All of Google’s Big Announcements Leak Ahead of October Event

And you thought it was tough being Apple: All of Google’s big announcements from next month’s event have leaked, including new Pixel 2 smartphones, a Pixelbook laptop, a new Google Home mini, and a new Daydream View VR headset.

And for me, this is a real gut-check: As I discussed recently in I’m Switching to Android (Premium), the new Pixel XL is currently my top choice for my next phone. But I was hoping that Google would see the light and lower prices this time around.

Nope: According to multiple sources, the Google Pixel 2 will cost $649 for a 64 GB version and $749 for a 128 GB version. And that’s for the little one.

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The larger Pixel 2 XL (yes, that’s its name) that I’m really looking forward to will start at $849 for 64 GB and top out at a wallet-busting $949 for the 128 GB version I would like to get. That is an $80 increase over last year’s model.

Sigh.

There are a few other details. The Pixel 2 will be made available in three colors, Just Black, Clearly White, and Kinda Blue. But the Pixel 2 XL will come in just two choices: Just Black and a two-tone Black & White.

Google’s third-generation Chromebook Pixel, called the Google Pixelbook, is just as interesting. But it’s also just as expensive, comparatively speaking. It will come in three storage allotments, 128 GB for $1199, 256 GB for $1399, and 512 GB for $1749. And the optional Pixelbook Pen will set you back another $99.

It looks like the Pixelbook is basically a Chromebook version of the Surface Book, though it folds over into a tablet rather than using a removable display. (This one comes to us courtesy of DroidLife.)

DroidLife also got the scoop on a smaller new version of the Google Home smart speaker called Google Home Mini. It will be available in three colors, Chalk (light gray top, white bottom), Charcoal, and Coral. And it will cost just $49.

Finally, Google will be announcing a new version of its Daydream View VR headset that, frankly, doesn’t look much different from the current model. But it will apparently set you back $99 and will come in three colors, Charcoal, Fog, and Coral.

Google, as you may remember, will make these announcements on October 4.

 

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Conversation 44 comments

  • Jaxidian

    19 September, 2017 - 5:00 pm

    <p>FYI, David Ruddick of Android Police is saying those Pixel 2 XL prices might come down:</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RDR0b11/status/910211567681024000&quot; target="_blank">https://twitter.com/RDR0b11/status/910211567681024000</a></p&gt;

  • lvthunder

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:04 pm

    <p>I guess no one gets to make surprising announcements anymore. These leakers should lose their jobs.</p>

  • Roger Ramjet

    19 September, 2017 - 5:05 pm

    <p>It makes no sense for Google to undercut on price in phones. They are not a volume player, they are not trying to compete with Android OEMs. It would be like asking Microsoft to play price game with Surface. As it is, they most likely have higher costs vs Apple &amp; Samsung, and probably a bunch of others anyway. So, that is someone else's job, like whoever is the Dell of Asia, since all the manufacturing capability, and any cost competitiveness has moved over there. If you want a price break, you will need to go with an Asian brand with little cachet to its name in North America.</p><p>Um, that bling thing again …</p>

    • Joshua Lee

      19 September, 2017 - 5:16 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#178019"><em>In reply to Roger Ramjet:</em></a></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Huawei is arguably the Dell of Asia for phones, Roger. They sell more phones than Apple now. I have a decent phone from them which was $210 retail, refurbished for $119. Has dual cameras, a metal case (mostly) a 5.5" screen, and great battery life. I admit it has a slower processor then the latest Galaxy S8, but do you need the latest speed to have a functioning smartphone?</span></p>

      • CaedenV

        19 September, 2017 - 6:18 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#178032"><em>In reply to Ploni_Almoni:</em></a></blockquote><p>agreed. midrange phones are more than good enough for almost any task a normal human would throw at it. Sort of like Intel and their processors where an i3 CPU is actuially overkill for most users… but to get acceptable iGPU you need an i5 or i7. The midrange ARM chips are much the same in that the processing power is more than good enough, but often they bundle the other nice features only with the faster processors.</p><p><br></p><p>That said; I cant wait for watches to be powerful enough to replace most smartphone uses, and phones to be powerful enough to replace most laptop uses… we will get there.</p>

      • Waethorn

        20 September, 2017 - 11:42 am

        <blockquote><a href="#178032"><em>In reply to Ploni_Almoni:</em></a></blockquote><p>Chinese OEM's rotate in popularity every year. One year it's Xiaomi, another year it's Alcatel, yet another year it might be Oppo.</p>

  • goodbar

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:05 pm

    <p>At these prices is the Essential PH-1 looking better, or is the smaller, Google Pixel 2 looking better?</p>

    • Lauren Glenn

      04 October, 2017 - 2:13 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#178020"><em>In reply to goodbar:</em></a></blockquote><p>I thought Essential got bad reviews (especially in repairability department)</p>

  • adamcorbally

    19 September, 2017 - 5:07 pm

    <p>I get chrome books at lower price points but if your going to spend that much get a laptop you can run apps on, code and use for gaming – i.e a windows or Mac </p>

  • ChristopherCollins

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:13 pm

    <p>How much bezel? If it's like the iPhone 8, I will pass. </p><p><br></p><p>I'm hoping for a minimal bezel situation. Equal to the top and bottom.</p>

    • Jaxidian

      19 September, 2017 - 5:29 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#178023"><em>In reply to ChristopherCollins:</em></a></blockquote><p>The expectations are that the Pixel 2 will have large bezels, just like the Pixel 1. But the Pixel 2 XL is possibly based on the design of the LG V30, which would be really nice from a bezel standpoint.</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:16 pm

    <p>Just as important as what they'll <em>show</em> is what they'll <em>say</em>. Before dropping $1300+ on a Pixelbook and pen I need to know that they've perfected Android apps on Chrome, that developers have bought into making tablet apps for Android and that not only will pen performance will be comparable to the new Surface Pro or iPad Pro but there will be lots of apps that support pen input.</p>

  • Nicholas Kathrein

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:17 pm

    <p>i'm really hoping for a new Android TV and maybe a new Nvidia Shield Android TV box. I want an updated version for my 4k TV. Prices of the Pixel XL2 seem to high.</p>

  • ben55124

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:27 pm

    <p>All phone prices are going up. Components manufactured on Korea peninsula are subject to rocket man drama. Plus Apple and Samsung pumping $1000 super flagships gives everyone more room to go up. Still don't see a front picture of the Pixel 2s. Also water resistance???</p>

  • Cdorf

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 5:49 pm

    <p>If they lower the price, and its got good waterproofing (a la Samsung) then I'd be tempted</p>

  • VancouverNinja

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2017 - 6:08 pm

    <p>Is innovation dead at Google?</p>

    • maethorechannen

      Premium Member
      20 September, 2017 - 3:42 am

      <blockquote><a href="#178048"><em>In reply to VancouverNinja:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Innovation's dead everywhere.</p>

      • MutualCore

        20 September, 2017 - 11:39 am

        <blockquote><a href="#178121"><em>In reply to maethorechannen:</em></a></blockquote><p>Apple just launched FaceID, ARKit on a billion iOS devices and A11 Bionic chip. They are the lone innovators!</p>

      • VancouverNinja

        Premium Member
        20 September, 2017 - 1:50 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#178121"><em>In reply to maethorechannen:</em></a></blockquote><p>No its not, but when I look at everything Google is working on in the areas of Mobile computing, AR, AI, and computing it all seems reactionary with me too features. MS is innovating, Amazon is innovating, Samsung is innovating, Apple is trying to innovate all be it weakly…cellular watch but not much else that has not already been done…much like Google. </p>

        • maethorechannen

          Premium Member
          20 September, 2017 - 2:13 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#178273"><em>In reply to VancouverNinja:</em></a></blockquote><p><em>MS is innovating, Amazon is innovating, Samsung is innovating</em></p><p><br></p><p>Are they? How? What have any of them done recently that isn't an incremental advancement over what we already have or an outright me too feature?</p><p><br></p><p>The most innovative thing any of them have done in years is to hook up a wifi speaker to a search engine. And that was years ago. </p>

  • m_p_w_84

    19 September, 2017 - 6:12 pm

    <p>Well at least the google Home mini is interesting </p>

  • CaedenV

    19 September, 2017 - 6:14 pm

    <p>That choral daydream looks 'kinda blue'</p>

  • brduffy

    19 September, 2017 - 6:25 pm

    <p>For the life of me I can't understand why anyone would spend $1000 bucks on an android device when you can get one that does a fine job for $60. Oh I know what the arguments are. The camera is high quality, its a little faster, maybe a little bigger. The best argument you can make is for the camera I guess, but if your that particular about your camera you should probably be buying an actual camera and not using the one on your phone. My Blu R1 HD is plenty fast and a good size. I have maps downloaded onto the device which give me turn by turn directions for the whole country. I don't need a data plan. I spent $60 and pay $30 a month to AT&amp;T. Bells and whistles are worth splurging on if your fanatical about a thing but lets be clear that for the majority of people $1000 for a phone is a colossal waste of money</p>

    • PincasX

      19 September, 2017 - 6:56 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#178054"><em>In reply to brduffy:</em></a></blockquote><p>This should be super obvious but the people that are making 1000 dollar phones aren't marketing them to the majority of people. They are, shockingly enough, marketing them to people that are interested in the features that end up in a 1k phone. </p>

      • brduffy

        20 September, 2017 - 10:47 am

        <blockquote><a href="#178060"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a><em>Fair enough, but that does not address the issue of what is so desirable about the $1000 phone that justifies its expense. If you try to justify it with the camera, an argument could easily be made that you would be better off buying a cheaper phone and investing in a nice camera. The other attributes of the phone itself are not so compelling to justify that price.I can run the same apps on my $60 phone. I can make the same phone calls and send the same texts. I can get the same turn by turn directions. The things I can't do with my $60 phone are hardly worth $900 …</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

        • PincasX

          20 September, 2017 - 4:12 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#178193"><em>In reply to brduffy:</em></a></blockquote><p><em>First off, you are begging the question.&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Second, the thing you are completely missing is that no one has to justify their expenses to you.&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>I doubt you will agree with this but I’ll take a crack at explaining why someone would consider a more expensive phone for the camera.&nbsp;Your argument is that they should buy a cheaper phone and a more expensive camera. Presumably to get a nicer camera for their money. But let’s take that a step further as phones in the range also tend to shoot video in 4k. So they will also need to get a 4k video camera as well.&nbsp;I haven’t gone out and done any sort of pricing on this but I’ll just grant that one can go and buy an el-cheapo phone, a better camera and a better video camera all for 1000 bucks. Now comes the value proposition. What if the persons doesn’t want to carry three devices everywhere they go? What if the person doesn’t what want to deal with three chargers when they travel? What if the phone’s picture and video quality is good enough for their needs? If a person decides that not carrying around three devices and the quality is good enough then maybe paying extra is worth it to get something the meets their needs.&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>That is how this whole consumer thing works. A person decides if the value of a device is worth the cost to them, not to someone else. You are inexplicably insisting that people make their decisions based on your value proposition vs. theirs.&nbsp;</em></p>

          • brduffy

            20 September, 2017 - 6:11 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#178311"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a><em> There is some sense in deciding that having a camera and a phone in one device is worth a premium. A $900 premium? I would argue that is foolish. As for your last paragraph. That is complete nonsense. I stated my OPINION on people spending a huge amount of money for a poor value proposition. I never insisted that anyone make their decision based on my opinion! When you start making things up to support your argument its a good indication that your argument is thin.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

            • PincasX

              20 September, 2017 - 6:23 pm

              <blockquote><a href="#178339"><em>In reply to brduffy:</em></a></blockquote><p>You said "<em>that does not address the issue of what is so desirable about the $1000 phone that justifies its expense." You were clearly asking for an issue to be addressed and justified. You used the term justify three times all of which were about the imaginary phone buyer's decisions and not yourself. So, I didn't make up jack. </em></p><p><br></p><p>Given that your argument consists of "I would argue that is foolish" I would reconsider the quality of your arguments before going after me. Hell, you didn't even make an argument you simply pontificated about what you would do if you did opt to make an argument. Perhaps consider addressing the substance of what I said. </p><p><br></p><p>Lastly, I'm not arguing for buying these phones, I have not plans to buy one. I am simply trying to answer the question you asked which was why would someone consider this a decent value proposition for them. </p><p><br></p><p>Again, you are begging the question. Any discussion is pointless as you have decided on the conclusion and are starting from there, that isn't sound critical thought. </p>

      • VancouverNinja

        Premium Member
        20 September, 2017 - 1:52 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#178060"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>If it sells well it proves that some people have more money than brains.</p>

        • PincasX

          20 September, 2017 - 6:11 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#178274"><em>In reply to VancouverNinja:</em></a></blockquote><p>I have not plans to buy one but I really don't get insulting people because they make different decisions with their money but whatever makes you happy. </p>

    • SvenJ

      19 September, 2017 - 10:09 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#178054"><em>In reply to brduffy:</em></a> Probably can't imagine why any would buy a $50K car when you can get a perfectly good one for $20K. </blockquote><p><br></p>

      • brduffy

        20 September, 2017 - 10:52 am

        <blockquote><a href="#178090"><em>In reply to SvenJ:</em></a><em>I would never spend $50k on a car no. I might spend that much on a truck that offers some additional valuable capability above and beyond the car that I can't achieve with a separate purchase.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

    • Lauren Glenn

      04 October, 2017 - 2:13 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#178054"><em>In reply to brduffy:</em></a></blockquote><p>I don't know why people wanted to spend $800 on a Galaxy S8 (or however much that is…. I'm probably close)….. I got an S7 for $210 last week. Works faster than my old phone and is currently supported. When the S9 comes out (or if everyone is just skipping 9, we'll get the S10), I'm betting I can take advantage of getting an S8 at a fraction of the price. Much like buying a used car.</p>

  • chaad_losan

    19 September, 2017 - 8:18 pm

    <p>"Everyone is Premium Priciiiing! Everyone is Premium Priciiiing! Tech companies will have a good quarteeer!"</p>

  • jrickel96

    20 September, 2017 - 12:11 am

    <p>With the iPhone 6s at $449, there's no reason to buy an Android phone unless you're going pretty low end – and the experience is so poor on even high end devices that there's really no point in using Android at all. I used it for over a year after Windows phone on a Nexus 6P and it's such a horrible experience. I also do software testing on numerous handsets that I have sitting in front of me and the issues from phone to phone – even on the SAME model – are ridiculous. It's so sad that MS couldn't get their act together early one and offer WP7 for free to OEMs WITH all the needed features to kill Android before it even began.</p><p><br></p><p>While Android phones do boast some impressive hardware, the central problem is they all have to run a terrible OS that is going to be tinkered with by every OEM and that will get very few updates due to both the OEMs and the carriers. Then you have to deal with Google letting anything in the Play Store and failing to create any solid standards for performance for apps. So many developers cut corners with Android because they can. Submitting an app to Google is a joke whereas Apple is meticulous about the quality and performance. You could submit an app that would make the phone explode and Google would approve it. </p><p><br></p><p>Battery life on any Android phone is unpredictable. One day it'll be great and the next day the phone will burn through the battery in two hours and you'll never figure out why. It's crazy that everyone STILL has to download apps to shutdown background processes, apps, etc. </p><p><br></p><p>So the Pixel XL with 128 costs the same amount as the iPhone 8 Plus with 256GB. The Pixel will be supported for only two years while the iPhone is likely to get updates for around four or more. The iOS updates are predicable and reliable. Google does a terrible job of insuring their own phones get the regular promised updates (the Nexus would often go months before detecting several updates that it'd take a few hours to download and install and reboot, etc – even if you had it CHECK for updates). </p><p><br></p><p>So why even consider buying a Pixel? The OnePlus is a better alternative, though it also has its problems (like OnePlus rigging benchmarks or pulling support before the two years they promised). You're not going to get regular updates on a Samsung. HTC has the best track record of the major manufacturers, so an unlocked U11 is probably going to do better with updates than anything other than the Pixel. </p><p><br></p><p>But no matter which Android phone you pick, you're going to have a headache with rogue apps that will eat your battery and memory. You'll deal with apps that won't work on your device properly.</p><p><br></p><p>From a testing and design standpoint, the iPhone is a wonder. An app build will work reliably on the iPhone SE, 6, 6S, 7, 8, and X. It'll work on iOS 9, 10, and 11. Android is for masochists. My personal life is much better now that I just run Windows 10 and iOS. I have to use Android for work stuff, but at least most of my time is not spent dealing with it. </p><p><br></p><p>So save your sanity. Just get the bloody iPhone. Android is terrible and will never be getting any better. Keep using Chrome and Google for search – that's what they're good at. They stink at designing an OS – and the base of Android is horrible as it is. Open Source for the masses is the worst thing imaginable. </p><p><br></p><p>Run from Android. </p>

    • wocowboy

      Premium Member
      20 September, 2017 - 6:01 am

      <blockquote><a href="#178099"><em>In reply to jrickel96:</em></a></blockquote><p>But, but, the fact there are apps that will help/let you shut down background processes is a HUGE PLUS for Android, it's part of the ability to customize and tinker with Android that everyone wants. No one wants their phone to manage that like the iPhone does. LOL At least that's the public mantra that Android users would like you to believe.</p><p><br></p><p>The same applies to not getting updates. NO ONE cares about updates, no one needs constant updates, the average consumer does not care about their privacy or the security of their data, that's why they are totally fine with the skinning, icon replacements, launchers, 3-4 different versions of apps, etc etc that are all piled on top of Android by the phone manufacturers and carriers, all of which make so many modifications to basic Android that any update that Google puts out can probably never be installed onto the phone. </p><p><br></p><p>Your post hits the nail on the head and is the exact reason I will never use an Android device. I DO CARE about my privacy and the security of my data, and I know for certain that if Apple comes out with an iOS update like they did yesterday, that I can install it on my phone now and for several years to come the INSTANT it is made publicly available by Apple. I will gladly endure a few quirks and foibles to have that assurance and peace of mind.</p>

      • jrickel96

        21 September, 2017 - 6:36 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#178128"><em>In reply to wocowboy:</em></a></blockquote><p>Or even little specific hardware enhancements that are tied directly to an OEM's build of Android.</p><p><br></p><p>I'm no Apple fan outright, but switching to the iPhone has made me life less complex. I have a phone that just works and will be supported by its manufacturer for years. And since I bought AppleCare+, I have protection for it and I can get the battery checked out and replaced before my two years is up if it holds less than 80% of its original charge (or pay a flat $79 fee for Apple to replace the battery if I don't have AppleCare). Then I can get a new iPhone and sell mine for a couple hundred bucks to people who'd rather have a two year old used iPhone than a new Android phone – and there are a lot of those people. That's why the phones still hold value in the resale market.</p><p><br></p><p>You can sell a two year old iPhone 6 Plus 64GB for $160 on Gazelle right now. You can sell it for more than that. So you may pay $850 up front, but you can easily use the phone for two years with full updates and then get $200 back in resale. So you pay $650. You probably can sell it after three years for around $150 and get three years out of it. </p><p><br></p><p>Get a Samsung Galaxy S8 and you'll get probably one major update, if you're lucky. Galaxy users likely won't get Oreo for another 8-10 months based on Samsung's track record. Every eligible iPhone can update to iOS 11 right now or wait a week or so to make sure everything works. Major security issue? You'll get an update quickly. Major security issue on any Android device? You may never get a patch and you'll be vulnerable until you fork out $400+ to buy a new phone from someone. </p><p><br></p><p>That's why Samsung and all don't even WANT to patch their phones. They want people to buy new ones. Apple knows they will get a steady stream of upgrades EVERY year and they want to make sure their customer base remains happy so they do get a new iPhone at the right time. </p><p><br></p><p>Apple does it right. Other than for testing purposes, I won't use Android again. Not as my own phone. And I recommend everyone I work with only use the iPhone due to security and dependability issues. </p>

  • Tony Barrett

    20 September, 2017 - 5:35 am

    <p>Yes, the Pixel phones are expensive. I can see what Google are <em>trying</em> to do, and at least even the most expensive Pixel is cheaper than the entry iPhone X, but would I ever buy one at those prices – no. This is an opportunity for Google to have two tiers – bring back the Nexus line at &lt;$500, and the Pixel at the high end. Why they can't do this, I don't know. Nexus had a great reputation and a strong following. Keep Nexus with stock Android but with the next-gen assistant. Pixel you can pimp out with all the best hardware- 2k screens, top end cameras etc. Nexus doesn't need that – full HD screens and good-but-not-the-best snappers. It's all they need to do.</p>

  • Finley

    Premium Member
    20 September, 2017 - 8:42 am

    <p>Maybe the savings of switching to Google Fi will offset the cost of the phone?</p><p>Or you may have switched over to it too soon.</p>

  • jwpear

    Premium Member
    20 September, 2017 - 9:13 am

    <p>I feel like these phone price increases are going to drive folks to keep their phones longer. Maybe that's the goal–slow things down a bit? I really have a hard time paying $1000 for a phone. I'd rather put that money on a desktop/laptop, the mortgage, groceries, college, etc.</p>

  • wolters

    Premium Member
    20 September, 2017 - 10:08 am

    <p>I'm really surprised there is only a single camera lens unless the phone will have some kind of new technology…but at the moment, sticking with the Note 8.</p>

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