Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, visited India last year and announced the company’s plans to bring their smartphone prices as low as $30 (approximately Rs 2,000). He further revealed their goal to improve internet access in the country. Since then, rumours and speculations regarding a budget-Pixel smartphone have been taking the rounds. However, the company put these rumours to rest at the recently-conducted MWC event by confirming that there won’t be any budget-Pixel smartphones.
Now a new leak suggests that the company might be working on a budget smartphone without the Pixel brand. According to a report published by 9 to 5 Google, the company is internally testing a “few” prototypes of a device they reffered to as “Pixel 2B.” This device will apparently be released either alongside or shortly after Pixel 2. The affordable handset will bring with it, a lower-price point and less powerful hardware and would be aimed at different markets.
Rick Osterloh, Google Hardware lead, clarified at MWC last week that the Pixel 2 will remain in the premium price segment. He further stated that the smartphone will be launched later this year.
None of the above given information has been confirmed by the company yet.
