Google's latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL, have been a resounding success. A new report claims their successors, presumably called Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, will gain waterproof bodies to compete with Samsung and Apple's handsets.
Waterproof Smartphones Hit The Market
The Galaxy S5, which was released in 2014, was the first water-resistant smartphone to be released by Samsung, but the feature was dropped the following year with the launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. The lack of water resistance along with the removal of a microSD expansion slot did not go over well with users and the company brought back both features with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
Apple joined the waterproof party in 2016 with the release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and even created a commercial to showcase the feature. LG is widely expected to follow by making its upcoming LG G6 waterproof. We can now expect to see Google "definitely" add the popular feature to its next-generation Pixel smartphones, according to a new report.
Google Pixel 2 And Pixel XL 2 Will Be Waterproof
Stephen Hall from 9To5Google posted the following message on Twitter: "Little tidbit we were told in October last year that I forgot about: 'Waterproofing definitely coming with next Pixel device.'"
If there has been one feature or lack thereof mentioned in every Pixel and Pixel XL review, it's a waterproof build. So it certainly seems plausible that Google would please its critics by adding the feature to the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 in the fall.
It has been reported that Google wanted the first-generation Pixel and Pixel XL to be waterproof, but the feature was dropped because of "internal conflict between hardware (namely, camera) and/or waterproofing vs. price point."
HTC currently and silently builds the Pixel and Pixel XL for Google, but it's unclear whether the company has been commissioned to build the Pixel and Pixel XL successors, or if Google plans to use its playbook for the Nexus series, which saw the company partner with various Android licensees like Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Huawei to manufacture its devices.
Pixel And Pixel XL Remain Sold Out
While lack of waterproofing might be an issue for some, the Pixel and Pixel XL remain two of the most popular flagship smartphones on the market. Verizon, Google's exclusive carrier partner, remains sold out of both devices, with the Pixel currently showing a shipping date of Feb. 14 and the Pixel XL shipping by March 3.
This surely won't be the last we hear about what to expect from the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on any new details.
