Google’s October 4th Event: What to Expect

Google is set to host an event this week on October 4th in Mountain View, CA to debut some new products. Rumors and leaks have been rather frequent and revealing over the past couple of weeks about what Google might have up its sleeve, but nothing has been confirmed and won’t be until Wednesday. But thanks to these leaks, we have an idea of what you should expect from the search giant, and it’s all about new phones, new smart speakers, and maybe a 2-in-1 tablet.

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

These devices are probably the most anticipated of Google’s lineup of announcements. Currently known as the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, the successors to last year’s Pixel lineup is looking to impress with fresh designs and new features. Specifically, the new Pixel 2 XL is set to maintain the most changes with a 6-inch bezel-less OLED display and host an 18:9 aspect ratio. This goes against what we saw last year with the Pixel XL’s thick bezels surrounding a 5.5-inch 16:9 display and is similar to what we’re seeing with the LG V30.

Speaking of which, LG will be building this handset, while HTC takes a hold of the smaller Pixel 2. We expect relatively similar designs to last year’s Pixels in which there will be a glass panel on the top of the devices’ backs and aluminum for the rest of the build. A fingerprint sensor will sit below the glass panel, while the camera and LED flash will be housed in the glass. Wireless charging, although could be possible thanks to the partially-glass back, isn’t expected to arrive, and neither is a headphone jack on either device.

While the larger Pixel 2 XL will get a bezel-less design and probably a larger battery, the standard Pixel 2 will opt for roughly the same size bezels as last year and a 5-inch 1080p OLED screen. However, surrounding that display will be dual front-facing stereo speakers which will create a selling point for the smaller handset. And since the smaller Pixel 2 is expected to be built by HTC who has a history of including some of the best smartphone speakers, we expect sound on this device to be pretty stellar.

For both handsets, Google will be including sensors on the left and right sides which detect pressure and allow for users to squeeze their smartphone to perform operations such as activating the Google Assistant. This feature will be implemented in practically the same way it is on HTC’s U11 handset from this year which does the same thing. Specifics surrounding what Google will do to make the feature unique remains to be seen, but we’ll know more soon.

As for specs, rumor has it the Pixel 2 and 2 XL will come with Snapdragon 835 processors, 4GB of RAM, a minimum of 64GB of storage, likely Bluetooth 5, and Android 8.0 or 8.1 Oreo. A redesigned Pixel Launcher has also been suggested, although this rumor isn’t the strongest across the web. We also expect a USB-C port which will both charge your phone and become your headphone jack when paired with an included dongle. More about the internals of the new smartphones is expected in the coming days.

Additionally, the new Pixels will also ship with improved cameras and better battery life. Colors are looking pretty interesting at this time while pricing looks to sit at $649 for the Pixel 2 and $849 for the Pixel 2 XL. Availability has yet to be announced.

New Google Home speakers

Last year, Google launched the Home, a smart speaker powered by the Google Assistant that cost $129. This year, the company is expected to launch two new variants of the speaker with one carrying a cheaper design and lower $49 price tag while an upgraded ‘Max‘ model will include better sound and a likely higher price. Details are slim at the moment regarding these devices, but more information will be shared a bit later in the week.

New Chromebook (Pixelbook?)

Also expected to debut at Google’s hardware event is a new Chromebook called the Pixelbook. It’s a 2-in-1 tablet hybrid which will take advantage of Chrome OS’ ability to run Android apps. It’ll reportedly ship with a stylus included and 128, 256, or 512GB of storage. Pricing is said to max out at $1,749 so this will be a premium product (you know, for what a premium Chromebook is worth). Specifications remain unknown and we can’t even begin to guess what this thing could pack, but expect some high-end internals to say the least.

Refreshed Daydream View headset

Finally, a new Daydream View VR headset is expected to debut at Google’s October 4th event. What exactly is new surrounding the headset isn’t known at this time other than the fact that the fabric covering the headphone could be different, but it’s said to be $20 more expensive so something has to be new.

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Google’s upcoming event looks to be jam-packed with new products for the holidays. There’s gonna be tons of news come October 4th, and you know we’ll be posting tons of stuff to keep you up to date. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for constant updates during the event.