According to Google, expect the Pixel 2 smartphone from the company in 2017.
The news comes from Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of hardware, via AndroidPIT. Osterloh couldn’t announce a release date for the successor to the Pixel but confirmed plans for the new smartphone lineup.
“There is an annual rhythm in the industry. So, you can count on us to follow it.” Osterloh said to AndroidPIT. “You can count on a successor this year, even if you don’t hear a date from me now.”
Osterloh also confirmed Google would keep the Pixel 2 at a similar premium price. Right now, the Google Pixel’s retail hardware starts at $649 and phones with a lower price point are left to alternative manufacturers like LG and Samsung.
The news comes as Google finds the Pixel smartphone series in a tricky position. Since its release last fall, the Pixel and Pixel XL have earned strong marks from reviewers but the smartphones have been plagued by inventory issues and models have frequently been out of stock.
While Google has dabbled with taking a more direct hardware role in the past via the Nexus series, the Pixel is a de facto flagship device for the company. For Google, the company took on a much more hands-on approach during the design and hardware development process. As the Pixel 2 aims to target the same upscale audience, it’s clear that Google wants the phone to continue to be in same discussion as market leaders like Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy series.