The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are expected to show up in the first of week of October just as the original Pixel lineup did in 2016, and while there hasn’t been much, if anything that has been confirmed so far there have been plenty of rumors and leaks that outline what there is to expect for each device, including specs, build, and even the internal codenames. In addition to what’s already been leaked there is bound to be more information that ends up being unofficially revealed, and it will likely continue that way until both of the phones launch later on this year. With that said, let’s take a look at all of the details that have already surfaced for Google’s upcoming devices.
Concepts
There have been a number of concepts that have surfaced showing what was possible when it came to the device design, which not only serves the purpose of alerting users to what other people are wanting to see with the style of Google’s upcoming phones, but they also gave people a glimpse into the actual potential designs. While none of the concepts actually ended up being the official designs, and they never do, some of the design elements were pretty close to what now seems to be the final design for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.
When it comes to the design of both of these devices, just like last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL the two new devices are expected to show up with an identical style, save for a variance in screen size. Both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are also expected to look a lot like the original Pixel lineup with just a few changes. In both the render above and a few of the images in the gallery below, you can see that Google didn’t stray too far from the original Pixel and Pixel XL design, short of adding front-facing a speaker. There was also a live image of what looks like a near final prototype of the Pixel 2 that leaked on August 7th, which you can also see just below, and a more recent leak from August 8th of some different colored press renders which you can see just above and in the gallery under this section of the post.
One of the biggest of these changes is going to be the near bezel-free display as Google likely seeks to bring the consumer a pair of phones that are just as loved as the Pixel and Pixel XL, but with more screen real estate so there is more room to enjoy everything that you would use on your device. Both phones are suspected to come with slimmer bezels on both the sides and top and bottom, while also coming with a longer earpiece at the top. In addition to the screen changes, both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are also expected to be made of metal again. There are changes that are likely coming to the design on the back of the device too. For instance, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are probably still coming with the two-toned look like the originals, but the glass portion of the back that housed the fingerprint sensor and the rear-facing camera module is thought to be shorter this time around, with the camera module being horizontally placed just like before though the sensor is supposed to be bigger, and with the fingerprint sensor now sitting below this part of the device. Other than these details, when it comes to the design everything is pretty much the same as with the original Pixel devices, though it’s still not clear if Google is going to use the same colors for the new devices.
Update: September 19th
Earlier today leaked press renders surfaced for both the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL, showing off a familiar design that had been seen in the very first press render that showed up back in August, but this time renders surfaced for all the available colors, or what will likely be all the available colors, for both devices. The Pixel 2 will launch in Black, White, and Kinda Blue, while the Pixel 2 XL will launch in Black and White.
Update: September 28th
As of today a leaked image surfaced showing what are said to be the front panels of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Based on previous information about each phone’s design, it’s obvious which panel is likely belonging to which phone.
Update: October 2nd
Just a couple of days before Google’s event is set to kick off, a couple more leaks surfaced showing off the Pixel 2 XL, once in a case and once without the case in a head-on view, and then again in front and back views with multiple colors. The design of the phone in each leak is extremely high-resolution and shows a fair amount of detail, also matching up with previous design rumors and leaks.
Specs
Just like with the design none of the specs have been confirmed yet, but there are some of the specs details that are quite likely to be correct. The processor for example is almost certainly going to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 which has been the rumored CPU choice for months. This is the most likely because both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are going to be high-end smartphones, and the Snapdragon 835 is the most high-end CPU right now. Google also made the choice to do the same thing with the Pixel and Pixel XL last year with the Snapdragon 821, which at the time was the most powerful processor. That being said, there has been a rumor which points to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL coming with a Snapdragon 836 processor instead, which would be this year’s equivalent to the Snapdragon 821 from last year.
Both phones are likely to still come with 4GB of RAM as per the rumors, and it’s expected that the Pixel 2 will come with 64GB of internal storage space while the Pixel 2 XL is rumored to come with a base of 128GB of internal storage space. When it comes to the displays for both phones, the Pixel 2 is said to come with a 5-inch Full HD (1080p) display again this year, while the Pixel 2 XL makes the jump to a 6-inch display with a Quad HD resolution and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Each phone is also rumored to be made by different OEMs, with the Pixel 2 being made HTC just like the Pixel and Pixel XL, while LG takes over this time around for the Pixel 2 XL, which would explain the change in aspect ratio for the screen, and the rumors that the phone would be using an OLED panel from LG Display. What’s still unclear in regards to specs as there haven’t been any rumors yet are the megapixels that can be expected from the camera sensors on each device, and whether or not each phone will be water resistant this time around, which was one of the larger complaints about the original Pixel and Pixel XL – the lack of water resistance.
One of the most recent reports which came out on August 3rd is a rumor which suggests that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will come without a 3.5mm audio port. This wouldn’t necessarily be the first time that such a rumor surfaced, but with it being so recent and the phones both expected to launch on October 4th this year, it seems like a more possible scenario then it would be if it had last surfaced really early in the year. Of course, there is still a couple of months between now and October 4th, so there is every chance that the rumor of no headphone jack will remain just that – a rumor. At a time when many smartphones are already letting go of the headphone jack though, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Google did finally decide to follow suit, as it was rumored that there may not be a headphone jack with the original Pixel and Pixel XL. If Google did launch the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL with no 3.5mm audio port, then it would be jumping on this bandwagon after having sat back and watched how the transition has aged. So it would sort of make sense for Google to have waited until now. Lastly, each device will also come with Android 8.0 software and will be the first devices to launch with the new Android version.
Update: September 5th/September 6th
While it was initially rumored that Google would be looking to launch the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL with the Snapdragon 836 instead of the Snapdragon 835, similar to last year when it launched the Pixel devices and the Snapdragon 821, it’s now been reported that Google will be launching these new phones with the Snapdragon 835 and not the 836, due to a delay that Qualcomm had to put on the launch of the processor.
Update: September 6th
New rumors suggest more details about the Pixel 2 hardware, mentioning that the phone will come with a 4.97-inch Full HD screen along with 64GB and 128GB of internal storage space, and water and dust resistance.
Update: September 6th
A new report surfaced which showcases that Google may have contracted a third-party company to conduct surveys which asked people about what they might like in a Pixel phone. The questions included various specs and features that are not available in the current model Pixel devices, leading some to believe that the surveys were about the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and that Google might be using some of the specs and features in the new phones which were mentioned in the surveys.
Update: September 20th
A report from today suggests that the Pixel 2’s Active Edge feature will allow users to squeeze the sides of the phone to open and activate Google Assistant, making for one more way users will be able to utilize the tool in addition to using their voice.
Update: September 26th
For music lovers who aren’t always sure of the currently playing track, the Pixel 2 may end up with an always-listening music ID feature that can identify music that’s currently playing the background and relay that information on the lock screen, meaning users would never have to initiate the action of trying to identify it using the mic button.
Update: September 28th
rumored specsWhile specs for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have been rumored before, a new set of has popped as of today which gives more detail about what hardware users can expect. This includes things like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor and a curved QHD panel for the display on the Pixel 2 XL.
Cases
While the leaks for cases for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL do little more than help to solidify the leaked designs of the phones themselves, it’s precisely this detail which makes them a little more interesting, as there is still a couple of months between now and when Google is expected to announce the new phones officially. While there have been plenty of case leaks over the past couple of months or so, the most recent of these coming from Olixar match up with the most recent of the design leaks for the phones, so it’s reasonable to assume that these are the designs worth paying attention to as they’ll most certainly be what consumers can expect in terms of the looks for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in the Fall. Of course, the cases that have been leaked are still not officially confirmed just as the design of the two phones haven’t been, but this close to the reveal it’s unlikely that designs will change. These are also just a drop in the bucket so to speak when it comes to the number of cases that will be made available for each device, as more will surely pop up once the phones actually hit the market and go up for sale.
Price & Availability
Official launch dates or region availability, as well as prices, aren’t known quite yet, but this is quite obviously because the phones haven’t officially been unveiled, and until then Google more than likely won’t officially mention any of that information, as it, like every other manufacturer, tends to save such details for the announcement events. That being said it’s not difficult to make some assumptions. Google did announce the Pixel and Pixel XL last year on October 4th, so chances are that this year will be the same and Google will likely unveil the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on October 4th again, with availability of the two devices likely coming around a couple of weeks later. Although, it is still entirely possible that announcement and launch dates could change. As for cost, there haven’t been any rumored prices just yet, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Google kept the prices of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL around the same price as the original two phones, and this is probably what consumers should expect. In fact, the two new phones could end up being more, though for the high cost of the originals even keeping them the same while improving the two new devices where the faults were on the first two would bring more value to them.
Update: September 19th
During today’s leak of the press render images, pricing info was revealed. There will be two models of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, one with 64GB of storage and one with 128GB of storage for each device. The Pixel 2 will start at $649 for the 64GB model, while the 128GB model will be $749. As for the Pixel 2 XL, the 64GB mode will be $849, while the 128GB model will be $949.
Update: October 2nd
Following on from the last leak about pricing and availability details, while it’s now known that Google will reveal the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on October 4th, which is in just two days, it’s rumored that the launch of both phones will take place later on, with the Pixel 2 supposedly launching on October 19th, and the Pixel 2 XL launching nearly a month later on November 15th.
Wrap Up
Although there is still probably a couple of months to go before Google officially introduces the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, two months will probably go by quick and before you know it both devices will be here. It’s also worth mentioning that even though no information in this post is confirmed, much of the leaked detail that has popped up so far is what to look forward to, and more information is bound to surface leading up to the announcement.