Google came out swinging at its event in Boston. Several new products were announced, most of which weren’t surprises, but still big announcements. The big theme was Google Assistant. Across the electronics industry, voice control and “personal assistant” features are all the rage. Google is doubling down this trend, as the “Ask More” ad campaign alluded to.
Of course we couldn’t attend the event to try out the new products. However, after reading the reporting, and Google’s PR stuff, we have a good idea what these products will be like. Here are some key points from today’s event, and some things we look forward to getting our hands on. We broke this down into several parts, with the first being the biggest news, Pixel 2.
Pixel 2 and 2 XL phones
Credit: google
Let’s start this off by answering the most important question. Nope, there will be no headphone jack, but an adapter is provided. Now that the important stuff is covered, let’s get on with it.
Design
The Pixel 2 looks much like the leaked renderings we have seen around the web. Available in 3 colors, “Just Black”, “Clearly White”, and “Kinda Blue” (pixel 2 only), these are not bad looking phones. It is a significant improvement over the first generation for sure. The front bezel is reduced , especially on the XL, and the rear glass is smaller than the first generation. The dimensions are very manageable with the Pixel 2 coming in at 5.7” x 2.7” and the XL at 6.2” x 3”. Overall a good design. I still don’t think it’s as nice looking as some of its competitors, but that is a matter of taste.
Hardware
Hardware wise the Pixel 2 is a solid contender. Google was wise to make both models with the same specs, or, in their words “two sizes, same smarts”. Both models have 4GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon 835 processor, clocked at 2.35Ghz. They will handle the multi-tasking, and high intensity applications fine. Both phones will also have Bluetooth 5.0 and 801.11Ac capable Wi-Fi. Both models will support most worldwide cellular networks.
While the phones have the same brains, they differ in other specs. The most noticeable will be the display, the Pixel 2 has a 5.0” AMOLED screen which supports FHD (1920×1080), while the XL has a 6.0” POLED (Panoramic) screen which supports QHD+ (2880×1440). It may seem obvious, but, the Pixel XL will sport a higher capacity battery. XL will have a m520 mAh battery, while 2 will have a 2700 mAh battery. Google claims that both phones will be able last 7 hours with one 15 minute charge, usage depending.
Other Features
Some other notable features on the phone are actually what might set the second generation Pixel line apart. One of the best in my opinion is the eSIM feature. Although it will only work with Google’s Project FI, eSIM does away with the need to have a physical SIM card. This technology could prove to be useful. The Google Assistant is not that important to me. But for those that like, the squeezing the sides of the phone to access it is pretty cool. The last thing that I think is huge is that Pixel 2 will ship with Android Oreo, and will likely be among the first to get future updates.
The second generation of Pixel phones will definitely be able to hold their own in the market. There are some innovative features, and the level of integration with devices and services may be a great selling point. I don’t think, however, that the likes of Apple and Samsung need to be too worried. Never the less, we can’t wait to get our hands on one to try it out.
Check out part 2, tomorrow!
(via Google Store/Google Blog)
