Google is reportedly prepping several new products for an October 4 debut, but the company could have something even bigger planned for 2017.
Google is cooking up a new laptop device codenamed “Bison” and nicknamed “Pixel 3” by employees, say sources speaking to Android Police. This device will run an OS codenamed “Andromeda,” which is said to be a combination of Android and Chrome OS. Think of it like Chrome OS features folded into Android, like a report from 2015 described, not like Chrome OS running Android apps.
The Pixel 3 will reportedly be a laptop-style device with a 12.3-inch display that’s less than 10mm thick and supports a tablet mode. However, it’s unknown whether this means that the Pixel 3 will be a convertible device that lets you flip the keyboard behind the display or if the screen will literally detach from the body.
When it comes to raw specs, Google is currently planning for an Intel m3 or i5 Core processor, 32/128GB of storage, 8/16GB of RAM, dual USB Type-C ports, stereo speakers, four microphones, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a glass trackpad, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader. Google also wants to include Wacom stylus support, though the stylus itself would be sold separately.
Today’s report does caution that these specs are not set in stone, so the Pixel 3’s internals could look very different when, or if, it does launch.
Speaking of launch, Google is reportedly aiming to release the Pixel 3 in Q3 2017. Pricing could start at $799, which is less than the Chromebook Pixel laptops released by Google in the past.
This Pixel 3 sounds like a pretty intriguing device. While Google has released its share of Android tablets and Chromebooks, the Pixel 3 could be a full-on laptop device that offers Android’s vast app library with the best features of Chrome OS. Support for a Wacom stylus would be a nice addition and give the Pixel 3 even more work cred.
Unfortunately, today’s report claims that we’re just under a year away from seeing this Pixel 3 launch. Based on what we’ve heard about it so far, would you buy this Pixel 3 device?