Google’s upcoming flagships phones Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are among the most awaited phones this year. It’s been a year since Pixel and Pixel XL released and the hype is still alive. The new devices are codenamed Walleye and Taimen. Many rumors have started flowing about Google Pixel 2 specifications ahead of its release. So what features of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are to be expected?
Google recently released a teaser video which proposes some interesting questions and could point to the upcoming features we can expect from the new Pixel devices.
Which SoC will Pixel 2 feature?
While rumors of a new Snapdragon 836 Soc has been going around, it is unlikely that Pixel 2 will come with anything other than the Snapdragon 835 Soc. There might be a possibility that the SoC will be overclocked for better performance.
Snapdragon 835 is an octa-core processor based on ARM’s “big.LITTLE” design. Four cores run at 2.45GHz to run apps that demand high resources, while the other four cores run at 1.9GHz to run background tasks that consume less power. Snapdragon 835 will consume about 25% less power than its predecessor while fits in 35% less space.
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A Better Camera
Pixel scored the highest DxO Mark score of 89 among mobile devices. Paired with a f/2.0 lens, the Pixel’s 12.3MP primary camera produces brilliant images in all lighting conditions. Although autofocus was aided with a combination of ‘Laser Detection’ and ‘Phase Detection,’ it did have some issues with repeated autofocus.
This year too, the Pixel devices are expected to come with a much-improved camera as the stakes are already high. However, it is rumored that the Pixel 2 won’t have the dual-camera setup trend on the back. Moreover, Optical Image Stabilization(OIS) shall be seen in these devices, something the 2016 editions lacked.
A Better Google Assistant
As we know, Google’s flagship Pixel devices come with a central AI called Google Assistant. The charming assistant uses Google’s vast database to help users in a variety of tasks. With the new devices coming up we can hope for a more evolved and improved Google Assistant, one that presumably does more when you ask it for more with more task deliverables.
Water And Dust Resistant
While the Pixel and Pixel XL boast some impressive specs, there’s one obvious missing feature, i.e., waterproofing. The iPhone 8 is IP67 certified, while Samsung Galaxy S8 is IP68 certified. To compete with other high-end devices, this time the new Pixel devices are supposed to have a high IP rating which will determine its durability.
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HTC U11 ‘squeezable’ side button
A filing that HTC made with the FCC confirms that we can expect to see the ‘squeezable’ side button from
the HTC U11. This time Google has named it ‘Active-Edge’, which is capable of performing certain functions when you apply pressure to its sides, like launching the Google Assistant app.
What more?
Sadly, Google is likely to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack this year. There might be dual front-facing speakers, but it won’t compensate the loss of a 3.5mm jack, would it? It is rumored that both Pixel devices will rely on the USB Type-C port for audio streaming through earphones. Google Lens will likely be the key feature introduced with the release of Pixel 2. Google Lens uses Google’s machine learning algorithms to provide a detailed analysis of images in real time. It may come integrated with Google Assistant and Google Photos app.
Do you think the new Pixel devices will be able to compete with other high-end devices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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