Another series of images depicting the alleged Google Pixel 3 Lite emerged online this week, having been shared by yet another Russian outlet. The photographs that can be seen in the gallery below show the unannounced devices that’s believed to be code-named “Sargo” next to a variety of known handsets such as the 2016 Pixel, Pixel 3 XL, iPhone XR, iPhone 5s, and even the original Nokia 3310.
While one recent leak also provided a decent size reference for the upcoming smartphone, the images shared by Russian outlet Wylsa are unprecedentedly detailed and seemingly confirm the Pixel 3 Lite will have a physical footprint similar to that of the Pixel 3 XL and utilize the same 18:9 (2:1) image format as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 2 XL. While it also looks rather similar to the former, the main difference lies in its front-facing camera setup which only includes a single sensor. The overall screen-to-body ratio of the device appears comparable to that of the Pixel 3 and while the leaked device features a white(-ish) finish, the actual color of its case is hardly indicative of how a finalized product might look like seeing how the handset in question is clearly a prototype and features a placeholder logo (seen in many previous leaks of Pixel devices which proved to be legitimate) instead of Google’s signature “G.” Finally, unlike the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the Pixel 3 Lite is largely made of plastic instead of glass, as per the same source.
Background: The possibility of a mid-range Pixel device has been the subject of numerous rumors for several years now and re-emerged just a couple of weeks back, though not without a healthy dose of skepticism from most industry watchers. The rising number of Pixel 3 Lite leaks makes the legitimacy of those latest claims somewhat more likely, with various sources claiming the smartphone in question will be a mid-ranger which may be powered by a Snapdragon 700-series chip from Qualcomm, though the new leak is indicative of the Snapdragon 670 being part of the package instead.
Impact: The fact that the newly leaked device is clearly a pre-production unit means no firm conclusions regarding its color can be made, though the overall physical footprint of the handset appears to be set in stone seeing how the latest Pixel 3 Lite sighting is in line with previously uncovered depictions of the device. For much the same reasons, the smartphone’s release still appears to be somewhat away and isn’t likely to come prior to 2019; as the holiday season is historically the most lucrative period of the year for handset makers, Google will want to aggressively push its existing products instead of launching a new one amid the world’s busiest shopping period.
Regardless, the increasing likelihood of a mid-range Pixel-series device being in the works indicates Alphabet’s subsidiary is now moving to diversify its product portfolio and make it more mainstream. Whether it will succeed in that endeavor remains to be seen but a non-flagship handset from the Pixel range combined with its brand recognition is likely to make its products more competitive in emerging markets such as India where it’s been trying to become more relevant for several years now.