Google Hardware Blitz Coming: Pixel 3 Lite, Pixel 4, And Smartwatch — Leaks, Specs, Price – Forbes

Google is quickly becoming a high-profile device manufacturer despite its pure software origins. And it may be readying a blitz of new devices in 2019.

Depending on the day, Google has a larger market cap (about $767 billion as of Friday) than Apple and a massive 85,000-plus workforce. So, it obviously has the resources to continue to develop great hardware like the Pixel 3*, Pixelbook, and Pixel Slate.

And Google is in charge of Android. Until 2016, that kept the company’s hardware output in check because it’s a no-no to compete with your hardware partners (a la Microsoft and its Windows partners). But, as with Microsoft, that policy doesn’t really seem to apply anymore.

Pixel 3 Lite: hmm…has Google changed its mind about doing premium-only products?

Rumored specs: It looks to be plastic, has a 2,220-by-1,080 5.56-inch IPS screen, and a Snapdragon 670 processor. All, by the way, lesser hardware than the current Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which have an aluminum frame and glass back, pricier OLED displays, and faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processors.

And comes with a (rapidly-being-obsoleted) 3.5mm headphone jack.

Because of the rumored lower-end specs and processor choice, Android Police believes that “this could mean the Pixel 3 Lite won’t make an appearance in the United States.”

Other specifications, with the exception of storage, are impressive (courtesy of Rozetked): 4GB RAM, 32GB of storage (sans microSD card slot), 8MP front-facing camera, and a 12MP rear camera. The battery is 2,915mAh, which would match the 5.5-inch Pixel 3.

A “lite” product would likely be priced below the $799 Pixel 3.

Its’ worth noting that Google, to date, has done premium hardware products only. And Google’s hardware chief Rick Osterloh once stated (in early 2017) that “Pixel stays premium” (courtesy of the Verge.) If the Pixel Lite “leak” is accurate, Google and Osterloh must have changed their mind. Not impossible since that statement was made two years ago, an eternity in techdom.  

This video purportedly shows a Pixel 3 Lite (or whatever Google chooses to call it).

The original “leak” came from Russian tech site Rozetked in November.

Pixel 4: one of the most anticipated phones in 2019 but initial rumors appear to be wrong.

A few reports this week cited a 91mobiles report about a notchless Pixel, possibly a Pixel 4. But Gadget Hacks explains why these images are too old to be the Pixel 4 and why the front side “notchless” image is irrelevant.

That said, the Pixel 4 / Pixel 4 XL are the two most anticipated phones in 2019, according to Android Authority. And we’re all waiting to see if manufacturers abandon notches in 2019 or whether that happens later. It’s certainly possible to build a notchless phone, as Oppo has done with Find X: a full-screen notchless design.  The Oppo phone solves this with a module that slides in and out at the top rear of the phone.

See the Oppo Find X.

A Google smartwatch…finally? Rumors were hot and heavy last summer that Google was going to announce a smartwatch along with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. That never happened but now we have hard proof that Google is interested in smartwatch hardware — to the tune of $40 million:

Today, Fossil Group announced its plan to sell to Google for $40 million intellectual property (IP) related to a smartwatch technology currently under development by Fossil Group.

—The Fossil Group, January 17, 2019

Fossil makes smartwatches that run Android Wear OS, like the Fossil Sport Smartwatch priced at $255. So, can we expect a smartwatch from Google? Let’s just say this: Remember when Google acquired a chunk of smartphone-maker HTC’s hardware business? That was a $1.1 billion deal. And the original first-gen Google Pixel phones were made by HTC. So, it wouldn’t be a complete shock if Google comes out with a smartwatch later this year.

Also remember that Google co-developed a smartwatch with LG, the LG Watch Sport.

—-

NOTES:

*I use all three: the Pixel 3 XL, Pixelbook, and recently the Pixel Slate. And I used the LG Watch Sport for about a year.

 

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Google is quickly becoming a high-profile device manufacturer despite its pure software origins. And it may be readying a blitz of new devices in 2019.

Depending on the day, Google has a larger market cap (about $767 billion as of Friday) than Apple and a massive 85,000-plus workforce. So, it obviously has the resources to continue to develop great hardware like the Pixel 3*, Pixelbook, and Pixel Slate.

And Google is in charge of Android. Until 2016, that kept the company’s hardware output in check because it’s a no-no to compete with your hardware partners (a la Microsoft and its Windows partners). But, as with Microsoft, that policy doesn’t really seem to apply anymore.

Pixel 3 Lite: hmm…has Google changed its mind about doing premium-only products?

Rumored specs: It looks to be plastic, has a 2,220-by-1,080 5.56-inch IPS screen, and a Snapdragon 670 processor. All, by the way, lesser hardware than the current Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which have an aluminum frame and glass back, pricier OLED displays, and faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processors.

And comes with a (rapidly-being-obsoleted) 3.5mm headphone jack.

Because of the rumored lower-end specs and processor choice, Android Police believes that “this could mean the Pixel 3 Lite won’t make an appearance in the United States.”

Other specifications, with the exception of storage, are impressive (courtesy of Rozetked): 4GB RAM, 32GB of storage (sans microSD card slot), 8MP front-facing camera, and a 12MP rear camera. The battery is 2,915mAh, which would match the 5.5-inch Pixel 3.

A “lite” product would likely be priced below the $799 Pixel 3.

Its’ worth noting that Google, to date, has done premium hardware products only. And Google’s hardware chief Rick Osterloh once stated (in early 2017) that “Pixel stays premium” (courtesy of the Verge.) If the Pixel Lite “leak” is accurate, Google and Osterloh must have changed their mind. Not impossible since that statement was made two years ago, an eternity in techdom.  

This video purportedly shows a Pixel 3 Lite (or whatever Google chooses to call it).

The original “leak” came from Russian tech site Rozetked in November.

Pixel 4: one of the most anticipated phones in 2019 but initial rumors appear to be wrong.

A few reports this week cited a 91mobiles report about a notchless Pixel, possibly a Pixel 4. But Gadget Hacks explains why these images are too old to be the Pixel 4 and why the front side “notchless” image is irrelevant.

That said, the Pixel 4 / Pixel 4 XL are the two most anticipated phones in 2019, according to Android Authority. And we’re all waiting to see if manufacturers abandon notches in 2019 or whether that happens later. It’s certainly possible to build a notchless phone, as Oppo has done with Find X: a full-screen notchless design.  The Oppo phone solves this with a module that slides in and out at the top rear of the phone.

See the Oppo Find X.

A Google smartwatch…finally? Rumors were hot and heavy last summer that Google was going to announce a smartwatch along with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. That never happened but now we have hard proof that Google is interested in smartwatch hardware — to the tune of $40 million:

Today, Fossil Group announced its plan to sell to Google for $40 million intellectual property (IP) related to a smartwatch technology currently under development by Fossil Group.

—The Fossil Group, January 17, 2019

Fossil makes smartwatches that run Android Wear OS, like the Fossil Sport Smartwatch priced at $255. So, can we expect a smartwatch from Google? Let’s just say this: Remember when Google acquired a chunk of smartphone-maker HTC’s hardware business? That was a $1.1 billion deal. And the original first-gen Google Pixel phones were made by HTC. So, it wouldn’t be a complete shock if Google comes out with a smartwatch later this year.

Also remember that Google co-developed a smartwatch with LG, the LG Watch Sport.

—-

NOTES:

*I use all three: the Pixel 3 XL, Pixelbook, and recently the Pixel Slate. And I used the LG Watch Sport for about a year.