Google has removed the original Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones from its online store and the phones are no longer available for purchase officially, however, they are still available from other e-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon. The smartphones were launched back in October 2016 and signified Google’s foray into Pixel branded smartphones, albeit they were being made by HTC. Android Police first spotted this and Google also confirmed this to The Verge. The Google Store now offers only the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.
The company’s decision to remove the original Pixel phones from their website suggests that they want customers to go for the newer Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones. However, the older phones are not a bad deal at a discounted price, considering the hardware they packs for the price range. The original Pixel was launched in 32GB and 128GB variants priced at Rs 57,000 and Rs 66,000 respectively, whereas the 32GB and 128GB variants of the Pixel XL were priced at Rs 67,000 and Rs 76,000, respectively.
Both the phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC, coupled with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. They are equipped with a 12.3MP Sony IMX378 camera sensor with a f/2.0 aperture on the rear and an 8MP front-facing camera with a f/2.4 aperture. The Pixel features a 5-inch full-HD display, whereas the Pixel XL sports a 5.5-inch QHD display.
Google is most likely working on the Pixel 3 smartphone and the device was recently spotted in an AOSP commit. It’s not much of an indication that the Pixel 3 will debut soon but it is the first official mention of the smartphone. The “Cherrypick” commit suggests a new Auto Selection Network feature for the device, which is said to result in better network connectivity. There are also reports that Google could announce a cheaper Pixel feature phone for India and other price-conscious markets by July-August, and the new Pixel 3 is expected to be announced by Diwali.