Despite the release of Android 7.0 Nougat this year, the new generation of the Google-owned phones in collaboration with the HTC, is expected to be launched this upcoming October. The devices are rumored to be running Android 7.1 Nougat, with thetech giant allegedly slashing the Nexus name of the devices in favor of the brand new name Pixel.
Twitter leaker and Android developer @LlabTooFeR claims that the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL will come with Android 7.1.
The report suggested that Google may announce its new Pixel devices October 4. So, the time-honored rumors before for HTC-manufactured Google devices codenamed Marlin and Sailfish are expected to be the Pixel and Pixel XL. Marlin and Sailfish may sell for $449 and $599, respectively.
Sailfish may be a reasonably priced premium device with a 5.2-inch Full HD display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip, 4 GB of RAM, 12-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel front camera, a 2,770mAh battery and a USB Type-C port.
Marlin may be a super-premium smartphone with a 5.5-inch Quad HD display running with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip, 4 GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel front camera and a 3,450mAh battery and a USB Type-C port.
The devices' OS, Android 7.1, which is yet to be released by Google, is likely to be the major Android Nougat update that initially includes software elements and features exclusive to the two new phones. Most particularly, Daydream VR.
Daydream VR is positively going to appear first on the two new Pixel phones, which will be a setter apart from any smartphones that are currently running Android 7.0 Nougat, or any device that has been updated between now and when the Pixel and Pixel XL are announced.
The Pixel branding has been first used in Google Chromebooks and a tablet designed by Google. So, launching a Pixel-named phone would perhaps unify all the search giant's devices together. It is worth mentioning that Chromebook Pixel and Pixel C have not exactly sold much, so it'll be remarkable to see if the more in-house effort on the phone will have a negative or positive impact in the long run.
