The Launch of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is only two days away and we’ve just had the biggest leak yet.
An article by VentureBeat has revealed two new photos of the Pixel 2, showing the handset and user interface. It seems that Google will not be using a bezel-less display for the standard model, however the screen does come quite close to the edges. At the top and bottom there’s quite a bit of empty space, although the screen is flanked by two pretty large stereo speakers. The rear looks identical to previous leaks, with a single sensor camera and fingerprint sensor positioned underneath. The contrasting colour scheme from the first Pixel makes a triumphant return, although its been altered slightly and is now more understated.
The larger Pixel 2 XL gets a bezel-less display, although not quite as much as the Galaxy S8 and LG V30. There’s still a small amount of space above and below, which Google has used to implement stereo speakers. Still, it’s a huge step up from last years chunky display. Both of these leaks have now been backed up by Twitter user Evan Blass, which is usually confirmation enough that these will be the final retail renders.
Perhaps the most interesting thing of these leaks isn’t the device itself but rather the software, which looks to have undergone a significant revamp this generation. Google has shifted the search bar to the very bottom of the screen. It’s now situated below the icons, which makes sense. Reaching for the top of the display is difficult when using bezel-less devices, so it’s understandable that Google wants it in a position that users can easily access. Aside from this, there’s also a new weather and calendar widget which sits at the very top and uses a minimal font.
Both the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 will launch with Android Oreo 8.1 on Thursday.
