Google to launch foldable Pixel smartphone in 2021

Google's foldable Pixel smartphone could come with a 7.6-inch display.

The report, which also talks about similar displays being developed for Oppo and Xiaomi also says that this smartphone is likely to launch within this year. (REUTERS)

Google has long been said to be working on a foldable display smartphone. Now, new reports indicate that the company might finally launch a foldable display smartphone later this year.

As per a report by The Elec, Samsung Display is currently developing in-folding foldable OLED displays for Google. While the report doesn't reveal much about Google's upcoming foldable display smartphone, it does reveal that Google has requested Samsung Display to develop a foldable OLED panel with a screen size of around 7.6-inch.

The report, which also talks about similar displays being developed for Oppo and Xiaomi also says that this smartphone is likely to launch within this year. If this report is indeed true, we could see Google launching a foldable display Pixel smartphone in the final quarter of the year around the time when it typically launches its Pixel smartphones.

Notably, this is not the first time that reports have detailed the possibility of Google launching a foldable Pixel smartphone. We first heard about such a device back in 2019, which hinted towards the company looking into a Z-fold design. Then ahead I/O 2020, Mario Queiroz, who leads the development of Pixel phones, as per a CNET report said that the company was in no hurry to bring a foldable display phone to the market, which killed the buzz around the possibility of a foldable Pixel phone. But now, the new report suggests otherwise. That said, Google hasn't commented on the matter yet. And so, for now, we would take all such reports with a pinch of salt.