Google Pixel Foldable Phablet Coming Soon? According to new reports, Google has asked Samsung to develop a foldable OLED display for a phablet that could be released later this year.

Korean tech site The Elec (via 9to5Google) reported that Google has "asked Samsung Display to develop a 7.6-inch size foldable OLED panel." This is the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, for reference, and foreshadows what a Pixel foldable phone could look like.

We have seen hints of the so-called Pixel Fold foldable phone before, but there has been no update on the project under wraps since the Google Pixel 5 lineup launched last year. Perhaps the foldable is destined to accompany the Google Pixel 6 handset, which is expected to launch this fall.

The Elec report also names Oppo and Xiaomi as smartphone manufacturers to whom Samsung is reportedly providing displays. The site states that "smartphones using these panels will be available by the end of the year," but does not reveal which brands will bring their new folderable devices to market before the others.

Whatever the launch date of the Google Foldable, the report confirms an important detail about the rumored phone. Previously, it was not known whether Google would follow Samsung's approach to engineering foldable smartphones or whether it would produce something like Microsoft's Surface Duo.

Now it appears that Google is building a true Galaxy Z series rival that may emerge to battle the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, or even the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. According to Elec, Samsung is a trio of smartphone makers developing both inner-folding (think Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip) and outer-folding (think Huawei Mate X) displays for them, but it is not clear which design Google has requested.

In any case, the most exciting thing about the Google Pixel Fold (or foldable Google Pixel, whatever) is not the hardware. It's the company's willingness to maximize Android's potential with a larger screen. Samsung is getting by, but the current phablet Android experience could certainly be smoother.