Google’s Pixel 2 handsets have been leaked ahead on its unveiling on October 4th, it has been claimed.
Droid Life claims to have images of the new handset, alongside a new mini wireless speaker, and images of an updated Daydream VR headset.
Two versions of the handset will be launched, a Pixel and a Pixel XL.
The LG-made Pixel 2 XL will come in a ‘Black & White’ and ‘Just Black’ colors and be available with 64GB or 128GB storage, according to the latest leaks
The smaller Pixel 2 will be available in Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White, and will be sold with 64GB and 128GB of storage and priced at $649 and $749, respectively, according to the site.
The larger LG-made Pixel 2 XL will come in a Black & White and Just Black colors and be available with 64GB or 128GB storage.
The 64GB model will cost $849, while the 128GB model will jump to $949.
Rumours have been swirling for months about Google’s next Pixel smartphones and the tech firm uploaded a short 35 second teaser to YouTube earlier this month, offering eager fans the chance to sign up to receive more information.
The next generation flagship handset will be officially unveiled on Wednesday, October 4.
The minimalist video, while scant on images, makes some bold promises about some of the features fans can expect.
It is themed around the Menlo Park, California’s iconic search engine.
The cryptic clip shows a user searching for various failings of their own smartphone.
These range from ‘what’s wrong with my phone’s battery?’ and ‘why is my phone always out of storage?’ to ‘why does my phone take so many blurry photos?’ and even ‘why doesn’t my phone understand me’.
Other search queries state their phone is ‘slow, hot, fragile, annoying, broken, cruel, impersonal and … dumb.’
The marketing ploy suggests that all of these problems will be answered when the new Pixel handsets are finally revealed.
Rumours have been swirling for months about Google’s next Pixel smartphones and the long wait will soon be over thanks to a new trailer. The next generation flagship handset will be officially unveiled on Wednesday, October 4
If the video is to be believed, this suggests the smartphones, believed to be a Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, will feature a better battery, more storage and a better camera than its rivals.
This is in line with rumours circulating online in the leadup to the launch about the Pixel’s expected features and launch date.
Droid Life also says Google will unveil a new mini smart speaker alongside its new Pixel handsets on October 4th, it is believed.
According to Droid Life, the new Google Mini Home speaker, which will take on Amazon’s tiny Echo Dot, will cost just $49 when it goes on sale – making the two the same price.
It will use the same Google Assistant software as the larger Google home speaker, and be available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral colors.
The Google Mini Home is expected to be unveiled on October 4th, and go on sale soon after. It is believed it will cost $49, and will have the same Google Assistant as the larger Home speaker
‘The Google Home Mini will be powered rather than wireless, at least according to the images here,’ Droid Life said.
‘You have colored bases that match the color of the top, soft portion of the unit.
‘The Google Home Mini will be powered rather than wireless, at least according to the images here,’ Droid Life said.
The new speaker will go head to head with the Amazon Echo Dot, shown here, and will even have the same $49 price
‘So unlike the original Google Home that had swappable bases, it looks like the mini may not have that same luxury.’
The images show lights on top of each unit, which are expected to work in the same multi colored way as the lights on the larger Home speaker.
THE SMART SPEAKER WARS
The mini home will take on Apple’s HomePod, Amazon’s Echo and Google’s own, larger Home.
Apple’s speaker will have a higher price tag than the Amazon Echo range, which begins at $49 (£49) for the Echo Dot.
The speaker will provide a hub for appliances via Apple’s HomeKit system and establish a centre inside the home to lock people in to using other Apple services, according to the report.
Apple’s $349 HomePod speaker will work with Apple Music and has several speakers and a built in woofer
A speaker might help customers stay loyal to other services such as Apple Music, Apple Watch, Apple TV and AirPods.
Google’s $130 (£105) Home speaker is triggered by the phrase ‘Hey Google’ while Amazon’s Echo uses ‘Alexa’.
Amazon’s smart speaker is available in two versions – the full sized $180 (£145) Echo shown here, and a smaller, $50 (£40) version called the Echo Dot.
Amazon Echo uses Microsoft’s Bing search engine to provide additional information, while Google Home uses the company’s own Google Search.
Both Home and Echo are continually listening for commands, though Google and Amazon say nothing gets passed back to them until the speakers hear a keyword — ‘OK, Google’ for Home and ‘Alexa’ for Echo.
Google’s Assistant software is also able to answer follow-up questions on the same topic, in a near-conversation style, but Echo as yet cannot.
Google’s larger $129 Home speaker, which launched earlier this year
However, Amazon’s Alexa software has a wider range of skills on offer that enable it to link up with and control more third-party devices around the home.
A light comes on to remind you that it’s listening.
You can turn off the microphone temporarily, too.
The tech firm uploaded a short 35 second teaser to YouTube today, offering eager fans the chance to sign up to receive more information. The cryptic clip shows a user searching for various failings of their own smartphone
Most notably, serial leaker Evan Blass from Philadelphia said in a tweet back on August 24th: ‘Google’s second-generation Pixel handsets, powered by Snapdragon 836 SoC’s, will be unveiled on October 5th.’
Mr Blass has a strong track record for predicting when new technology will be launched, as well as features on devices.
The rumours follow leaked images earlier in August, which claim to show Google’s Pixel 2 handset.
Evan Blass, a tech-leaker from Philadelphia, tweeted this morning: ‘Google’s second-generation Pixel handsets, powered by Snapdragon 836 SoC’s, will be unveiled on October 5th’
According to the photos, it appears the upcoming device will, as previously predicted, have a curved screen and a glass back.
However, one thing is missing – Google is planning to follow Apple and dump the headphone jack for the new device.
Also shown in the leaked images is the presence of two LEDs in the flash and a glass panel on the back, which is smaller this time around.
While previous leaks have suggested the phone will also be equipped with a Laser autofocus feature, that can’t be seen here – although it may just be too difficult to spot.
The photos, sent to Gsmarena by an unnamed tipster, show the front and back of what is clearly an early developer unit of the phone, as is indicated by the stickers on the back.
Leaked images suggest that Google is planning to follow Apple and dump the headphone jack for the new device
While the lack of headphone jack isn’t seen in the photo, the source told Gsmarena the device doesn’t include one.
The source also reported a better in-hand feel than the original Pixel phone, saying it is ‘sleek’ and ‘elegant.’
The original Google Pixel phone was launched in October 2016, and the Pixel 2 is set to launch this autumn, which would make it in direct competition with Apple’s iPhone 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
Leaked images allegedly of the Google Pixel 2 reveal some of the device’s rumored features. According to the photos, it appears the upcoming device will indeed have a curved screen
As the company prepares for the release, it’s dropping the price on the original Pixel phone.
As part of a back to school promotion, the Pixel’s starting price is currently down to $524 (£408) instead of $649 (£506), while the Pixel XL is now priced at $569 (£443) rather than $769 (£600) – the company is also throwing in free Daydream View headsets for consumers who take advantage of the promotion.
Insiders have long been suggesting the Google Pixel 2 could have a curved screen display like the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Reports suggest the Google Pixel 2 phone, which is launching later this year, could have a curved screen display like the Samsung Galaxy S8 (pictured)
Reports suggest Google is investing $880 million (£709 million) in LG’s flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens.
Increasingly curved screen are being adopted by smartphones and it seems Google want to move in this direction too, according to South Korea’s Electronic Times.
The report suggests that LG is yet to sign the massive investment offer proposed by Google.
Reports suggest Google is investing $880 million (£709 million) in LG’s flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens for their Pixel 2 handset (pictured is first-generation Pixel handsets)
In March, the head of hardware at Google first confirmed that the firm is developing a second-generation Pixel for the ‘premium smartphone market’.
The confirmation came from Rick Osterloh during an interview with AndroidPT.
‘There is an annual rhythm in the industry,’ Osterloh said in the interview.
‘So, you can count on us to follow it. You can count on a successor this year, even if you don’t hear a date from me now.’
Google debuted the first smartphones in its Pixel line during a conference in October 2016, a Pixel and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL.
Although the Pixel 2 release would fall around the same time as the iPhone 8, Google is focusing on the upper price segment of the market.
This may be tougher than imagined, if as speculated, the iPhone 8 turns out to cost over $1,000 (£780).
Osterloh stated that ‘Pixel stays premium’ and the firm will ‘leave lower price segments to other manufacturers’.
‘We believe the next big thing will be at the intersection of hardware and software,’ Mr Osterloh said in October.
He also took aim at Apple, saying the phone has ‘no unsightly phone bump.’
Brian Rakowski of Google said the phone was ‘designed inside and out to be smart’.
He said the Pixel’s camera was better than the iPhone 7.
‘It’s the best smartphone camera anyone has made,’ he said.