Google’s new own-brand Pixel smartphones have been revealed a day before their official unveiling after Carphone Warehouse leaked promotional content.
The new Pixel phone by Google marks a step-change for the Android-maker, putting the Google brand front and centre in an obvious direct challenge to Apple and its iPhone. Both Apple, and now Google, have the advantage of being able to develop both hardware and software simultaneously.
Most other smartphone manufacturers, including the world’s largest, Samsung, use Android but do not actively develop the software, only modify it, relying on Google for primary development.
Google has previously used Nexus branding for its smartphones, where it has partnered with manufacturers such as Huawei, LG and HTC. The new Pixel brand is in-keeping with that used for Google’s Chromebook Pixel and recent Pixel C Android tablet.
The leaked images captured by Android Police show two sizes of the phone –a regular and “XL” version, USB-C fast charging, a new interface, video calling and the Google Assistant, which first launched within the company’s Allo messaging app.
Both devices will have 32GB or 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, Qualcomm’s latest 821 processor, AMOLED screens, fingerprint scanners on the back, an eight-megapixel selfie camera and a 12-megapixel camera on the back with optical image stabilisation, according to the smartphone retailers listings which have since been removed.
Google is expected to unveil the new smartphones at an event on Tuesday along with the next version of Android Nougat 7.1, which will feature more of Google’s conversational AI in the form of Assistant.
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