Apple revealed the features, specs, release date, and all other details about the 10th-anniversary iPhone X last week. The phone certainly has the ‘wow’ factor. It has an entirely new design, Face ID, an incredibly fast A11 Bionic processor, augmented reality, an improved camera with Portrait Lighting, and much more. But, thanks to the rumor mill, we knew almost everything about the iPhone X long before its unveiling. It wasn’t much of a mystery. We knew what it would look like and how much it would cost. But the upcoming Google Pixel 2 event could be different.
Almost everything at the Google Pixel 2 event would be a surprise
The Google Pixel 2 event will take place on October 4, exactly a year after the company unveiled the original Pixel and Pixel XL. The search engine giant is using a unique strategy to advertise the launch event. It has started putting up billboards in major US cities. A billboard in Boston reads, “Ask more of your phone.” It is followed by Google’s ‘G’ logo and the date “Oct.4.”
On its Made by Google page, the company says, “Thinking about changing phones? Stay tuned for more on October 4.” It’s a clear indication that the Pixel 2 unveiling is just a little over two weeks away. However, Google hasn’t revealed the timing, venue, and other details of the event. The Pixel 2 will be the last major flagship phone of 2017. Apple, Samsung, LG, OnePlus, HTC have already announced or launched their flagship offerings.
The billboards and teasers started surfacing a couple of days after the iPhone X unveiling. Google has also published a video teaser that shows users typing in different questions about their phones into the Google search bar. The questions asked in the teaser video suggest that the Pixel 2 phones will not suffer from blurry photos, poor battery life, lack of storage, lack of timely updates, poor performance, and dumbness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zhb_JRMJ1c
So, why would the Google Pixel 2 event be more exciting than the iPhone X event? That’s because we don’t know a lot about Pixel 2. Most aspects of the device are still a mystery. It was not the case with the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. Even when Tim Cook said, “One more thing” on stage, we knew what that thing was going to be and what it would look like.
Rumor mill not sure what the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 would look like
Since there haven’t been too many reliable leaks about the Pixel 2, we are curious what the search engine giant will show off at the Oct.4 event. The rumor mill isn’t certain whether the Pixel 2 will have a curved display like Galaxy Note 8. Tech tipsters are still slugging it out over whether the upcoming Pixel phones will be powered by Snapdragon 835 or Snapdragon 836 SoC. Will Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 look similar or will the larger model take a giant leap in terms of design? We will find out at the Google Pixel 2 event early next month.
What we do know about the Pixel 2 is that it will be manufactured by HTC. The larger Pixel XL 2 is said to be produced by LG Electronics. Google is reportedly in advanced talks to buy HTC’s mobile division. The next-gen Pixel phones will also likely support Google’s recently announced augmented reality tools. The search engine giant is rumored to adopt Qualcomm’s newer modems that support Gigabit LTE networks, giving it an advantage over Apple.
Single camera or dual camera?
Some leaks suggest the Pixel 2 will ship with a single rear camera, while others hope Google would adopt a dual camera system. The new Pixel phones are also expected to feature an Always-On display and a squeezable frame similar to the HTC U11. More recent rumors indicate that Google will ditch the 3.5mm audio jack, and introduce its own wireless headphones. There is little clarity on the phone’s design, though.
The scarcity of leaks and rumors is a big reason Android fans will be excited about the Google Pixel 2 event. Also, the iPhone X’s $1000 price tag would turn off a lot of potential customers who might want to check out the Pixel 2. Apple CEO Tim Cook reiterates that the iPhones aren’t for the rich. A recent survey conducted by CNet revealed that most middle-class people are happy with their older phones. Many think the iPhone X’s $1000 price tag is ridiculous, especially considering we change our phones every couple of years.
FCC filing reveals Pixel XL 2 model number
A few days ago, the Pixel XL 2 was seen passing through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC filing confirmed that the larger of the two new phones will be manufactured by LG Electronics. The regular Pixel 2’s model number is G011A while that of the Pixel XL 2 is G011C. The G011B was believed to be a model that Google killed earlier this year.
The FCC filing did not reveal anything about the phone’s design. We expect the device to come with the IP68 rating for water-resistance and Android Oreo software. Since Google has full control over both software and hardware of Pixel phones, they tend to be more powerful and energy-efficient than third-party Android phones.
Google is also expected to unveil a new Chromebook Pixel, Google Home, and wireless headphones code-named “Bisto” at the next month’s event. The headphones are said to have dedicated buttons to activate Google Assistant and reply to notifications.
