Google is preparing to add new pixels to the growing ecosystem

A refreshment of the acclaimed Google Pixel smartphones is expected on Wednesday when the company celebrates its annual product launches event at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco.

 

Although its features will not be officially known until Google lifts the curtain on phones at the event, leaks-including photos-have given the public a good idea of what is to come

These are the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL https://t.co/cXCs560jNH pic.twitter.com/f3P47aeZ2I

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 2, 2017

The smaller of the two phones, the Pixel 2, is expected to have a 1080 p FHD screen with an aspect ratio of 16:9. His older brother, the Pixel XL, is believed to have a 6 inch screen, QHD + with a ratio of 18:9. The XL does not show as much real estate display as some of the almost edge-to-edge phones on the market, but the proportion of screen to body of 80-85 percent gives the XL a slim bevel look.

 

The XL is supposed to support a wide range of colors and includes a Google Imaging chip and the 12 MP cameras on one or both phones will support optical image stabilization.

 

Although there is not much eye-catching technology in any of the drives, the XL can include an Active Edge feature on the left side of the phone that will allow you to mute calls and alarms, as well as start the Google wizard by pressing the phone.

 

Google may raise the storage bet by adding unlimited Google Cloud storage to mobiles.

Ditching Jack for headphones?

The new phones will have two stereo speakers, based on several reports. That seems likely, especially for the XL, made by HTC-a company known for producing phones with strong, crisp sound and no distortion.

Like other new smartphones, new models can come without a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

According to reports, the new units are built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset and work with Android 8 Oreo.

Other features include an E-SIM card slot, which provides connection to the networks without the need to replace the phone’s SIM card; A second generation of Google fingerprint reader; IP67 resistance to dust and water; and Gorilla Glass 5.

The Pixel 2 has a battery of 2700 mah, while the XL has a plant of 3520 mah.

Both phones have 4 gigabytes of memory and 64 or 128 gigabytes of storage. The price has been reported at $649 (64 GB) and $749 (128 GB) for Pixel 2. The XL will be sold for $849 (64 GB) and $949 (128 GB).

The Pixel 2 will begin to be sent on October 19 and the XL on November 15th.

Taking on Apple and Samsung

With the latest phones from Apple and Samsung already on the market, the new Pixel offerings are coming out of the late blocks. That can’t be too much of a disadvantage, however, since pixels don’t seem to be targeting probable iPhone X and Galaxy Note customers.

“They appear to be more of a direct competitor to the Apple 8 and the Galaxy S8, compared to the X and the Note, which represent exceptional offers,” said Ross Rubin, senior analyst at 42 Research.

“They are top quality products, but they are not positioned as the first in the market, the best of the best,” he told.

Although the functions are important, Google has other ways to attract consumers who are looking for an Android phone.

“Where you can differentiate yourself is in the tight integration between the hardware, the Android operating system and the Google services, no doubt with Android ‘ O'”, observed David McQueen, director of consumer device research in ABI’s research.

“Hardware is less important to Google than services,” he told. “They want eyeballs in their services like Facebook does.”

Conventional design

Hardware design seems to have a back seat for the software in the Google universe.

“The design of the new phones is quite conventional, which is probably on purpose,” said Kevin Krewell, senior analyst at Tirias Research.

“Google wants to present the Android operating system above the physical aesthetics of the phone,” he told. “The phone must be functional, but it’s really the software that counts for user interaction.”

That approach can be just right for the person that Google is trying to reach with the pixel.

“The buyer of a Google Pixel phone is probably someone who is heavily invested in Google’s ecosystem and wants the purest experience of Android and faster upgrades,” said Krewell.

The first generation of pixel phones, although it received good critical notes, was not runaway bestsellers. However, that does not mean that the phones are not doing what Google wants them to do.

“Success is always good, but new pixel solutions are part of a larger Google hardware ecosystem that includes pixel Chrome books, home loudspeakers and VR headphones that also leverage the growing ecosystem of services Company, “said Charles King, senior analyst at Pund-IT.

“Neither Apple nor Samsung has anything near Google’s capabilities,” he told.

Tough Sell

Capturing the attention of shoppers is not a problem just for Google, but for all smartphone manufacturers-especially the Android phone manufacturers, said Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst of Technalysis Research.

“There are some very nice Android phones out there, so it’s going to be hard for Google phones to stand out,” he told. “It will depend on how they are sold and where they sell-other aspects besides pure technology.”

One of the advantages of Google is that it can offer a “pure” form of Android unadulterated by operators or phone manufacturers.

“However, so far, they only have a very modest success with the Pixel,” said O’Donnell. “That suggests that Android shoppers aren’t as interested in that as a differentiator.”