As Google fans probably already know, the company will unveil its Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL smartphones on October 4. Even though there still is a week to go until the big launch event, not much remains unknown about the handsets. Different sources already leaked the majority of specs and features the smartphones will offer, alongside their design. Even the color options the handsets will be available in are now known, so Google probably won’t be able to surprise its fans with anything new on Wednesday. Here is what we know about the upcoming Google flagships.
Google Pixel 2
The Google Pixel 2 will reportedly look a lot like the first Google Pixel did. The glass section of the back cover gets a little smaller, as it ends just above the camera. On last year’s model, the glass part included the camera, as you probably recall. Also, the 3.5mm headphone jack will disappear, and the new Pixel 2 will feature stereo speakers. Other than this, the handset will look more or less like its predecessor. The handset will, of course, be water and dust resistant. It will be available in three color variants: Quite Black, Very Silver, Really Blue. The 5-inch screen of the Google Pixel 2 will offer Full HD resolution and will be protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Under the hood, as expected, the Google Pixel 2 will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, just like the majority of other flagship smartphones. It will reportedly include 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB internal storage. Naturally, the handset will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The handset will also feature Active Edge, a feature that will most likely be similar to the Edge Sense feature of the HTC U11. This feature will reportedly enable users to access Google Assistant by squeezing the handset or even mute an alarm. Given the fact that the Google Pixel 2 will be made by HTC, this is not necessarily a surprising feature, however, it is a nice and welcome one.
The smaller Pixel of 2017 will reportedly have a 2,700mAh battery which seems to be a little too small, however, it may do the trick and get users through the day on a single charge. The handset will support fast battery charging. Unfortunately, no signs indicate that it will also offer wireless charging support. Even though some people thought that the handset will feature a dual rear camera, it will only come with a single primary sensor and a front camera for selfies and video calls. We also know that the cameras will feature OIS and Google Imaging Chip. According to the latest reports, those who purchase the Google Pixel 2 will get unlimited Google Cloud storage until 2023, which is quite nice too. As for the pricing, the Google Pixel 2 will have a $649 price tag for the 64GB variant and a $749 price for the 128GB version.
Google Pixel 2 XL
The Google Pixel 2 XL is, as its name suggests, the larger of the two handsets. It will have the same design as the smaller Pixel, only with a larger screen. Instead of the Pixel 2’s 5-inch display, the Pixel 2 XL will sport a 6-inch screen with QHD resolution and Wide Color Gamut. The handset will feature Active Edge even though it won’t be made by HTC. Just like the smaller sibling, the Google Pixel 2 XL will have no headphone jack and will feature stereo speakers. The dust and water resistant device will become available in Just Black and Black & White color variants.
The Google Pixel 2 XL will be powered by the same octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset as the smaller model. It will include 4GB of RAM and users will be able to choose between 64GB or 128GB internal storage variants. Unfortunately, none of the upcoming Google handsets feature a microSD card slot, so the internal storage will be all they can rely on. It’s no surprise that this model will also run Google’s Android Oreo operating system out of the box. The E-SIM card slot the second-generation Pixel handsets will feature will allow users to connect to different networks without needing to replace a SIM card.
The larger model gets a larger battery as well. The Pixel 2 XL will supposedly come with a 3,520mAh battery, which is the largest we’ve seen in a flagship smartphone this year. The cameras of the Pixel 2 XL will offer the same OIS and Google imaging chip as the Google Pixel 2’s sensors, which will probably make them just as impressive as the cameras on last year’s models. Unfortunately, the larger model will come with a higher price too. The 64GB variant will reportedly go on sale for $849 while the 128GB version’s price will be $949.
Next week we will know everything there is to know about Google’s new handsets. Even though they do seem to be powerful ones, they will have a tough time competing with the more modern- looking Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that have similar price tags. Even so, those who prefer stock Android over a nice look will probably opt for the Google Pixel 2 handsets instead of other flagships.
Pingback: Google Pixel XL 2 vs. Apple iPhone 8 Plus- Will Google's flagship be enough to overtake Apple's second placer? - GameSinners