Google Pixel 2 Major Upgrades Expected: VR-Worthy 4K Screen, Water Resistance, No Bezels; October Launch Imminent

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are expected to have major upgrades following the previous announcement of Google head of hardware, Rick Osterloh, that the Pixels prices will remain at a premium price. In particular, a 4K not just QHD display is expected to be VR-worthy and it should be water-resistant with smaller bezels in its design.

The Google Pixel 2 devices as a premium handset will be contending with industry leaders like Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S series. For this reason, consumers are hoping for premium specs as well starting with an upgrade of the disappointingly outdated 1080p display in the first Google Pixel. A 4K resolution and not just the now standard QHD display is expected in consideration of Google's Daydream platform. More raw pixels are essential for a truly immersive VR experience and it may be wise for Google to leverage on this to have a place in the high-end smartphone market.

Moreover, the Google Pixel 2 is also expected to have a water resistance feature, which was disappointingly absent in its predecessor. No less than an IP68 rating is expected from devices that ironically have fish-themed codenames like "Muskie" and "Walleye." Another most-requested feature in Phone Dog is a major revamp of its overall design, ditching the odd combination of glass and metal on its back as well as minimizing the top and lower bezels in front. Upcoming flagship phones from Apple, Samsung and LG are going for bezel-less displays to increase the screen size without making the device bulky and cumbersome.

Osterloh previously announced that Google will follow an "annual rhythm" meaning that the new Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will most likely be unveiled in October, a year after the debut of the first iterations. An even bigger fish codenamed "Taimen" is also coming, which could be a much bigger smartphone or a Google Pixel XXL, Forbes reported. Observers say that Google may be joining the tablet race with the Nexus 7 (2017) as the rebranded Google Pixel C. The Pixel brand is dropped and the Nexus revived as it is more recognizable in the international market, which still remains elusive for the Pixel devices as it fail to compete with global brands particularly the Chinese smartphones.