Just hours away from the announcement of the new Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, there’s recently been a clue hinting that the tech giant might be working on a new smartphone. But that’s not all – the hint discovered by the publication 9to5Google suggests that those at Mountain View are developing a new line of foldable phones that don’t belong to the Pixel Fold series.
The mentioned publication suggests that through the code of the latest version of the Pixel Buds app, a new, unannounced, and entirely unknown Pixel device has been revealed. In fact, this device is listed under the codename “Comet,” which is quite different from the nomenclature typically used for Pixel devices. For example, Pixel 8 devices had names based on dog breeds, while it’s rumored that the upcoming Pixel 9 devices will be associated with names of reptiles.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip might have a new competitor from Google
This “Comet” device doesn’t seem to fit into either of the two mentioned Google device series. All of this speculation has given rise to various theories, including the possibility of a new foldable Pixel by Google. This new device could feature different specifications and a more affordable price compared to the existing models from the company.
While it might make some sense to consider “Comet” as a new addition to the Pixel Fold series, given that the first version of this series was launched just a few months ago, it would be quite unusual. So, without ruling out any possibilities since there’s no official confirmation yet, it’s highly likely that the company is working on a new model of foldable phones with a clamshell design, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, making it a direct competitor.
There’s no expectation that this rumored new foldable phone by Google will be mentioned during the announcement of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. However, it doesn’t rule out the possibility that this device, which we could refer to as Pixel Flip, might be launched soon at a more affordable price point compared to the Pixel Fold series (which is priced at $1,800). Nevertheless, this launch could potentially happen outside Google’s regular release cycle.
We’ll see if this ends up being confirmed, but if true, we could be witnessing the arrival of a significant competitor for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, as we’ve already discussed. Interestingly, Samsung itself acknowledged that the Galaxy Z Flip was more popular than the Z Fold. It would indeed be intriguing to see another contender in the market for these clamshell-style foldable devices.
