Google Nexus 2016 Sailfish and Marlin release date: new flagships making their way to consumers Oct. 4

Screengrabbed from the teaser released by Google to announce the official unveiling of Google Pixel and Pixel XL on Oct. 4. YouTube/Google

Google has already confirmed that a press launch will happen on Oct. 4. While the tech giant has yet to come out with its presentation plans, it is expected that the highlight of the event will be the launch of the rebranded Google Nexus 2016 flagships.

VentureBeat has confirmed that, instead of the follow-up to the current-generation Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, Google will launch a rebranded smartphone flagship. Previously known by its model codes Sailfish and Marlin, the two new flagships will launch as the Pixel and Pixel XL.

The Sailfish and Marlin tags are the supposed internal code models assigned by HTC, which is the co-manufacturer for the new flagships. Prior to the lineup rebranding, the Sailfish and Marlin have hogged the headlines, detailing supposed specs and features.

With the renders and supposed live images of the new flagships cropping up recently, it is already revealed that the HTC Sailfish, renamed as the Google Pixel, will serve as the base model. It will feature a 5.0-inch display and sports a step-up Snapdragon 821 processor as a flagship iteration. Meanwhile, its brother, the HTC Marlin, has morphed into the Pixel XL, the larger variant in the rebranded series. The Pixel XL will feature a 5.5-inch screen, although the rest of the specs, like the SD 821 chipset, are expected to remain the same.

Speculations suggest that aside from the display and design dimensions, the Pixel and Pixel XL will have similar specs and features. As to their differences, the Pixel's screen will have full HD resolution while the 5.5-inch display on the Pixel XL will sport clearer QHD specs. The larger variant is also supposed to have an appropriate power capacity, sporting a 3,450 mAh battery, compared with the Pixel's 2,770-mAh one.

Meanwhile, both iterations are expected to come out with at least 4 GB of RAM, the same camera setups, and features like a USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, and a fingerprint scanner.

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