Google announced its third-generation flagship smartphones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL back in October. Along with the phones, the firm also announced its first Chrome OS tablet, the Pixel Slate and its first smart display, the Home Hub. None of these were unexpected, as much of the Pixel phones’ information was leaked almost entirely, with the Pixel 3 XL even being available for purchase before launch. However, another rumored device, the ‘Ultra Pixel’, never saw the light of day.
In addition to the alleged high-end device, murmurs of a mid-range Pixel branded smartphone were also doing the rounds. Though there was no mention of it at Google’s Pixel event, the existence of such a device was confirmed when pictures of said device leaked in full. Today, another set of leaked images of the alleged ‘Pixel 3 Lite’ surfaced on the web. These show the device’s size compared to that of a bunch of other smartphones, including the first generation Pixel, the Pixel 3 XL, the iPhone XS, XR, and the Nokia 3310 for some reason.
Codenamed Pixel Sargo internally, the handset is expected to sit lower down in the lineup and is supposedly aimed at emerging markets. Packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor, the phone is expected to cut down on specs such as RAM, storage, and screen resolution, while retaining the widely acclaimed camera. The bezels do look huge, bigger than what you would expect from a phone in 2018. Surprisingly, the phone might also sport the 3.5mm headphone jack, something that is missing in the flagship devices. The decision makes sense considering the demographic that the phone might be aimed at.
The alleged specifications of the Pixel 3 Lite include:
- 5.56-inch IPS display, 2220×1080
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
- Adreno 615
- 4GB of RAM
- 32GB of storage (no microSD card slot)
- 2,915 mAh battery
- 12MP rear camera, dual LED flash
- 8MP front camera
- Android 9 Pie
- USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
The move to introduce a mid-ranger aimed at emerging markets might make sense, as the current flagships sold by the company retail close to $1,000, and might not make for volume sales. It does seem odd that the device might pack 32GB of non-expandable onboard storage. However, it is wise to take all the information with a grain of salt, as none of it is official.
Source: Wylsa via XDA Developers
What do you think about an affordable ‘Pixel 3 Lite’? Let us know in the comments!.