It's been a fun ride, audio jack. You will be remembered.
Google Pixel 2 is rumored to be dropping the 3.5mm audio jack for its upcoming smartphone, the Pixel 2. If it really does, then this will put Google in the list of major tech companies that bid goodbye to the humble audio port. Apple did away with it when it released iPhone 7 last 2016. For android phones, Moto Z followed suit.
Google Pixel 2 is under development with a planned late 2017 release.
Pulling The Plug On Jack
According to rumors, Google's next-gen flagship phone Pixel 2 will ditch the 3.5 audio jack. If it does, it will be a drastic departure from the first Pixel, which had the audio port. Although still rumors, the reports came from an "internal Google document."
If Google indeed says goodbye to the audio jack, the move will be a big deal considering most phones bearing Android OS — a Google technology — are still proudly bearing the 3.5 port. Samsung's Galaxy S8 has an audio port for earphones despite it being the latest flagship phone from the Korean company. Other new phones were revealed at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress.
However, this latest move from Google may be already forthcoming. In the first ad for the original Pixel, Google described the headphone jack as "satisfyingly not new."
Google Pixel 2 In The Works
Google Pixel 2 is Google's next flagship phone. It will feature everything that made the first Pixel a formidable competitor in the flagship phone market. In other words, it will remain top-of-the-line.
"Pixel stays premium," said Rick Osterloh, Google senior vice president of Hardware. Speaking before the media in the recent MWC. "You can count on a successor this year, even if you don't hear a date from me now." This statement confirmed that Google intends to be a major player in the smartphone industry.
With premium-ness comes price, of course. So expect no "cheap Pixel" coming soon. But considering the specs that the original $650 Pixel had, it won't be farfetched if the Pixel 2 will cost the same, or even higher.
More Rumors
There have been no specs sheet or prototype images leaked regarding the Pixel 2, but according to a tipster, Pixel 2 has been testing multiple models with a variety of chipsets; "some with Snapdragon 83X chips, others with Intel chips."
The new flagship phone is also rumored to be "waterproof" but that feature is still on the concept table. And for camera photographers, the Pixel 2 is rumored to be focusing on the camera as its main feature. The Google Pixel rocked 12.3-megapixel camera, so it is expected for the Pixel 2 to retain it (or even improve upon it.)
