Nexus No More: Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, Coming to You on October 4th

Mark your calendar for the 4th of October, as this is when we are told to expect the new Google Pixel and the Google Pixel XL. What we once predicted, is actually becoming a reality in a form.

This information comes to us from AndroidPolice, building up on previous reports which stated that the new Nexus will not be Nexus at all. Google was said to be moving away from the Nexus branding as it exerted greater control over the hardware, and this was the groundwork they needed. Android Central had reported that this years Nexus, coming in from HTC, will feature a tweaked interface atop the vanilla Android seen on previous Nexus. As such, the decision to move away from Nexus was partly justified, as Google was adding up its own skin on the new phones.

AndroidPolice mention of “two independent sources” which brought them the news that the former Nexus Marlin and Nexus Sailfish will not bear the Nexus moniker at all. Instead, they will be called the Google Pixel for the 5″ ‘Sailfish’ device, while the 5.5″ ‘Marlin’ will be the Google Pixel XL. On the less confident side of information, they mention that the phones may get marketed as the “first phones built by Google”, but seeing how they are built by HTC, this is likely to mean that they won’t be bearing the HTC branding.

Nexus Marlin Mockup

So the question that arises out of this is, is the Nexus line dead? No one knows for sure now. The branding would mean to imply devices with less of Google’s own bloat added on to them, since the Pixel branding would be towards the additions that Google did not deem fit to incorporate within the Nexus moniker. We are still working within speculation territory, so we do have to wait till the devices become official.

Speaking of which, AndroidPolice states that the devices, the Google Pixel and the Google Pixel XL, will be made official on October 4th. The date also got mentioned in the past by DroidLife from their sources. A hardware focused event is planned for this date, and we can expect for a few other new devices to roll out then. This includes a Chromecast with 4K capabilities (may get called Chromecast Plus or Chromecast Ultra), and Daydream View, which is Google’s in-house design for the Daydream VR Viewer Device. They are also expected to release more details for Google Home.

Information beyond this, like the event venue or related to the product like pricing and date of sale are unavailable. Seeing that we have around a month to go, we can be sure to hear some more tidbits during the wait.

What are your thoughts on Google rebranding the devices? Are you okay with the Pixel and the Pixel XL? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source : XDA Devlopers