14 DAY TRIAL // In the past few years, Google released a duo of Android-running smartphones during the fall, but that may change, as the tech giant is currently working on three new Pixel devices. A new report reveals new information about the new phones.
The Android Open Source Project revealed that the new Pixel smartphones could run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 platform inside. This shouldn’t be surprising, considering that it’s Qualcomm’s current flagship chipset and the company has yet to unveil its successor.
Qualcomm and Samsung just recently started work on the upcoming Snapdragon 845 chipset, possibly based on the 7nm process, and we don’t expect the platform to be ready in time for Google’s Pixel unveiling this fall. The next flagship platform will most likely be included in Samsung’s Galaxy S9 flagship, to be announced early next year.
Three Pixel devices are in the works
That being said, the codenames for Google’s upcoming Pixel smartphones were also revealed, showing that the tech giant has been working on three devices codenamed Walleye, Muskie, and Taimen.
While the first two are expected to be successors to last year’s Pixel XL and Pixel smartphones, the latter is believed to be a sequel to Motorola Nexus 6 or Google’s first new tablet since Pixel C launched in 2015. This is just speculation at this point, but some are confident that Taimen will be a Google device with a display larger than Pixel XL’s.
Recently, officials have said that the new Pixel smartphones will stay in the premium range of devices and Google intends to equip them with OLED screens manufactured by LG Display. Google has sought to invest $880 million in LG Display for OLED screens to incorporate on new devices.
Moreover, HTC is said to manufacture this year’s Pixel smartphones, just like it has done for the two Pixel devices announced last year. IP67 or IP68 certification is also expected on the new phones, a feature that many consumers have requested since last year.