Google Pixel 2 release date and price
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL were both launched in October 2016, so we’d expect to see the Pixel 2 roughly a year later, in or around October 2017.
Although the Pixel line is new, it’s building on the now defunct Nexus range, which also tended to have a new handset in around September or October of each year.
Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of hardware, has confirmed there will be a new Pixel this year, though he didn’t get any more specific than that.
According to one source the Pixel 2 will apparently carry a loftier price tag than its predecessors – something we hope doesn’t turn out to be true. The old one started at $649 (£599, AU$1,079), or $769 (£719, AU$1,269) for the XL version, so it was already expensive.
Google Pixel 2 news and rumors
Google has tried to put an order for curved OLED screens with the LG Display Company, which suggests the company is ready to embrace curved screens on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.
Another rumor for the Google Pixel 2 is it will come with a waterproof design. A Senior Editor at 9to5Google reported a source has said the phone will be dunkable when it’s released.
They also revealed that the Pixel 2 will feature an improved chipset and camera, which could go some way to justifying the rumored higher price.
The same source then got back in contact with 9to5Google to reveal that the search giant is currently testing a budget Pixel handset which will have down-graded specs, but a smaller price tag.
This rumor has since been refuted by a Google exec, so it’s looking unlikely – though the exec refers specifically to Pixel, so it’s always possible that a budget Google handset will land without Pixel branding.
We’ve also heard that a true phablet might be landing, alongside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, so we could see at least three Pixel handsets this year.
Elsewhere, we’ve heard that the Pixel 2 might ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack, which seems odd given that Google actively highlighted its presence in advertising for the original Pixel.
As for other Pixel 2 rumors, there are precisely zero so far. But we can take an educated guess at some of the things we’re likely to see.
For example, the Snapdragon 835 looks like the chipset of choice for 2017 flagships, so there’s a good chance the Pixel 2 will use that, though with a likely late 2017 launch Google may opt for something even newer. It’s also likely to have 6GB of RAM, as that too is rumored for a number of phones.
One thing we can be pretty sure of is that the Pixel 2 will run whatever the latest version of Android is at the time, and there’s a good chance that it will launch alongside Android O.
The Pixel 2 is also likely to build on what came before and add missing features – don’t be surprised if it’s water resistant this time around as has been rumored, and the screen on the standard Pixel 2 could be boosted to a QHD resolution.
That would bring it in line with the Pixel XL, which would be handy, especially as Google has positioned the range as built for its Daydream VR platform, for which those extra pixels would really help the visual experience.
Google also heavily marketed the Pixel on its camera skills, so further improvements there are likely, but the company may stick with what works – which could mean the same 12.3MP sensor.
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