All the Google Pixel 2 Rumors You Need to Know
Google is holding a press event tomorrow (Wednesday, October 4th) to unveil the Pixel 2, among others (or 2s, because we expect there to be several). While nothing has been announced yet, there have been many leaks about the phones, as well as a few teases from Google about what we’ll likely see at Wednesday’s event.
There will be two phones
By all accounts, there will be two Pixel 2 phones: a smaller version from HTC and a larger XL version from LG (likely similar in design to the LG V30).
The Pixel 2 XL is expected to feature a 6-inch QHD + display with Gorilla Glass 5, optical image stabilization on both the front and rear cameras, and potentially squeeze sides that can trigger various actions on the phone. The traditional Pixel 2 is expected to have the same features except for the 5-inch 1080p display.
The leaks suggest that both phones will come with 4GB of RAM and will be available with 64GB or 128GB of storage.
A new leak on Monday (shown in the tweet above) showing bezels on each side of the larger phone’s display seems to confirm that the XL will be similar to the LG V30. Another image shows two speakers at the bottom of the smaller phone, which appear to confirm the presence of stereo speakers.
One notable omission: None of the phones are expected to ship with a headphone jack, meaning that the number of users buying wireless headphones is doubling.
New home screen
A leak on Monday suggests the Pixel 2 will have a redesigned home screen. Verge notes that the Google search bar is moving from the top of the screen to the bottom and that a new widget appears at the top of the display that will display upcoming appointments in the calendar and the current weather.
Much to the dismay of many Pixel owners , neither the weather widget nor the Google search button could be removed from the original Pixel. We’ll need to see if Google offers an opportunity to make adjustments this time.
Bonus features
Both phones will ship with Android Oreo, that goes without saying. The phones are expected to come with a few additional features, however, namely an automatic Shazam feature that can detect music playing in the background and a bokeh mode for a single camera.
PC Magazine also notes that Google has released a teaser for phones with a bunch of questions like “What’s wrong with my phone’s battery?” and “Why is my phone running out of memory all the time?” We expect these issues to be addressed in one form or another during Wednesday’s event, likely highlighting specific software and hardware improvements for Pixel devices.
When will they be available?
VentureBeat reported this week that the Pixel 2 will launch on October 19, while the Pixel 2 XL won’t launch until November 15. The Verge notes that the timing appears to be the same. Last year’s Pixel was announced on October 5 and shipped on October 20, so the Pixel 2’s October 19 release date will be in line with last year’s launch schedule.
According to Droid Life , the Pixel 2 will retail for $ 649 for the 64GB version ($ 749 for the 128GB version), while the Pixel 2 XL will retail for $ 849 for the 64GB version and $ 949 for the 128GB model.