Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold could be the new name for Pixel Fold 2 (Exclusive)

Google has so far introduced just two phones in its flagship phone lineup. This has been the case since his original Pixel in 2016, but we’ve known for a while that things are about to change with the introduction of smaller Pro devices in the upcoming Pixel 9 lineup.

But thanks to Google insiders, Android permissions In a way we didn’t expect, we now know that a fourth Pixel 9 device could be coming this fall. It looks like Google’s next foldable smartphone will also be added to the lineup.

According to information obtained from Android permissionsGoogle has adjusted the naming scheme for Pixel devices in late 2024:

• Pixel 9 – Codename “tokay”
• Pixel 9 Pro – Codename “Caiman”
• Pixel 9 Pro XL – codename “komodo”
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold – Codename “Comet”

These names are also seen in some of the software built for Google’s 2024 devices.

It’s worth mentioning that until a relatively recent point in its development, Google referred to the device codenamed “comet” as “Pixel Fold 2.” There’s also a good chance that the name “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” isn’t final either. However, this is what Google currently uses.

If Google follows suit and releases a next-generation foldable device as a full-fledged member of the Pixel 9 series, it will mark a complete 180 from the first-generation Pixel Fold.

The first Pixel Fold (2023) was a disappointing device. This was announced at Google I/O on May 10, 2023, and is referred to internally at Google as a “mid-year” device. This was probably the first sign that Google wasn’t treating the Fold as a proper flagship release, given its staggering $1,799 price tag. It definitely should have been. Google typically releases his Pixel products in two major events each year. One is the fall event, which features his flagship Pixel smartphones, and the other is Google I/O in the spring, which usually features less prominent devices such as his Pixel A series.

The Pixel Fold shipped to customers in late June, more than two months after it was first announced. At the launch price, the buyer received his 9-month-old processor (Tensor G2, which is only slightly improved from the original Tensor) and only 3 years of Android version updates. But perhaps most disappointing of all is the fact that three months later, in October 2023, Google announced the Pixel 8 series. Not only was it equipped with a much-improved SoC Tensor G3, but it also boasted seven years of Android version updates. We’ve also introduced some unique software features, including support for Gemini Nano LLM with features like summarization in the Magic Editor and Recorder apps.

If Google decides to use the new name, it means it wants to integrate the next Fold even more tightly into its flagship tier, rather than leaving it as a separate niche and expensive device that felt like a bit of an afterthought. Compare it to other devices in Google’s lineup.

We’ve already seen one way Google is doing just this. As previously revealed, Android permissions, the second-generation Pixel Fold skips Tensor G3 and uses the new Tensor G4 chip instead. This alone solves one of the major problems with the original Pixel Fold. Additionally, leaked renders show that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s design is closer to that of other Pixel 9 devices, unlike the original Pixel Fold, which looked more like the Pixel 7 than the Pixel 8.

Interestingly, such a move would also make Google the only manufacturer to integrate its foldable devices into a “major” device family. Other brands have completely different lineups of foldable smartphones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z and Motorola’s Razr. Google would show its dedication by making foldable an option when purchasing its flagship Pixel, rather than a separate option that feels like a separate device.

It’s interesting to see a move like this after Google treated the original Pixel Fold as something of a second-rate flagship. If Google decides to move forward with this different name and approach, we’ll certainly be keeping an eye on it to see if the phone really deserves its new name. We’ll also have to wait and see if this means a date change and if this phone will debut alongside the rest of the Pixel 9 series in October instead of Google I/O in May.