Google is now said to be working on a Pixel smartphone with the newly announced Snapdragon 710 Mobile Platform, which is slated for early 2019 release and not this year. This new leak falls in-line with the earlier report of Google working on a mid-range device with Snapdragon 600 series chipset. But with Qualcomm releasing the upgrade to Snapdragon 660 SoC in the form of Snapdragon 710 SoC, Google seems to have shifted onto the latest chipset. Tipster Roland Quandt posted this news on Twitter, but the sad part is the release date, which for now is said to be in the first half of 2019 and not during the Pixel 3 devices launch.
However, the tipster immediately posted that he's not aware of the company's plans for this year on launching a mid-range Pixel device and he doesn't have any additional information about the Snapdragon 710-powered smartphone. Maybe this is the mid-range Pixel smartphone Google is working on for some time. Earlier, a Chinese blog reported that Google is working a mid-range Pixel smartphone exclusively for the Indian market. But that report claimed the phone would be part of Android Go program, which is highly unlikely.
Furthermore, a recent report from the same tipster stated that Google has recently started working on Pixel 3 smartphones and is considering an early release, probably in September itself to compete with the Apple iPhones.
The upcoming Pixel 3 smartphones are expected to feature the Snapdragon 845 processor and also upgraded cameras. Of course, they will come with Android P out of the box, like every generation Pixel smartphone.
The possible mid-range Pixel smartphone with Snapdragon 710 processor will be an excellent move from the search giant. And if Google gets the pricing right, it will be a gamechanger for the company. Right now, in several markets, the sub $400 or Rs 25,000 price bracket doesn't have many options for the consumers to choose from. If Google launches the rumoured device around Rs 25,000 in the Indian market with decent cameras and stock Android, it will secure excellent market share for the search giant.
