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Apr 07, 2023

Does The Pixel Fold Come With A Stylus? What You Need To Know

The Pixel Fold marks Google's debut in the foldable smartphone category, but

The Pixel Fold marks Google's debut in the foldable smartphone category, but does it feature stylus support like the Samsung Galaxy Fold?

Google has finally launched Pixel Fold, but does the foldable smartphone come with a stylus in the box? The Pixel Fold features the more conventional folding tablet form factor – when closed, it looks like a regular smartphone, and when opened, it transforms into a small tablet. This makes the larger screen ideal for watching videos, reading, or even sketching, as Samsung has proved with the Galaxy Z Fold series.

Unfortunately, while the Pixel Fold features a large inner display, it does not come with a stylus in the box. This wouldn't really be a deal-breaker, given that Samsung doesn't bundle an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 either. Unfortunately, Google missed the mark by not even including stylus support. Google doesn't sell a stylus for the Pixel Fold, and unlike the Pixel Tablet, users can't buy a third-party stylus either. It feels like a missed opportunity for Google, and one that might give Samsung the upper hand.

Related: Is Google's Pixel Fold Waterproof? Here's What You Need To Know

While not having stylus support is a bummer, Google has compensated by including two excellent displays on the Pixel Fold. The outer display is a 5.8-inch panel that can be used like a regular smartphone display. It's wider and shorter than the Galaxy Z Fold 4's outer display, which makes it easier to type on. The inner display is a 7.6-inch panel with a 6:5 aspect ratio that's ideal for using in landscape mode. Both screens are OLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate and always-on display support. While the outer display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, the inner screen has Ultra Thin Glass and a protective plastic layer on top.

Expectedly, Google has included a few software features for the inner screen. Split Screen mode lets users open two apps side by side, and there's a drag and drop functionality that lets users drag images, text, videos, and links from one app and drop them into another. For example, users can drag images from Google Photos and drop them into Messages or Mail.

Google is also introducing a Live Translate interpreter mode for the Pixel Fold, which displays translations on both screens. This allows users to show the other person the translated text on the outer screen, while viewing the translations on the inner screen. The dual displays also let users capture high-resolution images with the rear camera by using the cover display as a viewfinder. Additionally, tabletop mode lets users watch content or capture images without a tripod or stand by unfolding the smartphone 90 degrees. In apps like YouTube, the top half of the screen plays the video, while the bottom half displays playback controls.

Clearly, Google's put a lot of thought into the various use cases of the Pixel Fold's dual screens, but including stylus support wasn't on its list of priorities. This could be a way to differentiate the smartphone from the Galaxy Z Fold, and focus on the other experiences instead. Either way, if users want a foldable smartphone that can be used for drawing or taking notes, the Pixel Fold doesn't make the cut.

Source: Google