from perfect,
the hardware has not aged particularly well over three years. He points out that the glossy finish of the metal frame acts as a heavy fingerprint magnet, the phone possesses a wild amount of sheer heft, features a huge crease down the center, and remains quite thick. He highlights that the Tensor G2 processor's heat management issues ultimately served as a deal-breaker during his previous use of the device.
Google Pioneered a Wider Foldable Design for Multitasking
Despite its flaws, Schoon argues that the original Pixel Fold nailed the core idea of its wider form factor. In the wake of Apple entering the foldable market, brands are rapidly pivoting to wider form factors that resonate with customers, mirroring the design choice Google executed three years prior. This wider canvas was originally designed to facilitate better multitasking and trigger proper tablet versions of Android apps rather than simply stretching phone apps across a larger screen. However, Google ultimately abandoned the design because Android apps and wider canvases were still in the minority and not fully ready at the time.
Google’s History of Abandoned Ideas
Schoon expresses frustration that Google gave up on the wide form factor so quickly, drawing a parallel to other discontinued Google products and services such as Inbox and Stadia. While acknowledging that Google’s pivot away from the design likely made sense given the app ecosystem constraints of 2023, the column concludes with the writer hoping that Google eventually revisits the wide foldable design in the future.