Google has said that the new Pixel phones will be of premium build, so it won't be surprising if the phones will have the most premium of mobile CPUs: the Snapdragon 835.
A recent leak has revealed that the upcoming Google Pixel 2 will indeed pack the Snapdragon 835. The leak also showed not two, but three prototypes in the works.
Snapdragon 835 is Qualcomm's premium system-on-chip (SoC) that you can find in other flagship phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and Xiaomi Mi 6.
Not 2, But 3 Google Pixel 2 Phones
In 2016, Google released two flagship phones: the Pixel and Pixel XL. This year, Google is rumored to add one more to its growing lineup of premium phones for a total of three Pixel phones.
In a leaked Android Open Source document (translated from a German website), Google has been revealed to be working on three phones under the code names "Walleye," "Muskie," and "Taimen."
Walleye is the code name of the main Pixel 2 phone, while Muskie is the bigger phone, which could be the Pixel 2 XL. But the more interesting is the last code name Taimen. Experts speculate that this could be a Pixel tablet or maybe a very big phone.
Pixel Powered By Snapdragon 835
All three phones are discovered to be equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. In the document, there were references to "MSM8998," which is the model number for Snapdragon 835 chips.
Snapdragon 835 is the prized product of the San Diego-based chipmaker Qualcomm.
"With an advanced 10-nanometer design, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform can support phenomenal mobile performance. It is 35 percent smaller and uses 25 percent less power than previous designs, and is engineered to deliver exceptionally long battery life, lifelike VR and AR experiences, cutting-edge camera capabilities and Gigabit Class download speeds," Qualcomm touts.
This 10-nanometer technology simply means that the chip's transistors are smaller, which means they can be packed closer together and thus have a more efficient performance. It also means less heat, lower power consumption, and the ability to pack a powerful PC on a smaller chip.
The Google Pixel 2's rumored specs include a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution on a 5.5-inch screen, a much powerful camera, and several Google features such as Daydream VR, Google Assistant, Pixel Launcher, and the rumored Android O operating system. These features are resource-hungry, requiring a powerful CPU. This is where the Snapdragon 835 comes in.
The Snapdragon 835 CPU is optimized for many flagship phones, such as the recently released Samsung Galaxy S8 (and S8+). Other brands include Xiaomi Mi 6, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and the upcoming Windows Surface Phone.
