Evan Blass, a well-known source for early phone images, has published what appear to be marketing photos of the unannounced Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold on his Substack page. The photos offer the clearest look yet at the upcoming folding phone, less than two weeks before Google's Made by Google hardware event on August 12. Blass also posted images of what are likely new Pixel Buds earbuds and a new Pixel Watch in the same publication.

The photos show a device that closely resembles the previous model. The outer screen stays tall, and the inner screen keeps its 8-inch size. The back camera area has been slightly redesigned and includes a glowing light element similar to what Google teased for the Pixel 11 Pro. The phone appears in an olive green color.

A folding phone is a device with a screen that bends in half. When folded, it works like a regular phone using the outer screen. When unfolded, it opens into a larger screen — like a small tablet — for reading, watching video, or running apps.

Earlier images from other sources had already shown the basic design. Android Headlines published exclusive renders — computer-generated images based on design files — and a video showing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's design in May. Android Central reported in mid-July on a color variant called "Pine," which it described as resembling a green shade Google previously released with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

The fact that several different sources have arrived at the same design suggests the device has been in production for some time. The Blass images, appearing closer to the launch event, match the earlier computer-generated images on core shape while providing more detail on finish and camera treatment.

Google has signaled that upcoming Pixel gadgets could carry higher prices. The company has attributed this to a memory chip shortage it has publicly described as "RAMaggedon." Memory chips — the components that let a phone run apps and switch between them — have been in short supply across the industry, pushing up costs. Whether the Pixel 11 Pro Fold specifically will see a price increase remains unconfirmed. Google did not immediately reply to The Verge's request for comment on the leaked images.

The August 12 event, scheduled for 6 PM ET, is expected to serve as the official unveiling for the broader Pixel lineup. The leaked collection of devices — folding phone, earbuds, and smartwatch — suggests Google intends to present a coordinated refresh of its entire gadget lineup rather than focusing on a single device.

It is worth noting the broader pattern here. Folding phones are still a relatively new type of device. The small, careful changes Google appears to be making — keeping the 8-inch inner screen, keeping the tall outer screen, and making only modest updates to the camera — mirror what we saw in the early years of the smartphone. First-generation devices prove that a new kind of phone can work. Second and third generations refine the manufacturing, reduce weight and thickness, and improve the hinge that lets the phone fold. The lack of dramatic design changes in these images fits that pattern.

The glowing light on the camera area is the most visible difference from the previous model. If it does more than look good — for example, working as a notification light or helping the camera take better photos — it would bring the folding phone closer to having the same features as Google's regular flagship phone. That detail, along with the slightly reshaped camera housing, suggests Google is trying to give the Pro Fold its own look even though the overall body shape stays familiar.

The color choice also reflects a maturing approach. The "Pine" variant reported by Android Central and the olive green shown in the Blass images may be the same or a closely related color. Either way, the green palette follows a path Google has walked before with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, indicating the company found enough customer interest in that shade to bring it back for the next generation.

For anyone following folding phones, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's small design changes tell you where we are in the cycle. The category has moved past the question of whether folding phones can work as everyday devices. The remaining questions are about price, how well the phones hold up over multiple years of use, and whether Google can improve the way apps look and work on the larger unfolded screen. The August 12 event should address at least the first of those.