If it’s $1800 it’s dead on arrival.
Google doesn’t offer enough incentives to bring that price down like Samsung so that’s basically what you’ll be paying. While the form factor may be better you can bet the build quality, hardware, and even software will be inferior with it being a gen 1. If rumors are right, it’s using old screen technology, probably worse ram and modems, and while I don’t mind tensor it doesn’t hold a candle to SE gen 2. For say, $1500 those are all acceptable trade offs. But for the same price as the Fold 5…Yikes. Google again misreading the market.
Oh and for those that don’t think a gen 1 Google made device has a higher chance of hardware failure, well, you’re being naive. Basically every Pixel up until the 7 had major hardware/design issues and that was with a simple, proven slab phone design and not a foldable which is much more complicated and prone to failures. But I guess if you’re willing to spend $1800 on this you’re probably willing to buy insurance on it so maybe that’s a moot point.
Still good to see something new and exciting releasing. For me, the most exciting part of this release is hopefully google pushing devs to make tablet/foldable versions of apps. Because it’s badly needed to wake up that market for android.