A recent patent found by 91Mobiles(opens in new tab) shows the anticipated Google Pixel Fold will differ from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 in one critical detail, bringing us one step closer to the rumored foldable.
In June 2021, Google filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that includes drawings of the Pixel Fold, which show a device with a design reminiscent of the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The shown gadget opens like a book to reveal a tablet-style display within, similar to the design of the illustrated device’s hinge.
However, the Pixel Fold appears to be following Samsung’s lead and opting to place its internal selfie camera in a thicker-than-usual bezel surrounding the display, rather than under the screen. Below are some illustrations from the patent that you can examine.
Whence Then Does This Massive Bezel?
While Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line has been widely praised for successfully perfecting the “phone that unfolds into a tiny tablet” form factor, the innovative under-display selfie camera has been criticized by certain customers.
Since its introduction with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 last year, the under-display camera has been well praised for its sleek design, which keeps the 7.6-inch screen visible at all times.
However, this comes at a cost in terms of image quality, with selfies typically resulting in low-resolution shots that need extensive editing to seem passable. So, the internal camera isn’t the best for FaceTime or other video calls on the iPhone.
Due to the high quality of the cameras in Google’s smartphones, it is not surprising that the company would try to circumvent this problem by including a front-facing camera in the bezel of its own foldable smartphone.
The value of this cosmetic sacrifice is up in the air, but we anticipate that Google’s selfie capabilities will suffer less than Samsung’s when the Pixel Fold is finally unveiled. It’s important to note that at this time, none of this has been proven.
