Pixel 2 launching on October 5 with Snapdragon 836: Evan Blass

The next generation of Google handsets may arrive on October 5, according to the well-connected Evan Blass.

If Blass is right – and he usually is – the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be introduced almost exactly a year after the original Pixels. The two new phones – manufactured by HTCand LG – will share most specifications, including their processor, the Snapdragon 836.

The use of the unannounced Snapdragon 836 chips would technically put the new Pixels ahead of competition, albeit by a small measure. Most current flagships, including the brand-new Galaxy Note 8, run on Snapdragon 835. But, as the tiny incrementation of the code number suggests, Snapdragon 836 will deliver only marginal performance improvements and other minor optimizations.

The presence of a Snapdragon 83X-class SoC was revealed earlier this month, when the Pixel 2 was spotted in FCC documentation.

Other likely specs of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL (not officially-confirmed names) include 5-inch (Pixel 2) and 6-inch (Pixel 2 XL) OLED screens, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, always-on displays, and squeezable frames (a feature borrowed from HTC’s U11 flagship).

The Pixels 2 won’t come alone when they launch this fall. Clues uncovered in the Google app suggest the devices will be accompanied by a new line of Google Assistant-enabled headphones. Codenamed Bisto, these headphones would put the voice assistant in your ears, akin to the Siri-enabled Apple AirPods. There’s also talk of a miniaturized version of Google Home and a new Chromebook Pixel, rounding up an exciting line-up of new hardware from Mountain View.

Want to learn more about the Pixel 2? We have full details here.

While Google has never had any issues drumming up hype for its products, actually selling products is a different story. Will customers be able to acquire the Pixel 2 without jumping through too many hoops? We should find out around October 5.