Google Pixel Android Smartphones, To Replace Nexus Handsets?

According to "analysts" and "insiders", Google will finally retire its Nexus line of Android smartphones this year and will replace it with an entirely new series of handsets called 'Pixel'.

They say that whereas Nexus devices offered a barebones or vanilla Android experience, the new Pixel series will come with its own unique interface as well as a slew of close-sourced applications. Not sure how that will sound to developers but I think, after several years of Android's market dominance, Google's objective in releasing its own line of devices has already started to shift.

Well, anyway, these leaked photos purportedly show TPU sleeves made for what some are calling the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, which are believed to be the first members of this fresh series of smartphones. (source)

Various sources claim that the regular Google Pixel will have a 5.2-inch display while the XL version will sport a larger 5.5-inch screen. As for the internals, both handsets - to be crafted by HTC - are expected to be powered by the same (upgraded) Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and to handle multitasking with 4GB of RAM.

In April 2015, Google disclosed that while its total revenues grew 23 percent year over year to $1.8 Billion USD, its earnings from selling Nexus devices went down to 2 percent quarter over quarter. (source). With that, I believe this change in product nomenclature and shake up in marketing strategy is meant to boost profits coming from Google-branded handsets and tablets -- especially following the creation of the Alphabet umbrella company.