Technologies

Foldable Tablets Are More Than Just a Gimmick Thanks to Samsung and LG

Commentary: At CES 2023, we saw promising concept tablets that bend and slide without breaking.

Foldable phones are all the rage, with Samsung, Oppo and Motorola, releasing their own devices. Other companies, like Apple and Google, are rumored to be working on versions of their flagship products with foldable designs.

But at CES 2023, foldable tablets are what piqued my curiosity. Samsung and LG, two of the world’s largest display-makers, both showcased tablet-like devices in various shapes and sizes that can bend, fold, slide or do all three.

These concepts got me wondering about whether there’s a real future for foldable tablets, especially at a time when companies are struggling to sell traditional tablets. What is clear, however, is that companies like Samsung and LG are thinking about it, as are PC-makers like Lenovo and Acer.

The more I’ve thought about it, the more a foldable tablet starts to make sense — maybe even more so than a foldable phone.

Samsung and LG’s foldable concepts at CES 2023

Samsung and LG both kicked off CES 2023 with announcements about their concept foldable displays, many of which come in tablet-sized formats. The star of the show was Samsung’s Flex Hybrid, a concept that you have to see to fully understand.

It closes like a notebook and opens up to reveal a tablet-like screen. But the real wow factor is that you can extend the screen’s size and even change its aspect ratio when unfolded. The right side of the screen slides out, extending the display size from 10.5 inches to 12.4 inches. In a demonstration at its CES booth, Samsung showed how the display automatically adjusts to show more content when the screen is extended.

This isn’t the first time Samsung has exhibited concepts like this. In 2022, Samsung flaunted accordion-like displays and sliding screens, designs that are also present this year.

Samsung has other ideas for shapeshifting tablets, too. It also showed the Flex Slidable Duet concept at CES, a screen that expands on both sides to provide more viewing area for playing games or watching movies. The display measures 13 to 14 inches but can extend up to 17.3 inches, according to a Samsung press release. There’s also a version of this concept that can only expand its screen in one direction, a device that Samsung appropriately calls the Flex Slidable Solo.

LG had two main foldable tablet concepts to show at CES: an 8-inch tablet that can fold inward and outward in both directions, and a 17-inch device that folds in half. LG asserts that the 17-inch display is almost entirely creaseless, and the company is positioning it as either a giant tablet or a more portable external monitor for a laptop.

The gadgets shown at CES are far from being the first foldable tablets. There are Lenovo’s X1 Fold and newer ThinkPad X1 Fold, while Asus has the Zenbook Fold OLED. LG’s 17-inch concept largely looks like it’s trying to accomplish the same goal that Lenovo and Asus have already begun to explore with these devices.

The big question is whether these companies can convince consumers that foldable tablets are even useful in the first place. Samsung is seemingly trying to address this conundrum by developing screens that can change their shape and size to go along with how you’re using your device. Based on Samsung’s demo of the Flex Hybrid, it looks like you’ll be able to view content that wasn’t visible before when expanding the slideable portion of the screen. The clip above seems to show a shopping website as an example, with more products being shown as the screen expands.

Lenovo already has some interesting ideas about how to put the X1 Fold’s bendable screen to good use. When the screen is folded halfway, you can place Lenovo’s Bluetooth keyboard over the bottom half of the screen so that it functions as a mini laptop.

Samsung also isn’t the only company experimenting with displays that can expand by sliding and rolling. TCL and Motorola have both dreamed up similar concepts for smartphone designs, although Samsung’s feels closer to an actual product given its experience in foldables. Samsung is also the world’s largest smartphone-maker and second-largest tablet-maker, which makes its concepts seem more impactful than those from TCL and Motorola. While LG no longer has a presence in the mobile industry, it’s a major display supplier and still makes its own laptops.

Foldable tablets may have advantages over foldable phones

Having a phone that can fold in half to easily fit in your pocket can certainly be useful. But a tablet that can do the same thing is even better, mostly for the simple reason that tablets are inherently larger than most phones.

There’s another advantage: Foldable tablets may not face all of the same design challenges that bendable phones have encountered so far. For example, one of my biggest complaints about the Galaxy Z Fold lineup has been that it sometimes feels awkward to use when closed. The cover screen has vastly improved since the first Galaxy Fold arrived in 2019, but it still doesn’t come close to feeling like a standard, nonfolding phone.

The Galaxy Z Fold also feels bulky when closed since its thickness essentially equates to two phones stacked on top of one another. When I reviewed Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 in 2021, I struggled to find a comfortable way to hold it when taking photos with the main camera since you must keep the phone unfolded to see what you’re shooting.

These drawbacks may not be as big of an issue with foldable tablets. Unlike phones, you’re probably not going to be using a tablet in one hand most of the time. An outer display on a foldable tablet, if there even is one, wouldn’t matter as much because you’re presumably going to be using the device unfolded. The foldable tablets I’ve seen so far don’t even have cover screens.

Aside from the selfie camera for video chats, camera quality also isn’t as important on a tablet as it is on a phone. So the awkwardness issue I mentioned when taking photos with the Surface Duo 2 likely wouldn’t happen on a foldable tablet.

The primary appeal behind foldable tablets from Samsung, LG, Lenovo and Acer — concept or not — is portability. Having a tablet that folds in half makes it easier to fit in a backpack, suitcase or purse on your next flight, commute or beach trip. But phones are already compact in their current form, meaning the value proposition behind phones like the Galaxy Z Fold can be a little harder to sell.

That doesn’t mean foldable tablets are immune from design hiccups, as my colleague Dan Ackerman wrote when trying out Lenovo’s and Acer’s devices. Creating larger displays that bend and fold likely presents its own set of engineering challenges compared to foldable phones.

Foldable phones are also moving more quickly, with market researcher IDC forecasting a 66.6% year-over-year increase in global shipments in 2022. So even though foldable phones may have different hurdles to overcome, companies like Samsung have been able to address these points over several generations of products so far.

Tablets need a refresh

Tablet sales got a boost during the early phase of the pandemic as people socialized, worked and attended school virtually. But sales looked bleak last year. Global tablet shipments were down 8.8% year over year in the third quarter of 2022, marking the fifth straight quarter of decline, according to IDC. That slump was mostly due to economic headwinds as consumers are looking to spend less, says the report.

New tablets with shapeshifting displays may not be enough to change that, especially since foldable devices are typically expensive. But tablets are still long overdue for a refresh. Arguably, the tablet’s biggest transformation since the first iPad’s launch has been the shift toward laptop-tablet hybrid devices, a transition that began roughly a decade ago around the debut of Windows 8. But tablets haven’t fundamentally changed much since then, aside from adapting larger screens and gaining routine hardware upgrades.

It took years for those hybrid devices to work out their kinks and become mainstays in our lives. If foldable tablets catch on, the case will likely be the same, mostly because of high prices and software challenges. But the concepts present at CES show that progress is certainly happening.

The goal for all tablets, foldable or not, is to provide a larger display for tasks that your phone may not be ideal for such as gaming, watching movies, reading and working. So finding creative ways to further extend that screen size, as Samsung has done with the Flex Hybrid’s slidable screen, seems like a natural evolution.

Foldable phones still feel like they’re in search of a purpose, but foldable tablets may have already found one.

Technologies

Made by Google 2025: The Biggest Pixel 10 Leaks We’ve Heard Ahead of Launch

Google’s Pixel 10 could get plenty of new features alongside its new processor, camera systems and magnets. Here’s what we know.

The new Pixel 10 line will debut Wednesday at the Made by Google event and it almost feels like we’ve already seen the phones revealed thanks to a combination of official glimpses of the new phones from Google alongside a plethora of rumors.

Google isn’t hiding that the Pixel 10 is coming, as the company itself has posted multiple stylized shots of the phone to promote its launch event. However, Google is still keeping detailed specs and features of the Pixel 10 line to itself so we won’t get the full picture until the official reveal — which is happening tomorrow, Aug. 20. Check out our Pixel 10 reveal liveblog for all the details.

Several recent rumors suggest a lot of new life to the phone line, though. While we do expect the Pixel line to reflect the overall lineup of the Pixel 9 — including a base Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold — rumors are pointing to significant changes to what’s inside these phones to make them more feature-packed than ever.

We’ve rounded up the biggest rumors we’ve found so far about the Pixel 10 line here and will continue updating as we hear more ahead of the Aug. 20 event.

How to watch the Made by Google event

The Made by Google event will begin at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) Wednesday and Google will be streaming the Pixel 10 reveals with a livestream on YouTube. You can also tune into CNET’s Made by Google preshow, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT). The preshow will be hosted by CNET’s Bridget Carey and PCMag’s Iyaz Akhtar, and feature the final analysis and commentary for what we know about the phones. The preshow will transition directly into Google’s event when it begins, and then afterward the postshow will dive into all of the new announcements.

Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL’s release date, pricing and cameras

Starting with the three non-folding phones in the Pixel 10 line that are getting revealed Aug. 20, we expect the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL to look similar to the Pixel 9 line on the outside. This includes the same rounded camera bar on the back. The entry-level Pixel 10 will get a new third rear camera. While we can see the third camera in the photos Google posted of the Pixel 10, according to a chart posted by known leaker Evan Blass, this will be a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera that will join a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide. This will help the Pixel 10 compare better with the base Galaxy S25, which also has a telephoto camera.

The 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL will continue to be differentiated from the standard Pixel 10 with a higher-specced camera system, which includes a 50-megapixel wide-angle, 48-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel telephoto, according to the same chart posted by Blass.

The colors for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro phones also appear to have leaked, with Android Headlines reporting that the base Pixel 10 will come in obsidian, indigo, frost and lemonade editions. These names would roughly correspond to a black, blueish purple, light blue and yellow, respectively. The Pro models will also come in four colors, with Android Headlines reporting models named obsidian, porcelain, moonstone and jade. Those should roughly match up to black, white, gray and a light green. More photos of these phones were posted by Blass, purporting to be the Pixel 10 lineup from the front, back and side profiles

Despite the concerns with tariffs, the Pixel 10 line is rumored to keep the same starting prices as the Pixel 9 line.

Pixel 10 line rumored prices

Phone	Storage	US Price
Pixel 10	128GB	$799
Pixel 10	256GB	$899
Pixel 10 Pro	128GB	$999
Pixel 10 Pro	256GB	$1,099
Pixel 10 Pro	512GB	$1,219
Pixel 10 Pro	1TB	$1,449
Pixel 10 Pro XL	256GB	$1,199
Pixel 10 Pro XL	512GB	$1,319
Pixel 10 Pro XL	1TB	$1,549

Pixel 10 could support Qi2 magnetic charging

The Pixel 10 series could support magnetic accessories, making it one of the few Android phones that would work with many of the MagSafe accessories that were first built to work with Apple’s iPhone. That’s because the Pixel 10 is rumored to fully support Qi2 wireless charging, which supports magnetic alignment and has magnets built into the phone without needing a case.

An image posted by Blass appears to show a Pixel 10 with a circular wireless charger attached to the back, likely using magnets similar to how MagSafe works with the iPhone. If this is the case, it’s a huge step for the Qi2 wireless standard, as the only other Android phone so far that supports magnetic accessories is the HMD Skyline.

This would allow the Pixel 10 series to natively work with magnetic phone chargers, wallets, mounts and other accessories. Google might also create its own branding for this feature, as an Android Authority report claims that official Pixel 10 accessories that magnetically attach would be called PixelSnap.

If this comes to be, it would also make it easier to swap accessories between the iPhone and the Pixel. In addition to the iPhone’s support for charging over USB-C, this would mean that MagSafe accessories first purchased to use with an iPhone should work just as well when swapping over to a Pixel 10 phone.

Google’s Tensor G5 chip

Following last year’s Tensor G4 chip in the Pixel 9 lineup, we presume that the Pixel 10 phones will be powered by a (supposedly named) Tensor G5 chip. We’ve heard a few Tensor G5 rumors, including that it will be made on an industry-standard 3nm process by chip fabricator TSMC, according to an Android Authority March report.

Other rumors are less promising, like a July report from WCCFTech suggesting that while the Tensor G5 is a significant upgrade on last year’s Tensor G4, a leaked benchmark test claims it will run slower than the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor that’s used in Samsung’s Galaxy S25 line and the OnePlus 13. That Qualcomm processor might also soon be surpassed by the next Qualcomm silicon coming at Snapdragon Summit in September. That’s not to imply the phone itself will perform slowly, as the same report says it will run faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor that powers

Whether the Tensor G5 trails other mobile chips isn’t as worrying as it might seem as the Tensor chips are built for Google’s Pixel devices — and those don’t seem to be underperforming in daily use. As CNET Editor-at-Large Andy Lanxon said about the Tensor G4 powering the Pixel 9 Pro XL, «On the one hand, it’s disappointing not to see more of a tangible improvement over the predecessor. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel like it’s lacking in power in any major way.»

Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google on Aug. 12 released a video that shows off what the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will look like. This peek only provides a look at the phone’s design — which seems to be similar to last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold — saving a more detailed look at its specs and cameras for the Aug. 20 event.

The more iterative design makes sense, as last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold already debuted a larger overhaul that altered its design from the wider passport-size original Pixel Fold to a taller, narrower format similar to other foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

One Pixel 10 Pro Fold rumor from WCCFTech only shared details about the supposed Tensor chip powering it. But a recent rumor from Blass suggests we could expect the usual upgrades: a new Tensor G5 chip, perhaps slight spec upgrades and maybe even similar camera or battery upgrades if they are announced for the Pixel 10 lineup.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold would presumably get Android 16 out of the box, but as that software upgrade has been released early (mere weeks after Google I/O 2025), last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold already has that update.

We’ll keep updating this roundup as we get closer to Google’s Aug. 20 event for the Pixel 10 series.

Technologies

Gears of War, Dragon Age and Herdling Coming to Xbox Game Pass in August

Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play Gears of War: Reloaded soon.

Gears of War is one of the most iconic Xbox series, spawning sequels, spinoffs and books. I fell in love with the series almost 20 years ago when the original landed on the Xbox 360. So I can’t wait to play the remastered edition of the game, called Gears of War: Reloaded, when it launches on Xbox Game Pass on Aug. 26.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to a large library of games, with new ones, like Doom: The Dark Ages, added monthly, plus other benefits such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.

Here are the games Microsoft is adding to Game Pass soon. You can also check out other games the company added to the service recently, like Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

Blacksmith Master (game preview)

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.

Adventuring in a medieval world can be fun and challenging but it can also be difficult work. If you’d rather run and manage a shop in a medieval setting, give Blacksmith Master a try. You run your own forge and have to manage resource acquisition, production and sale of goods. You’ll build your own forge, craft everything from utensils to weapons and become one of the most skilled craftsmen in the kingdom — all without fighting dragons or other dangerous creatures.

Void/Breaker (PC)

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.

You’re trapped by a ruthless AI in an endless loop where you’re forced to fight hostile enemies, die and then repeat. In this roguelite game, each time you die, you’ll face new challenges. Fast gunplay, quick movements and all-out destruction are your friends in this adrenaline-filled adventure. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get out one day.

Goat Simulator Remastered

New for Game Pass Standard subscribers on Aug. 20.

Chaos. That’s the best way to describe this game. You play as a goat and your mission is the total destruction of everything in sight. Can’t stand the look of that car? Run it off the road. Don’t like the town hall’s placement? Demolish it. Want that kid’s ice cream? Eat it. Do what you want in this sandbox-style game where anything is possible.

Game Pass Ultimate subscribers got access to this game in November and Game Pass Standard subscribers can get in on the fun soon, too.

Persona 4 Golden

Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play on Aug. 20.

A string of serial murders set this game in motion, where you’ll travel between the real world and the world within TVs as you try and find out who — or what — is behind the murders. You’ll explore your town and carry on daily activities, as well as travel to the TV World to explore different dungeons and battle monsters in this RPG.

Herdling

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 21.

Get ready for a grand alpine adventure as you shepherd some giant Calicorns — which look like Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender — up into a mountain pass. You’ll encounter eerie dangers, puzzles and more on your adventure. And before you ask, yes, you can pet these wonderful creatures.

Gears of War: Reloaded

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 26.

The iconic Gears series is back with a new, remastered edition of the original game. This game maintains the original story of Marcus Fenix and his squad as they take on the alien Locust hordes and it includes a bonus campaign act, every multiplayer map and mode, plus characters and cosmetics unlocked through progression.

This game is also coming to PlayStation 5 and PC, and thanks to cross-play functionality, you’ll be able to play with and against your friends on those platforms.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 28.

Step into the enchanted world of Thedas, a land full of untamed wilderness, glittering cities and strife. A pair of corrupt ancient gods has broken out of their hold and is wreaking havoc across the globe. It’s up to you to gather a team and stop them, but that’s just the main quest. You can also embark on side quests and companion quests that shed light on who they are and how the world is changing around you. Veilguard changes the Dragon Age formula with a more action-oriented approach, though it retains familiar aspects like branching dialog choices and skill trees. So get ready to dive into a wild adventure, make new friends and become a legend.

Games leaving Game Pass on Aug. 31

While Microsoft is adding those games to Game Pass soon, the company is also removing five others from the service on Aug. 31. So you still have some time to finish up your campaign or any side quests before you have to buy these games separately.

Ben 10: Power Trip

Borderlands 3
Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay
Sea of Stars
This War of Mine: Final Cut

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.

Technologies

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Beta Dates Have Been Revealed. Here’s How to Join

There are separate Game Pass subscription and preorder requirements to join the closed and open betas for the next Call of Duty game.

Clear your calendars for early October: The Black Ops 7 beta dates have been revealed on the game’s Xbox store listing, and they’re only a couple months away.

The next Call of Duty game is a collaboration between developers Treyarch and Raven Software, and it takes place after Black Ops 2 in the series’ chronology. While the Black Ops games jump around a confusing timeline, Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to a 13-year-old game.

The game’s beta will focus on classic Call of Duty multiplayer modes and feature a mix of six-versus-six and 20-versus-20 maps. This larger-scale action is reminiscent of the Battlefield series — a longtime competitor that just finished hosting a successful beta of its own.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 beta, including key dates and how to join the early access period.

Black Ops 7 closed beta date and requirements

If you want to jump into the Black Ops 7 closed beta and try the game before anyone else, you’ll need to shell out some cash. The early access beta begins on Oct. 2.

While access to the closed beta is limited, it’s still more widely available than previous Call of Duty closed betas. Usually, people who preorder the game get special access to the closed beta — this is still true with Call of Duty Black Ops 7. This time around, though, Microsoft is adding another way to play during the early-access beta period.

If you have an active Game Pass subscription, you’ll also be able to join the Black Ops 7 closed beta. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC and Game Pass Console plans are all valid subscriptions to gain access to the early Black Ops 7 beta.

Game Pass is already the best value gaming subscription plan available, so the Black Ops 7 closed beta access is just another way to sweeten the deal.

Black Ops 7 open beta access

Maybe you don’t want to preorder. Maybe you don’t like gaming subscription services and don’t want to grab Game Pass just for the Black Ops 7 beta. Whatever your reasoning for missing the closed beta may be, you’re not locked out of trying the next Call of Duty game forever.

The Black Ops 7 closed beta rolls directly into the game’s open beta period, during which anyone will be able to try out the new Call of Duty multiplayer experience. Black Ops 7’s open beta begins on Oct. 5. We don’t yet know when the beta period will end, although the minimum duration is two days long, according to the store listing.

The open beta period will allow any interested gamer to try out Black Ops 7 on their console of choice. Call of Duty Black Ops 7 will launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S and PC, and will feature cross-platform gameplay. While no official release date has been revealed, leaks point to a mid-November launch.

If you’re still playing the most recent Call of Duty game, Black Ops 6, check out our guide on how to make the most of the game’s double XP. If you’re looking to pick up the game after a long hiatus, learn how The Armory can help you catch up on the content you’ve missed.