This is the next Google Pixel XL and I like it

Amidst all the hype surrounding the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note8 and the iPhone 8, we nearly forgot that there’s one more device to get super excited for: The Google Pixel 2. And this, this looks like the most legit look we have at Google’s upcoming device yet.

Man, it’s a good time to be alive.

This photo comes courtesy of the folks over at Android Police who have been very reliable with their Google Pixel and Nexus leaks in the past so there’s a high chance that this is legit. Especially when they’re giving this leak an 8/10 on the confidence scale.

Looking at this image, which is supposedly the larger XL variant, there’s actually a lot to be excited about. The first thing is that the phone looks likely to sport a tall 6″ LG-made AMOLED display with super narrow bezels like those on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6. Although, it bears more of a resemblance to the latter than the former since it has what looks like a flat screen with curved glass on top.

I really like this for two reasons. The first is that it brings the previously dated Pixel design language into the modern world of minimal bezels and all-screen looks. Secondly, it means the Pixel will have a much smaller footprint than its predecessor and I’m all about cramming big screens into small frames. Also, since it looks like it will feature a tall 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio, it should mean it’ll be much narrower.

Also, since it looks like it will feature a tall 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio, it should mean it’ll be much narrower and easier to hold in one hand.

Android Police also points out that the smartphone has a rather large earpiece/speaker grille at the top which could be a hint at a “stereo” speaker setup which utilises the earpiece as a second speaker alongside a bottom firing one. Think HTC U11 or iPhone 7 Plus.

Around back, you’ll find the second biggest design change — the Pixel “window” is a lot smaller this time. It’s so much smaller that the fingerprint sensor doesn’t even live in it anymore. Though some may disagree, I think this single design choice makes the new phone a lot more attractive than last year’s Pixel.

You will also find a large camera cutout sitting in the glass. It’s unclear whether it’ll be flush or not but it is interesting that the cutout is so big. Maybe it’ll feature a large aperture? Who knows.

What we can say for sure is that the new Pixel XL looks like it will not be going down the dual-camera route that 2017’s smartphones seem to love taking. But as we’ve seen from the HTC U11, sometimes one is more than enough.

Android Police also says that the phone will feature a squeezable frame — like the U11 — which will give users a different way to interact with the phone. Well, I can tell you that it’s a lot better than having a dumb button that you can’t reprogram.

On the spec-sheet end of things, there isn’t much that’s known though rumours have pointed towards a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It is worth noting that those same rumours hint that the smaller Pixel will not look like this leak. In fact, it’s supposed to look almost identical to this year’s Pixel, large bezels and all.

As a whole, I’m really digging the Pixel XL’s new look. It’s modern, it’s slightly more squared off and it retains enough of its predecessor’s looks so you can tell immediately where this phone came from. I’m definitely more excited about this phone than I was about 2016’s Pixel.

What do you guys think of this? Let me know in the comments below.

[SOURCE, VIA]