Past due final yr, Android Authority spoke to an “nameless however devoted supply” that described Google’s roadmap via the following 3 years. This supply necessarily refuted the rumor that Google will promote a Pixel Extremely at some point.
Fanatics of telephones just like the Galaxy S22 Extremely would possibly to find this disappointing, this leak proves that Google will play to its strengths via copying Apple’s playbook as an alternative of Samsung’s. And I simplest want Google would get started mirroring the iPhone means in 2023 as an alternative of 2024.
To in short summarize the Android Authority (opens in new tab) supply’s claims:
- The Pixel Fold and 7a will arrive round Google I/O 2023 in Would possibly.
- A petite Pixel 8 and unchanged Pixel 8 Professional release q4 as same old.
- If the Pixel 7a does not promote, Google will skip the 8a and release the finances telephone each and every two years as an alternative.
- In 2024, Google will transfer to an Apple technique, promoting the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional together with a 6.3-inch Professional type with the similar specifications as the bigger Professional. It may additionally promote the Pixel Fold 2.
- In 2025, it should free up a sandwich-style foldable very similar to the Galaxy Z Turn sequence, or promote two Pixel 10s and two Pixel 10 Professionals with measurement as the one differentiator.
Google will very most probably deviate from the supply’s Pixel roadmap. Working example, Google could have driven the oft-delayed Pixel Fold from spring to fall 2023, in step with rumors from the previous couple of days. Google luckily delays units for years if they are not able and experiments with new designs according to what resonates with customers. So none of that is sure.
Android Authority’s supply says Google is dead-set on its Pixel plan to “mimic Apple’s a hit sizing technique” beginning with the Pixel 9.
What I do to find maximum fascinating is that the supply gave no point out of a Pixel 8/9/10 Extremely. In mid-2022, the AOSP confirmed proof of a Pixel 7 Extremely (categorized ‘G10’) with identical specifications to the Pixel 7 Professional (or ‘P10’) however with a relatively higher show. This instrument clearly by no means arrived, and Google it sounds as if has no plans to rival conventional large flagships just like the Galaxy S22 Extremely that horde the most productive shows and cameras.
As a substitute, Google will promote one-handed Professional telephones with all of the identical top class perks whilst promoting its present Professionals as “Professional Max” telephones. That is probably not what Google calls them, however the supply “emphatically” stated this is able to occur and that Google “desires to imitate Apple’s a hit sizing technique” with the Pixel 9 Professional and Professional Max (no matter they finally end up being named).
I am much less considering Google’s plan to promote a plus-sized base Pixel 10, given how the iPhone 14 Plus used to be an abject industrial failure. However for the Professional lineup, it makes best possible sense for Google to duplicate the tactic.
Copying Apple is not a nasty transfer for Google
One among my favourite telephones of 2022 used to be the Galaxy S22 Plus because it gave a near-flagship revel in with out the behemoth curved design of the Extremely. But it surely wasn’t with out its flaws, principally as a result of Samsung felt the wish to deprive its center kid of sure issues so the Extremely may just outshine it. I would argue a $1,000 telephone do not need simply 8GB of RAM and FHD solution, however giving it the ones options would make other folks much less more likely to upsell themselves to the Extremely for “simply” $200 extra.
That is what makes Apple’s iPhone 14 Professional the sort of tempting possibility, even with the mediocre battery existence. Numerous other folks will luckily settle for a smaller display and shorter lifespan than the Professional Max for a top-tier one-handed telephone as a result of they know Apple may not compel them to spend extra for another unique options or higher efficiency.
Whilst Google and Apple won’t ever see eye-to-eye on telephones — see their longstanding RCS feud for only one instance — I am satisfied Google selected to emulate its rival fairly than its shut spouse, Samsung.
Google can and must emulate Samsung for its foldables technique, however for standard handsets, its $899 Pixel 7 Professional is already the most productive Android telephone in our guide for masses not up to the S22 Extremely. If Google sought after to promote a Pixel 9 Extremely, how wouldn’t it peak a 6.7-inch Professional telephone with a QHD/120Hz show, 12GB of RAM, and Tensor-backed cameras?
Until Google begins overclocking its Tensor chips, it has few techniques to make a Pixel Extremely stand out but even so dear upgrades or downgrading the superb Professional.
As my colleague Harish Jonnalagadda stated in regards to the Tensor G2, Google is not enjoying the numbers recreation with its {hardware}. It luckily makes use of older Cortex cores than you can to find in the newest Snapdragon chips, depending extra on its APU for hard duties like photograph processing. So a dear Extremely telephone does not make sense except it begins the use of overclocked or Tensor+ chips, or else downgrades the Professional by hook or by crook to make the Extremely glance extra compelling.
The similar applies to its cameras. Samsung provides the Galaxy S22 and S22+ the similar cameras, booking the most productive solution and zoom for the Extremely. However Google gave its Pixel 7 and Professional the similar primary, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, simplest booking the telephoto lens for the Professional. Neither have particularly tough sensors in comparison to maximum telephones since Google depends upon Tensor AI to ship options like Picture Unblur and Tremendous Res Zoom.
If the Pixel 7 Professional competes with the S22 Extremely regardless of having inferior sensors, then a Pixel Extremely may just ship some in reality improbable effects, which is basically tempting. However taking that trail would make it much more likely the opposite Pixel telephones would stick to older {hardware} to assist the Extremely stand out, hurting the Professional ultimately.
Let the Pixel Fold be the Pixel ‘Extremely’
If the leaked Google Pixel roadmap is correct, Pixel enthusiasts of the close to long term will both have quite a lot of choices or an excessively slender checklist, relying on how 2023 is going for Google. The 2024 Pixel Fold 2 and Pixel 8a, plus the 2025 Galaxy Z Turn-imitating sandwich foldable, may by no means see the sunshine of day if the Pixel Fold and 7a fail to promote.
Given Google has no obvious plans for a Pixel Extremely, we will be able to simplest hope that it after all stops delaying its Pixel Fold and after all launches it this yr. No longer many of us will be capable of have the funds for it, given its alleged $1,800 price ticket. But when Google tempts present Pixel 6 and seven homeowners with sexy trade-in offers, many will swallow the associated fee for the danger at a top-tier instrument that beats the Professional with its distinctive design, even supposing it has the similar efficiency and cameras as different Google telephones.