Rumored Mid-Range Pixel Leaks

Photos of a long-rumored mid-range Pixel handset appeared online today. As you may expect, it features mid-market specifications, save one important detail: It appears to utilize the same high-quality camera as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

So the question now is: Will Google actually sell this handset?

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Back when the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were leaking all over the place this summer, some rumors suggested there would be a third, less expensive model too. This latest leak strongly implies those rumors were true: The smaller, less expensive Pixel—codenamed Sargo—has a 2220 × 1080 LCD display instead of OLED, a mid-line Snapdragon 670 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of internal storage.

But there are two surprises.

This low-end Pixel has a headphone, which is excellent. And it has the same camera system as the high-end Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which is astonishing.

Will we ever see this device in stores? Your guess is as good as mine. But with the Pixel 3 lineup starting at $800, Google is in desperate need of a less expensive option, and something akin to Apple’s iPhone XR. This could be it.

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Conversation 17 comments

  • jeffrye

    16 November, 2018 - 3:44 pm

    <p>Interesting that the phone in the picture says "Tuesday, 1 Jan." (in Russian). Is that when it's coming out?</p><p><br></p><p>UPDATE – Oops! I was wrong, it says Thursday, not Tuesday. Maybe it's just a random date…</p>

  • Pierre Masse

    16 November, 2018 - 4:23 pm

    <p>Something less expensive than the XR, I hope.</p>

  • slbailey1

    16 November, 2018 - 4:32 pm

    <p>I would consider this if it had at least 64gb of storage. Currently on my Pixel 2 the used storage space is 31gb.</p>

  • jgraebner

    Premium Member
    16 November, 2018 - 4:46 pm

    <p>If they also offer variations with more storage, this could be a pretty big seller.</p>

  • B Mallon

    16 November, 2018 - 5:35 pm

    <p>It would be great if they made one in the XL size. I love my Pixel 2 XL, but hate the flagship price. I don't care about having a glass back phone or top of the line specs, plastic is fine. I always put my phone in a case anyway. I hope they go this route with a decent mid range priced phone. </p>

    • digiguy

      Premium Member
      16 November, 2018 - 6:33 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#368931">In reply to bmallon007:</a></em></blockquote><p>Me it's the contrary, I would only consider this if it's the size of the small one…</p>

  • thespecificocean

    16 November, 2018 - 5:38 pm

    <p>Dang. Just got a Pixel 3 and would have totally bought this one instead. Love polycarbonate backed phones (RIP Lumia)</p>

    • SvenJ

      18 November, 2018 - 12:16 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#368932"><em>In reply to thespecificocean:</em></a><em> </em>I might have as well. My reason for Pixel is Fi. Wonder if it would have wireless charging. Could with the poly back (like my Lumias).</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Winner

    16 November, 2018 - 6:05 pm

    <p>Looks like the successor to the Nexus 5x</p>

    • Jorge Garcia

      16 November, 2018 - 8:52 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#368959">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>Except that the Nexus was still for nerds. I think they are trying hard to make "Google phones" a more mainstream idea.</p>

  • KPRROK

    16 November, 2018 - 6:09 pm

    <p>I would totally be down for this. My wife and daughter are both in need of an upgrade.</p>

  • Jorge Garcia

    16 November, 2018 - 8:51 pm

    <p>Google doesn't NEED to profit on hardware like Apple does, so If they could just make a $400 device with decent everything, 64GB of storage AND the amazing camera of the Pixel 2 (or even 3)…then market it aggressively on all carriers…then that would definitely take some of the market away from Apple and Samsung. $400 may sound unrealistic, but I don't think it is anymore if they trim back on some things and forego the profit. I feel like $400 is about the tipping point where people mentally switch from an outright purchase to fully financed.</p>

  • Rycott

    Premium Member
    17 November, 2018 - 4:45 am

    <p>So the super expensive versions are full of problems… and they are going to release a cheaper version.</p><p><br></p><p>I'd be on a wait and see mission with this thing. Could be great if it doesn't just disintegrate in your hand.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    17 November, 2018 - 5:01 am

    <p>If this is real, and the price is sensible for mid-range, I'd be very interested. Could be a spiritual successor to Nexus.</p>

  • ben55124

    Premium Member
    17 November, 2018 - 3:06 pm

    <p>The poison pill is 32gb. Half that will be system, so 16GB for apps and media. That's tough even for normals. A 64gb version would wipe out every midranger out there.</p>

  • waethorn

    19 November, 2018 - 9:59 am

    <p>No OLED? That's a plus!</p>

  • siv

    20 November, 2018 - 4:04 am

    <p>This could be the one for me, is there an option to add more internal storage using a micro SD card, I would definitely go for that if there was!?</p>

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