The Pixel line could be bolstered by a budget-friendly model as soon as this summer, but maybe it’ll actually arrive in 2019.
Roland Quandt, a mobile industry insider with a solid track record, revealed that Google is working on a Pixel phone with mid-range specifications. The processor inside, however, won’t come from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 series. Google is interested in using the newly-minted Snapdragon 710 with hardware development just commencing.
The launch would take place in the first half of next year. Still, Quandt doesn’t know if the original plan to release anything this summer is unaffected. Earlier this year, a report came out that Google wanted to roll out a mid-range phone in July or August.
As the company continues pushing premium products, Google is aiming to penetrate emerging markets. The ‘cheap Pixel’ would serve as an alternative to what the company already sells.
Google’s Pixel phones aren’t exactly the most affordable around. Even though the smaller model starts at a reasonable $650, the Pixel 2 XL is no less than $850 anywhere you look. So there’s definitely a slot open for a budget-friendly model.
There does seem to be strong interest in releasing a more affordable Pixel phone. Google stopped selling the Pixel and Pixel XL from 2016 a few months ago. Without them, the company is limited to pricey mobile devices that not everyone can afford. That might mean there is a budget-friendly model arriving this summer.
The mid-range model would have nothing to do with the upcoming Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Both would be made for each other, and the specs are expected to be on the cutting-edge side with no concessions made.
