Google is all set to launch its new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and more and more leaks are confirming that this new device will look almost exactly the same as last year’s OnePlus Open.
This edition of 9to5Google Weekender is part of the relaunched 9to5Google newsletter, which highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and fun facts. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox sooner!
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold – a terrible name for what should really just be the “Pixel Fold 2” – is expected to be announced alongside Google’s other new flagships at an event on August 13. The refreshed foldable phone features a drastically different design than the original Pixel Fold, ditching the short-and-wide aspect ratio outer display and super-wide inner display in favor of a more “traditional” design more in line with other book-style foldable phones on the market.
But the more we see of it, the more it has in common with the OnePlus Open.
New Pixel 9 Pro Fold leaks this week show a foldable device with an outer display that’s wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, while also offering a first look at the inner display that could be a way less noticeable fold in the middle. It looks great, but also super familiar.
Starting with the exterior, the parts of the device where the glass meets the hinge have the glass curve in line with the other side, which meets a piece of metal that lines up with the flat edge of the hinge. This also makes for a front display with a not-so-small, but distinct bezel.
Inside, the display itself has uniform bezels and a raised black piece of plastic for protection. The selfie camera is mounted in the top right corner.
All of those design features are nearly identical to those of the OnePlus Open. All foldables share certain parts of their design, but the similarities here are uncanny.
This isn’t the first time that Google’s foldable phone has looked strikingly similar to an Oppo design. The original Pixel Fold had a fairly unique look and feel, but as we mentioned, its shape and aspect ratio were strikingly similar to Oppo’s first two Find N foldables.
It’s hard not to imagine that Oppo is somehow involved in Google’s design and/or manufacturing. It’s not exactly likely, and there’s no evidence that it is, but it’s an idea that I can’t get out of my head as I see more and more elements of Oppo’s foldable phones popping up in Google’s.
And none of this is to say that this is a bad move by Google. As far as I’m concerned, the OnePlus Open is the gold standard for foldable phones, at least in the US. If the Pixel’s hardware is anything like that, we’re in for a good time.
Top stories of this week
Android 15 is ready and raring to go…
This week Google released the fourth and probably latest Android 15 beta update. Beta 4 doesn’t really bring any user-facing changes, but is focused on bug fixes. In theory, this means the update is ready for the Pixel 9 launch next month.
Oh hey, look, it’s the Pixel 9 again
As if you couldn’t have guessed, there were even more Pixel 9 leaks this week. That includes a few hands-on videos, as well as an official design reveal from Google itself.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 review
This week we also published our review of Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 6. And… is it any good? It’s a really good foldable phone, but it just can’t compete with the increasingly fantastic competition.
More top stories
From the rest of 9to5
9to5Mac: How to Customize and Use the All-New Control Center in iOS 18
Electrification: Cybertruck’s renewed hubcaps are ready for use almost half a year later
9to5Toys: Everyone Wants to Get Their Hands on the ‘Most Brutal Xbox Controller’ Yet + New Deadpool Console
FTC: We use income generating automatic affiliate links. More.
