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Google Pixel, Pixel XL: Release Date, Price, And Spec Rumors

By Samir Makwana
Published on: 20:59 PST, Oct 2, 2016

Google is set to launch the new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones at a big launch event party in San Francisco on October 4. Google already posted the launch event teaser on its official Twitter account. Also, the official Google Pixel account surfacing on Twitter seals the confirmation of Google’s new line of Pixel phones.

While Google’s fall event is mostly about the new smartphones, the company is going to announce a lot of hardware products this year, according to The Verge. Most importantly, Google is finally bidding adieu to its 8-year-old Nexus branding for the Pixel line this year.

So instead of addressing the media, Google is marketing the launch event by installing DoubleClick ads-powered billboards with a specific hashtag – #MadeByGoogle – in New York City, according to Business Insider. That is surprising for everyone. In a way, Google is trying to shake up the competitors by officially stepping into the smartphones game more seriously.

Along with the Pixel and Pixel XL phones, Google will be introducing the Google Home, the digital assistant-powered smart speaker, to compete with Amazon Echo powered by Alexa, according to The Verge. A Google Wi-Fi router and 4K Chromecast are also expected to launch. Chances of Google showing off its Daydream VR, a virtual reality platform, are slim.

Google, along with HTC, launched the first Nexus smartphone dubbed Nexus One in early 2010. Since then, Google has worked with Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Huawei to introduce new Nexus phones every year. This year, Google has collaborated with HTC again, after a gap of six to seven years to add new phones with Pixel branding.

Ample amount of leaks and rumors surrounding the Google Pixel and Pixel XL phones have surfaced so far. That leaves tiny room for Google to surprise everyone at the launch event on October 4.

As the names suggest, the Pixel and Pixel XL are identical but differ regarding physical size and the battery capacity. The Pixel XL is the slightly larger version of the Pixel. Just like the iPhone 7 Plus is a larger version of the iPhone 7. Several rumors report about the hardware inside the new Pixel and Pixel XL. However, nothing confirms better than the retailers and carriers accidentally pushing the live button on the phone listings.

An eagle-eyed Reddit user, laughters_assasin, managed to grab the Pixel phone images and details that inadvertently went live ahead of the launch. British mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse along with Canadian Telecom operators, Telus and Bell, jumped the gun by making the Pixel and Pixel XL phone listings live on their respective website. But they soon realized their mistake and redacted those pages. It’s the Carphone Warehouse listing that spilled the beans on the specifications of both the phones.

Take a look at the hardware of the HTC-made Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

Google Pixel

  • Software: Android 7.1 Nougat
  • Display: 5-inch FHD AMOLED display (1920×1080, 441ppi) with Gorilla Glass 4 protection
  • Processor: 64-bit Quad-core 2.15GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip
  • Memory: 4GB of RAM
  • Storage: 32GB or 128GB, no microSD card slot
  • Camera: 12.3MP (f/2.0, 1.55um) rear camera with dual-tone LED flash and Optical Image Stabilization; 8MP front camera
  • Network: 4G LTE (nano SIM)
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Fingerprint scanner, NFC, 3.5mm headphone, USB Type-C
  • Battery: 2,770 mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 support
  • Dimensions: 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6 mm
  • Weight: 143 grams

The Google Pixel won’t offer a memory card slot, but Google has introduced the new 128GB model by dropping the 64GB model. In a way, Google continues to propagate its cloud services-powered storage strategy.

Google Pixel XL

  • Software: Android 7.1 Nougat
  • Display: 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display (2560×1440, 534ppi) with Gorilla Glass 4 protection
  • Processor: 64-bit Quad-core 2.15GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip
  • Memory: 4GB of RAM
  • Storage: 32GB or 128GB, no microSD card slot
  • Camera: 12.3MP (f/2.0, 1.55um) rear camera with dual-tone LED flash and Optical Image Stabilization; 8MP front camera
  • Network: 4G LTE (nano SIM)
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Fingerprint scanner, NFC, 3.5mm headphone, USB Type-C
  • Battery: 3,450 mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 support
  • Dimensions: 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6 mm
  • Weight: 156 grams

Both Pixel and Pixel XL are crafted using an aluminum alloy for strength and antenna bands at the rear give a visual break for the sake of better network quality. Google has used a glass panel covering half of the back.

The Android 7.1 Nougat on the Pixel phones will come with Google’s set of customizations and improvements. It will not longer deliver the stock Android experience like the Nexus line of phones.

GSM Arena believes that HTC has made the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, as suggested by the Global Certification Forum listing, and Google will release them in two versions – the U.S. and International.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL might stray away from the usual affordable Nexus strategy. According to Android Police, the Pixel phones are rumored to cost upwards of $650 for the base model. However, financing options will be available to those who don’t want to shell out the full amount at once.

Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL phone launch will also make Android 7.0 Nougat formally available for all phone makers. Prices of the Pixel phones is the only exciting part yet to be delivered, apart from new Pixel phones exclusive features of Nougat. So tune in at 9 a.m. (Pacific Time) to Google’s YouTube channel on October 4.

[Featured Image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

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