Microsoft launches Windows 10 preview
August 6, 2017
Microsoft announces Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
August 10, 2017
Google just launched its back-to-school promotion for the original Pixel smartphones, and you can get a pretty decent discount on the original price of Google’s first two Pixel phones.
While that’s a great deal, you might want to hold off — we could be expecting the Pixel’s successor within the next few months. If you want the latest and greatest at all times, you may want to wait a little while, especially if Google’s Pixel discounts aren’t as steep as you hoped.
Overall, it looks like we can expect some decent improvements in the Pixel 2 over the original Pixel, including in its camera and design. We’re also expecting Google to fill some gaps in features, like water resistance, in the Pixel 2.
There’s also perhaps some bad news, at least for some. It’s looking more and more like the Pixel 2 smartphones won’t come with a headphone jack.
According to XDA, a mobile-developer website, the larger Pixel model will have a 5.99-inch display with a 1440p (2K) resolution.
The website 9to5Google found a bug report that suggested LG would manufacture Google’s larger Pixel 2 model.
XDA claimed that Google may add a second speaker to the larger Pixel 2, making for a stereo audio setup. However, adding that speaker may cost the larger Pixel 2 its headphone jack.
Most recently, the prolific gadgets leaker Evan Blass from VentureBeat said he was confident Google would, indeed, ditch the headphone jack on the Pixel 2 smartphones. Renders of the devices, created by the tech site MySmartPrice in collaboration with Steve Hemmerstoffer, another gadget leaker, who goes by @onleaks on Twitter, also support this rumor.
The larger Pixel model is said to be a more premium device, with a higher-end design and thinner borders around the display, according to XDA. Android Police further fueled the rumors by suggesting the borders around the Pixel XL 2’s display would be narrower than the Pixel XL’s.
Supposedly, Google will keep the original Pixel’s glass panel on the back of the device but make it smaller on the larger Pixel 2.
The differing designs line up nicely with the rumors that two manufacturers will be producing the new Pixel smartphones. Similarly, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones that came out before the original Pixels were also made by two manufacturers: The 5X, made by LG, had a decidedly different design than the 6P, made by Huawei.
Both Pixel 2 models will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor currently found in the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the OnePlus 5, which means they’ll have plenty of power. That said, the Snapdragon 835 will be an older chip by the time the new Pixels are announced.
XDA also said both models would come with 4 GB of RAM, which is about average for premium Android smartphones. It should be sufficient for switching among several apps in a day.
According to 9to5Google, a good chunk of Google’s Pixel 2 development is centered on the camera. Supposedly, Google is looking to “master” low-light photography. The camera is also said to have a relatively conservative megapixel count, compensated with “extra features.”
The cameras on the original Pixels are already excellent, so we’re excited to see what improvements Google will implement.
Blass doesn’t believe the Pixel 2 smartphones will come with a dual-lens camera system, which is becoming more common in premium flagship devices like the LG G6, OnePlus 5, and iPhone 7 Plus.
The Pixel 2 smartphones might be water-resistant.
The original Pixels lacked water resistance, but “waterproofing” is “definitely” coming to the Pixel 2 phones, according to a source who spoke with Stephen Hall, 9to5Google’s managing editor.