TechInsights Teardown: Google Pixel Fold

The Google Pixel Fold is a foldable smartphone that transforms from a 5.8 inch display into a 7.6 inch display. Source: TechInsights

Editor’s note: Information from this teardown is supplied courtesy of TechInsights. Learn more about the Google Pixel Fold smartphone teardown here.

While still considered a niche sector, foldable phones are growing not just in number but in popularity among consumers.

The key to foldable smartphones is the ability to carry or use them as a traditional mobile device but then be able to fold it open to a much larger screen for watching movies or streaming. Then when done watching the movie, it folds back to be able to put in a pocket or backpack.

Nearly all telecoms have some type of foldable phone available and mobile handset vendors seem to be committed to rolling these out on a regular yearly basis. In fact, Google has been rumored to release its Google Pixel Fold 2 in the coming months.

The Google Pixel Fold was released last year and billed as having the same features as the Google Pixel but with this ability to fold into a larger device. The Google Pixel Fold is a standard 5.8 inch display but then folds into a 7.6 inch display.

The device includes Googles Tensor G2 applications processor, its proprietary device it looks to compete with Apple and Samsung in the smartphone market. It also has Google’s Titan M2 security processor for encryption and security.

The following is a partial deep dive into the Google Pixel Fold conducted by TechInsights.

Summary

7.6 inch AMOLED
12 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
8 MP main camera
58 MP wide-angle camera

Price: $1,799

Availability: Worldwide

Target market: Consumer, communications

Released: June 2023

Main board

The main board houses many of the main components on board the Google Pixel Fold such as Google’s own Tensor G2 applications processor and its Titan M2 security processor as well as many other components. Source: TechInsight

The main board is the brains and heart of the Google Pixel Fold smartphone with the main applications processor the Google Tensor G2 and 256 GB 3D TLC NAND flash memory and 12 GB mobile LPDDR5 SDRAM from Micron Technology. Other electronic components on the board include:

Samsung’s 5G NR baseband processor, 5G transceiver, clock buffer and Wi-Fi 6e/Bluetooth module
Qorvo’s RF antenna tuner
Qualcomm’s SAW filter
Nexperia’s Dual two-input AND gate
Google’s Titan M2 security processor
NXP Semiconductor’s SIM card interface
Texas Instruments’ 1.5-amp dual LED flash driver and hall effect sensor
Analog Devices’ 4.4-amp buck boost DC-DC converter
Torex Semiconductor’s LDO regulator
Silicon Mitus’ display power management IC
Renesas’ power management IC
Broadcom’s dual frequency GPS receiver with sensor hub
Murata’s saw filters

(Learn more about microprocessors and microcontrollers on Globalspec.com)

The mmWave board connects the Google Pixel Fold to a 5G network with the main electronic components from Murata. Source: TechInsights

5G mmWave board

The mmWave board contains components needed to connect to mmWave frequencies on the Google Pixel Fold. Electronic components on this board include Murata’s 5G RF transceivers and Samsung’s power management ICs.

(Learn more about networking chips on Globalspec.com)

The sim board MEMS sensors and RF tuners for applications on board the Google Pixel Fold. Source: TechInsights