All of the rumors and all the things we wish to see

Replace: November 22, 2024 (5:45 AM ET): We’ve up to date our Pixel Pill 2 rumor hub with information that the Pixel Pill 2, as we all know it, has been canceled. We’ve additionally added extra data a couple of 2027 Google pill that was anticipated to be the Pixel Pill 3 however is now anticipated to be the Pixel Pill 2.

Authentic article: I used to be genuinely excited by the Google Pixel Pill when it was first revealed. A media consumption pill that additionally doubles as a Nest Hub? Signal me up. Sadly, the fact wasn’t fairly the identical because the promise. Whereas it’s first effort, there’s loads of room for enchancment. After all, we most likely have a very long time to go earlier than the following Pixel Pill arrives, but it surely’s nonetheless enjoyable to take a position. Let’s bounce into all the things we all know concerning the Google Pixel Pill 2, in addition to what we’d prefer to see.

• Google Pixel Pill — June 20, 2023

Google launched the Pixel Pill at I/O 2023 in Could final yr. Nonetheless, there have been many leaks, rumors, and even official confirmations that preceded its launch. Issues have been fairly quiet so far as the Pixel Pill 2 is anxious. This makes us a bit involved on whether or not we’ll ever see a brand new Google Pixel Pill.

That mentioned, new codenames noticed within the first beta of Android 14 QPR3 again in February 2024 look like placeholders for the Pixel Pill 2. These citrus-themes names — Kiyomi being a hybrid Japanese citrus fruit — match the codename for the unique Pixel Pill, which had the moniker “Tangor” whereas in growth. This leads us to consider that Google might certainly be engaged on the next-generation Pixel Pill. Nonetheless, that is all hypothesis as of now, with no concrete proof of the slate’s existence.

Surprisingly sufficient, Android Headlines reported in November 2024 that Google had canceled growth of the Pixel Pill 3, including that it was codenamed Kiyomi. Shortly after the publication of this put up, we had been capable of verify that it’s truly the Pixel Pill 2 that’s been canceled and that there’s sturdy proof it’s codenamed Kiyomi as an alternative of the Pixel Pill 3.

So what does this imply for a Pixel Pill 2? Nicely, it appears to be like like this machine gained’t launch in 2025. However it looks as if Google might nonetheless launch the Pixel Pill 3 because the Pixel Pill 2 down the road.

Our personal unique leak in October 2024 factors to Google’s plans for a “Pill Pixel ’27” machine, hinting on the subsequent Pixel Pill launching in 2027. Moreover, it looks as if Google might use inferior variations of the Tensor G6 chip to energy the pill. One other Android Authority leak additionally factors to the Tensor G6 supporting a second USB-C port. This may assist DisplayPort performance and is particularly meant for tablet-only use circumstances.

Previous to the Pixel Pill 2’s obvious cancellation (i.e. Kiyomi), we heard that Google was engaged on a keyboard case for the machine together with an upgraded rear digital camera. We had been additionally capable of verify that it had a more moderen Tensor chipset however weren’t capable of verify whether or not it was the Tensor G4 or the unannounced Tensor G5 chip. In any occasion, it looks as if we’ll have to attend a number of years earlier than we see a Pixel Pill 2.

Pixel Pill 2 wishlist: What we wish to see

Listed below are only a few issues we might like to see from a Pixel Pill 2 if Google needs to take this concept to the following stage.

The Pixel Pill has the potential to interchange the Nest Hub sequence, however not in its present kind. I hope to see these points addressed sooner or later.

A number of the options presently lacking embrace assist for continued conversations, the power to manually alter sensitivity for ‘Hey Google’ instructions, and movement gesture assist. I liked the power to pause music by merely waving at my Google Nest Hub Max, however the crucial know-how for this isn’t obtainable within the present Pixel Pill.

Whereas the Pixel Pill’s Hub mode can replicate among the Nest Hub’s dashboard options, it falls far in need of delivering an equally intuitive expertise. At current, it feels extra like a flowery screensaver. To actually create a tool able to changing a Nest Hub, Google must mirror the Nest Hub expertise extra intently.

Moreover, I’d prefer to see the return of the Nest Hub Max’s Nest Cam options. Whereas these is probably not as sturdy as devoted safety cameras, they’re nonetheless a precious characteristic to have.

The Google Pixel Pill operates equally to an Android cellphone, which signifies that in case you’re not totally logged in, Assistant performance will be considerably restricted. Some instructions could immediate you to unlock your cellphone for safety causes. Whereas that is comprehensible from a safety standpoint, it might considerably undermine the aim of getting the pill docked.

To deal with this, Google ought to higher differentiate its docked performance from its pill mode, offering a complete expertise that capabilities like all sensible speaker or sensible hub when docked, with the choice to entry extra superior options by logging into the total pill mode.

One strategy to attaining this might contain equipping the sensible speaker with its personal processing capabilities and offering it with the identical Fuchsia-based performance because the Nest Hub when docked. This brings us to our subsequent suggestion.

When purchased individually, the Pixel Pill Charging Dock prices $130, a $30 premium over the Nest Audio. You’d assume meaning it’s simply as succesful or much more so. Nope. The Charging Dock has one goal: connecting your pill and offering a greater speaker expertise than you’d get on the pill immediately.

I really feel this can be a large missed alternative. The Charging Dock ought to have been a real Nest Audio machine with its personal SoC. For one, it might have doubtless dealt with the Fuschia OS and given us a real Nest Hub expertise, with the Pixel Pill appearing extra as a show when docked than a real Android machine.

One other large purpose the dock wants extra performance is that it turns into a paperweight if somebody is utilizing the Pixel Pill. This won’t matter a lot for single-person households however for households, it could have made all of the distinction.

In case your important different is utilizing the pill and you might want to ask the Dock one thing it might have served up a full Nest Audio expertise. It might have additionally allowed you to effortlessly forged songs from the Pixel Pill to the dock by way of Bluetooth, even when it wasn’t immediately related.

The Pixel Pill has moderately first rate sound high quality for a pill, however I’d like to listen to extra from the dock. At present, there’s a 43.5mm driver, the identical measurement because the smaller Nest Hub. That’s loads smaller than the 75mm drivers discovered within the Nest Audio and Nest Hub Max. These two units even have devoted tweeters, one thing the Dock lacks. Whereas the sound high quality isn’t horrible, for a tool that prices $500, you’d count on one thing extra akin to Google’s higher-end audio merchandise.

I’m not going to fault Google for going with an LCD show as that is most likely a greater match for a tool that’s designed to remain actively obtainable on a dock. AMOLED is considerably susceptible to burn-in and different points, in spite of everything. Nonetheless, 60Hz is fairly unforgivable for a pill that prices $500. On the very least I’d prefer to see 90Hz right here, although 120Hz can be even higher.

Whereas the dock serves as a big promoting level for the Pixel Pill, what in case you’re merely a Pixel fan searching for a bigger display expertise and never essentially enthusiastic concerning the sensible house hub idea? For that purpose, I’d like to see Google supply the Pixel Pill 2 as a stand-alone buy. Actually, I’d additionally like to see the next-gen Dock billed as a stand-alone machine as nicely — flip it right into a next-gen Nest Audio that additionally doubles as a magnetic stand for Pixel Pill 2 house owners.

In mild of our latest information that the Pixel Pill 2 gained’t be launched in 2025 and that the following Google slate might solely launch in 2027, you actually shouldn’t watch for the Pixel Pill 2. The extra important query is whether or not it’s best to go for the Google Pixel Pill or discover different choices. In case you’re searching for an distinctive high-end pill expertise or a strong Google Assistant-driven hub, we might truthfully suggest trying elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the Google Pixel Pill might be good if you’re searching for a pill finest suited to watching motion pictures, YouTube, or posting to social whereas lounging about the home. Simply don’t count on it to be a gaming or productiveness powerhouse. It’s additionally a succesful sufficient hub, simply to not the identical diploma as Google’s devoted sensible shows.