 |
| Google Pixel 2 |
It seems insanely early to be talking about
new Google phones, with the Pixel and Pixel
XL having only gone on sale in October, but
if there are rumours we will report them.
It's
important to point out that all the rumours in
this article come via a single source of
9to5Google's editor Stephen Hall.
We're not
doubting the source's credibility, but pointing
out the fact we have no other source to back
up any of the information. Plus, at this stage
in the proceedings, plans have a tendency to
change - Google is reportedly only at the
hardware testing of prototypes stage after all.
Nevertheless, here's what we know about the
next Google phone, the Google Pixel 2.
Latest update:According to 9to5Google, an
internal document shown to the site confirm
that Google will follow Apple in removing the
3.5mm headphone jack in the Pixel 2. We
presume this means it will instead get USB-C
audio.
Will the 2017 Google phone be a
Nexus or a Pixel?
Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google's head of
Android, told Bloomberg last October that
while the company wasn't closing the door
completely on Nexus it didn't currently have
plans for any Nexus devices. Based on this
alone we would suggest the next Google
phone is a Pixel rather than a Nexus.
Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President
of Hardware, has also confirmed that the
Pixel will get a successor in 2017.
Who will make the Pixel 2?
It's too early to know who will be making the
Google Pixel 2, since we doubt Google has
even made a final decision on that just yet.
In the past we've seen Google phones
manufactured by LG, HTC, Huawei, Samsung
and Motorola. The maker of the new Google
phone could be any of these partners, but
equally it could be a brand-new hardware
partner. We'll update this article when we
know more.
When is the Pixel 2 release date?
Google Senior Vice President of
Hardware, Rick Osterloh, has confirmed that
a Pixel 2 will arrive in 2017. "There is an
annual rhythm in the industry. So, you can
count on us to follow it," Osterloh said. "You
can count on a successor this year, even if
you don't hear a date from me now," Osterloh
told Android Pit. Osterloh also said the Pixel
2 would retain its premium price.
We now know that Google I/O will be held
17-19 May 2017, during which time it will
more than likely unveil a developer preview of
its forthcoming Android operating system,
Android O. This is important because the
company has always used its annual phone
releases as the launch vehicles for the final
version of its latest operating system. Also
see: How to install latest Android 7.1.2 Beta
Allowing for a good few months of Android O
betas prior to the final release, Google
phones are traditionally unveiled in late-
September/early-October. The current Pixel
and Pixel XL were announced at a special
event on 5 October 2016, and went on sale
on 20 October. We'd expect a similar time
frame for the Google Pixel 2.
How much will the new Google phone
cost in the UK?
Rick Osterloh has confirmed that Pixel will
retain its premium pricing in 2017.
When it switched its phone line branding
from Nexus to Pixel in 2016, Google moved
away from high-value devices and toward
more premium phones. The cheapest Pixel
today costs £599, while the cheapest Pixel XL
costs £719. 9to5Mac's source suggests we
should expect at least a $50 increase on this
due to improvements it is making to the
camera and adding waterproofing.
However, the same source also suggests
Google is experimenting with a cheaper,
lower-specified Pixel 2B that it hopes to
launch at the same time or shortly after the
Pixel 2 in emerging markets. If it goes ahead
there is no guarantee we will see this cheaper
Pixel in the UK.
What are the rumoured
specifications?
Through 9to5Google's source we know two
key things about the upcoming Google Pixel
2: it will be waterproof, and it will feature an
improved camera.
Hall tweeted in late-January that he recalled
being told back in October that the next
Google phone would be waterproof, and the
fact the current model was not came down to
an issue of time constraints, and the need to
keep down costs. He says Google was forced
to choose between upgrading the camera and
making the Pixel waterproof.
The current Pixel and Pixel XL are IP58 rated,
which means they are dustproof and
protected against spraying water, but not
submersible or water-resistant.
Content continues below
On the subject of the camera, Hall writes that
his source has claimed the camera will be
improved, not in terms of the megapixel
count but in the number of extra features.
Google particularly wants to focus on getting
low-light photography right.
The processor also gets a mention, and
Google has apparently been testing models
with both Snapdragon 835 and Intel chips,
but has already ruled out cheaper brand
MediaTek.
Based on speculation and rumours, as
well as some suggested specifications that
are in line with what we might expect from a
flagship phone arriving later this year.
However, one interesting thing to note is the
inclusion of a red Google Pixel 2. Does
Google really have a red model planned, or is
Concept Creator poking fun at its new Really
Blue model with the idea of a Really Red
model? Unfortunately we won't know until
more leaks and rumours appear online. It
does look pretty cool, though.
According to 9to5Google, an
internal document shown to the site confirm
that Google will follow Apple in removing the
3.5mm headphone jack in the Pixel 2. We
presume this means it will instead get USB-C
audio.
We'll bring you more rumours about the
Google Pixel 2 as we hear them.
new Google phones, with the Pixel and Pixel
XL having only gone on sale in October, but
if there are rumours we will report them.
It's
important to point out that all the rumours in
this article come via a single source of
9to5Google's editor Stephen Hall.
We're not
doubting the source's credibility, but pointing
out the fact we have no other source to back
up any of the information. Plus, at this stage
in the proceedings, plans have a tendency to
change - Google is reportedly only at the
hardware testing of prototypes stage after all.
Nevertheless, here's what we know about the
next Google phone, the Google Pixel 2.
Latest update:According to 9to5Google, an
internal document shown to the site confirm
that Google will follow Apple in removing the
3.5mm headphone jack in the Pixel 2. We
presume this means it will instead get USB-C
audio.
Will the 2017 Google phone be a
Nexus or a Pixel?
Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google's head of
Android, told Bloomberg last October that
while the company wasn't closing the door
completely on Nexus it didn't currently have
plans for any Nexus devices. Based on this
alone we would suggest the next Google
phone is a Pixel rather than a Nexus.
Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President
of Hardware, has also confirmed that the
Pixel will get a successor in 2017.
Who will make the Pixel 2?
It's too early to know who will be making the
Google Pixel 2, since we doubt Google has
even made a final decision on that just yet.
In the past we've seen Google phones
manufactured by LG, HTC, Huawei, Samsung
and Motorola. The maker of the new Google
phone could be any of these partners, but
equally it could be a brand-new hardware
partner. We'll update this article when we
know more.
When is the Pixel 2 release date?
Google Senior Vice President of
Hardware, Rick Osterloh, has confirmed that
a Pixel 2 will arrive in 2017. "There is an
annual rhythm in the industry. So, you can
count on us to follow it," Osterloh said. "You
can count on a successor this year, even if
you don't hear a date from me now," Osterloh
told Android Pit. Osterloh also said the Pixel
2 would retain its premium price.
We now know that Google I/O will be held
17-19 May 2017, during which time it will
more than likely unveil a developer preview of
its forthcoming Android operating system,
Android O. This is important because the
company has always used its annual phone
releases as the launch vehicles for the final
version of its latest operating system. Also
see: How to install latest Android 7.1.2 Beta
Allowing for a good few months of Android O
betas prior to the final release, Google
phones are traditionally unveiled in late-
September/early-October. The current Pixel
and Pixel XL were announced at a special
event on 5 October 2016, and went on sale
on 20 October. We'd expect a similar time
frame for the Google Pixel 2.
How much will the new Google phone
cost in the UK?
Rick Osterloh has confirmed that Pixel will
retain its premium pricing in 2017.
When it switched its phone line branding
from Nexus to Pixel in 2016, Google moved
away from high-value devices and toward
more premium phones. The cheapest Pixel
today costs £599, while the cheapest Pixel XL
costs £719. 9to5Mac's source suggests we
should expect at least a $50 increase on this
due to improvements it is making to the
camera and adding waterproofing.
However, the same source also suggests
Google is experimenting with a cheaper,
lower-specified Pixel 2B that it hopes to
launch at the same time or shortly after the
Pixel 2 in emerging markets. If it goes ahead
there is no guarantee we will see this cheaper
Pixel in the UK.
What are the rumoured
specifications?
Through 9to5Google's source we know two
key things about the upcoming Google Pixel
2: it will be waterproof, and it will feature an
improved camera.
Hall tweeted in late-January that he recalled
being told back in October that the next
Google phone would be waterproof, and the
fact the current model was not came down to
an issue of time constraints, and the need to
keep down costs. He says Google was forced
to choose between upgrading the camera and
making the Pixel waterproof.
The current Pixel and Pixel XL are IP58 rated,
which means they are dustproof and
protected against spraying water, but not
submersible or water-resistant.
Content continues below
On the subject of the camera, Hall writes that
his source has claimed the camera will be
improved, not in terms of the megapixel
count but in the number of extra features.
Google particularly wants to focus on getting
low-light photography right.
The processor also gets a mention, and
Google has apparently been testing models
with both Snapdragon 835 and Intel chips,
but has already ruled out cheaper brand
MediaTek.
Based on speculation and rumours, as
well as some suggested specifications that
are in line with what we might expect from a
flagship phone arriving later this year.
However, one interesting thing to note is the
inclusion of a red Google Pixel 2. Does
Google really have a red model planned, or is
Concept Creator poking fun at its new Really
Blue model with the idea of a Really Red
model? Unfortunately we won't know until
more leaks and rumours appear online. It
does look pretty cool, though.
According to 9to5Google, an
internal document shown to the site confirm
that Google will follow Apple in removing the
3.5mm headphone jack in the Pixel 2. We
presume this means it will instead get USB-C
audio.
We'll bring you more rumours about the
Google Pixel 2 as we hear them.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon