Only a few weeks after the unveiling of Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, there are now reports regarding the search engine giant's next lineup of premium smartphones. The Google Pixel 3 is not expected to arrive until late 2018, but according to rumors, Google's next-in-line flagship device is already under development. Also, the handset is expected to arrive in three different variants.
The first leak on the Google Pixel 3 came from Droid Life, which claims that the company is working on three Pixel devices for 2018. The official names and specifications of the three devices are not yet revealed, but they are only known by their nicknames, which are Crosshatch, Albacore, and Blueline.
As per the online publication's sources, it is possible that Google will choose to refer to the three Pixel handsets simply as A, B, and C, as a way to keep all major details under wrap. The first round of rumors for the Google Pixel 3 is similar with the early reports on the second-generation Pixel smartphone.
It was first reported that the Pixel 2 would be released in three variants, with given codenames Walleye, Muskie, and Taimen. After several months, it was revealed that only Walleye and Taimen made the cut, being officially tagged as the regular-sized Pixel 2 and the massive Pixel 2 XL.
If Google pushes through with three new Pixel smartphones for 2018, the company's move will be similar with Apple launching three iPhone devices this year, namely the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Furthermore, the first Pixel 3 leaks suggest that Google will unveil two premium and one top-tier handset next year, just like what Apple did this year by introducing two iPhone 8 handsets and a special 10th anniversary smartphone.
According to BGR, it is possible that the Google Pixel 3 will be packaged as the ultimate "iPhone X killer," boasting a lineup of specs and features more powerful than the current Pixel version. There are a number of possibilities on how Google will make Pixel 3 a stand-out. For one, the company may launch at least one Pixel 3 handset with an all-screen display, although this could mean that it will also lose the 3.5mm headphone jack.
