Google is set to release a Snapdragon 710-powered mid-range Pixel device

There has been word for a while that Google has plans of producing a mid-range Pixel device. While it’s far from verified at the moment, more rumors have surfaced, making the whole thing seem even likelier.

According to new information, the mid-range Pixel will be powered by the Snapdragon 710. The Snapdragon 710 is Qualcomm’s new SoC. It’s only been used on the sub-premium Mi 8 SE so far but it delivers exceptional performance—performance close to that of the Snapdragon 835. The SoC features Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 cores, much like the Snapdragon 845, and also comes with a new upgraded Adreno 616 GPU.

It’s unknown what the purported mid-range Pixel will offer but it’s definitely one to watch out for, if only for the software and camera experience Pixels have become synonymous with. The device is apparently set for an early 2019 launch, which will put it in prime position to duke things out with the touted iPhone SE 2 whenever it’s launched. It’s said to be codenamed “Bonito”. 

Of interest would be the fact that Xiaomi was said to be working with Google on a new smartphone a while ago. Could the mid-range Pixel be the device in question? There was also word that Xiaomi has two Snapdragon 710 devices lined up for 2018—the newly released Mi 8 SE is one of them, but there’s a chance, admittedly infinitesimal, that the second is the touted Pixel. That may seem like a stretch, of course, but it’s food for thought. The plot definitely thickens.