Rumors have been swirling for quite some time now that Google is developing a second series of its Pixel handsets, which will succeed the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones.
The latest rumors that have come up regarding the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel XL 2 are its suggested codenames. A new leak reveals that Google has kept up with its tradition of codenaming its impending devices after fish.
Fishy Codenames
It was revealed by Android Police that the monikers "Walleye" and "Muskie" may be the codenames of the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel XL 2. According to the publication, the codenames of the rumored upcoming Google Pixel smartphones were revealed in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) gerrit. Thus, one can also deduce that the upcoming smartphones will also come running on the latest Android platform.
The names are not unusual or surprising as Google has previously codenamed its latest flagship smartphones Pixel and Pixel XL as "Marlin" and "Sailfish" respectively. For the unfamiliar, walleye is a freshwater fish found in Canada and the Northern U.S. and the codename refers to the smaller Google Pixel 2 smartphone. The muskie, which is a large freshwater fish found in the Northern U.S., refers to the bigger version Pixel XL 2.
Walleye has been reportedly spotted on the AOSP website, making it safe to assume that Google has started testing the handset. However the Muskie is yet to appear on the review site officially.
Pixel 2 And Pixel XL 2: Rumored Specs And Features
Tech Times reported earlier that Google's VP, Rick Osterloh, had mentioned that the upcoming Pixel lineup will fall under the premium category. Why? As Google is not interested in making budget smartphones.
It is being anticipated that both the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 would come with 2K displays. The smaller Pixel 2 is expected to sport a 5-inch screen and may come with an upgraded display — the 2,560 x 1,440 QHD resolution — which is on the current-gen Pixel XL.
Rumors also suggest that Google plans to upgrade the battery power of the upcoming Pixel lineup for better performance and less battery drainage. The camera may also get upgrades, and to keep up with the changing technology in the market, Google may incorporate dual camera setups in both the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2.
Given that the popularity of VR is on a rise, one can expect the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 to come with second-generation Daydream VR. Rumors are also rife that Google may introduce the water- and dust-resistant capabilities for the upcoming Pixel lineup.
