Mar 10, 2017 11:12 PM EST By Jordan Pine, UniversityHerald Reporter

Google Pixel 2 will definitely arrive this year and there will be no budget-friendly variant, only a premium one for equally premium hardware minus the problems of the past like issues on LTE connectivity and faulty microphones. Moreover, the new Google device is reported to be ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack, which could actually be used as a hot selling point when added with personalized tweaks, heart rate reader, noise cancellation and a much-improved sound quality.

Just recently, Google's head of hardware Rick Osterloh dashed all hopes of producing a budget-friendly Google Pixel 2. The company is staying with premium as it aims to build premium hardware and software for their next flagship device. Moreover, Osterloh reveals that the company will be following an "annual rhythm" so consumers may expect the second iteration of the Pixel this year even though Google may not be making too much of a noise about it.

The tech giant will have a lot of hurdles to overcome this year as the first Pixel had a good solid launch but was also plagued with hardware issues. Google leveraged on its top-of-the-line specs with its sophisticated camera as its hottest selling point along with a feature-rich OS and a very intelligent UI, the Google Assistant. However, it has already rolled out Assistant to other Android phones so it may need to find other avenues to make the Google Pixel 2 standout from equally stellar flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the iPhone 8.

It needs to start first with building a premium hardware in the Google Pixel 2 that will not be plagued by issues as the first one did since launch. Until now, faulty microphones have been experienced by Pixel owners that are now asking for a replacement from Google or from third-party retailers. Google has acknowledged the problem and vowed to have taken "additional steps" not only to qualify refurbished phones but also to pay particular mind to manufacture. Pixel devices manufactured before December will now have a less than 1 percent incidence of having hardware issues, BGR reported.

Moreover, Google Pixel 2 may be able to capitalize on ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack following rumor allegedly from an "internal Google document" that it will soon be copying Apple in the iPhone 7 and partner HTC in the HTC Bolt. Apple sales of the iPhone 7 were not at all affected by the loss of the legacy port so this should not pose a problem for Google as well. In fact, it could make it the Pixel 2's hot selling point by adding various functionalities like adding a heart rate reader when exercising according to Forbes. It could follow the footsteps of HTC's jack-free phones with personalized sensors in the bundled earphones where the sound produced is designed to adapt to the user's ears.

Furthermore, the Google Pixel 2 is also expected to feature other powerful specs like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 823 processor, dual camera set up, IP68 rating known as the highest standard in water and dust protection, edge-to-edge QuadHD display and, of course, Android O. Incidentally, the latest Android OS version is expected to be unveiled during Google's 2017 I/O event happening on May 17. It will showcase its new "copy less" feature that allows easy copying of text between apps.

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