Google Holds Events for New Pixel Phones, Chromecast, Pixel Slate, Home Hub
Alphabet's Google will unveil the third edition of its Pixel smartphone along with other new products at 10 media events across the world on Tuesday.
The next-generation Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones are expected to be the stars of the show. According to "leaks", the Pixel 3 XL has a notch in its display just like the iPhone X and most other 2018 phones. The smaller Pixel 3 is notch-free, but has top and bottom bezels. In terms of cameras, Google is said to stick with a single rear camera, but expect more in terms of software consiering the Smart HDR effects available in the new new Apple iPhone XS.
The Pixel 3 XL is also said to support USB-C charging.
Google shipped 2.53 million Pixel 2 and 2 XL devices through the nine months ended June 30, garnering less than 1 percent of the global market for smartphones, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.
Google's follow-up to last year's Pixelbook Chromebook is rumored to be a Chrome OS tablet, called Pixel Slate, that can double as a laptop.
Microsoft has already announced a refresh of its Surface line while Apple may still have Mac and iPad Pro announcements to share this month.
Also expect to see an updated Chromecast media streamer, armed with Bluetooth and 5 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, along with 4K support.
Last year, Google added the Google Home Mini and Google Home Max. This year, expect to see new Google-powered smart displays, but the rumored Google Home Hub will be Google's own smart-speaker, and a response to the Amazon Echo Show.
Google is hosting events for the Pixel 3 in cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Singapore.