The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are on their way, with a confirmed announcement coming in just a few days on October 4. Timing is everything, and with the Pixels, the new spec leaks are right on schedule.
Before we get started, let’s just say that the spec sheet is good, but previous leaks have done a good job of giving us the parameter of expectations for the upcoming devices.
First, Pixel 2 will feature a Full HD screen with Gorilla Glass 5. Gorilla Glass 5 is the most durable smartphone glass on the market right now, with no word on whether or not Corning will launch a sixth-generation Gorilla Glass this year. With that being said, both the Pixel 2 with its 1080p screen and the Pixel 2 XL with its Quad HD curved Gorilla Glass 5 display will be able to handle the majority of the elements. There’s a high probability that we’re looking at an Always On Display (AOD) for the Pixel 2 series, along with an 18:9 aspect ratio (Pixel 2 XL) and squeezable frame.
There are a few software additions to add, however. According to Android Police‘s Artem Russakovski, the new Pixel 2 series will see a Music Recognition mode that starts playing the same song as it hears in the background, a new Portrait Mode akin to that found on Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus, and a revamped Pixel Launcher with the coveted Google search bar at the bottom. XDA Developers confirms AP’s findings, as well as the dual speakers and the squeezable frame. Additionally, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL could come in 64GB and 128GB storage variants, a change from the 32GB and 128GB variants of last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL.
Last year’s Pixels had a mere IP53 splash resistance rating due to Google “running out of time” with IP certification, but the word on the upcoming Pixel 2 series is that it will have IP67 water and dust resistance (we heard about the improvement in water and dust resistance earlier this year). This is a welcome change, but there are still high-end Android-powered smartphones with IP68 water and dust resistance. And in the camera department, it’s been said in recent weeks that Google would proceed with only Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for its upcoming phones, but these new specs point to the use of Optical Image Stabilization (or OIS) with the upcoming Pixel cameras.
Other specs that appear to be expected pertain to the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, presence of dual front-facing speakers, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC, 2,700mAh (Pixel 2) and 3,520mAh battery (Pixel 2 XL). The dual front-facing speakers could prove a change from the bottom-firing speakers of last year’s Pixel; of course, only one of the two bottom-firing speakers was graced with audio output, but front-facing speakers on Pixel 2 could prevent gamers from muting the sound with their fingers as they game in landscape mode. The 2,700mAh battery of the Pixel 2 is smaller than the 2,770mAh battery of last year’s Pixel, but Google is expected to have increased the size of the battery from 3,450mAh for last year’s Pixel XL up to 3,520mAh for the upcoming Pixel 2 XL.
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are expected to arrive with Android Oreo (no surprises there), but Android 8.1 Oreo looks to be the next system update as is apparent from recent changes to the Google app. It’s highly unlikely that Google would release Android 8.0, then bring the same 8.0 to the new Pixel 2 series without bug fixes and enhancements, so next Wednesday could be the official debut.
We’ve already seen the Pixel 2 colors and pricing as well, so there’s little left to the imagination – though Google could still provide a surprise or two.
SOURCE [Android Authority] [XDA-Developers]
