Google Pixel Fold 2 has become much more interesting

Google is expected to be working on the Pixel Fold 2, and according to a new report, Google’s second foldable phone could get a much-needed performance upgrade. We’re talking about a significantly improved processor and significantly more RAM, and both options are good value. Really important.

According to a recent report from Android Authority, citing an anonymous source, “Google has been testing the Pixel Fold 2 internally for the past few months.” This shouldn’t be a big surprise. The most interesting part is that the Pixel Fold 2 will reportedly have a Tensor G4 chipset instead of the Tensor G3 found in the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Google has yet to announce its Tensor G4 chip, although it will likely debut on the Pixel 9 series this fall.

For comparison, the first Google Pixel Fold came with a Tensor G2 chip. Assuming the Android Authority report is correct, we’re looking at a two-generation processor upgrade for Google’s next foldable phone. Additionally, the report also claims that existing Pixel Fold 2 prototypes have 16GB of RAM with UFS 4.0 storage. This will be a fairly significant upgrade over 12GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, likely allowing for smoother multitasking and faster app loading times.

While details about the Tensor G4 chip are relatively sparse at the moment, it’s hard not to be excited about the prospect of moving from the Tensor G2 to the Tensor G4.

The Pixel Fold was Google’s first rugged foldable phone, but its performance and battery life lag behind Qualcomm’s more powerful chips in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open. The Google Tensor G3 has already proven to be a significantly more reliable chip than its G2 predecessor, so an even better version is a good deal.

Assuming the Tensor G4 report is true, this also changes our expectations for the launch of the Pixel Fold 2. The first was announced in May 2023 and released at the end of June. We don’t expect the Tensor G4 chip to be announced until October, along with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. If the news about Tensor G4 is true, the new version may not arrive until late 2024 or sometime in 2025.

Of course, everything depends on the accuracy of the Android Authority report. It is possible that the Pixel Fold 2 will be introduced in May with the Tensor G3 chip. However, I certainly hope that this is not the case. The Pixel Fold 2 laid a solid foundation for Google’s foldable device ambitions, and this leap in performance is exactly what this phone needs.