Google confirmed a launching event for October
Google is advertising its upcoming Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones as actual iPhone and Galaxy competitors in both hardware and software. They are set to premiere during Google’s October 4 press event in San Francisco.
Codenamed Sailfish (Pixel) and Marlin (Pixel XL), the upcoming Pixel line is said to replace the Google Nexus. The two Pixel variants, made by HTC, will follow Google’s design and manufacturing process.
They already have a teaser video describing them as “Something new to love” to the tune of Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.” The duo will become Google’s flagship smartphone brand.
The event will focus on showing Google’s latest hardware. It will be the company’s second big display after annual developer conference Google I/O, which centers around new software such as video chat mobile app Google Duo and instant messaging mobile app Google Allo.
Google will also showcase a 4K version of its Chromecast digital media player (which could be called Chromecast Plus or Chromecast Ultra), the Google Home smart speaker, and an in-house design for VR device Daydream View.
Pixel and Pixel XL specs and design
Famous phone leaker, Evan Blass, is once again behind the latest Pixel leaks. The images show the Pixel and Pixel XL to feature a pretty simple and straightforward design without Galaxy-like curvy edges.
The iPhone’s Home button seem to be missing as well. However, other leaked photos suggest they will sport a home button of some sort.
The 5.2-inch Pixel will have a 1080p resolution screen, and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL will champion a QuadHD screen. Rumored to have an aluminum-and-glass construction, both could come with 12-megapixel rear cameras and 8-megapixel selfie cameras.
Inside, the Pixels will likely feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chip, 4GB of RAM and storage in 32, 64 and 128GB without a memory card for expansion. Additionally, the two will have a USB-C port, a fingerprint sensor on the back, and a 2,770 mAh battery.
Both handsets could include new onscreen navigation buttons as well as run an exclusive version of Android 7.1 Nougat.
This is the Google Pixel https://t.co/7nJdaXhDAV pic.twitter.com/nAKIsvKEIq
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 26, 2016
Pixel and Pixel XL release date and price
If released on October 4 as expected, the Pixel and Pixel XL will replace last year’s LG-manufactured Nexus 5X and the Huawei-made Nexus 6P, respectively.
Waterproof or not, the duo will hit stores with a price tag similar to rivals Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7, even though they do feature some level of waterproofing.
Reportedly, the Pixels will have an introductory price starting at $649. It is almost $150 more than Google’s latest flagship, the Nexus 6P, and exactly $300 more than the Nexus 5X.
Source: Forbes
