MacBook Pro 2016 is slated to a fourth quarter release. (Photo : Getty Images/Sean Gallup)
Nexus is practically and it's all but confirmed that on October 4 Google will unveil the Pixel and Pixel XL flagship smartphones that will both run on Android 7.1 Nougat. But the bigger revelation on that day is likely the Android-powered Pixel 3 laptop that is touted as a MacBook Pro 2016 killer.
This upcoming MacBook slayer, according to Android Police, is being internally referred to as Bison. Commercially, the device will be known as Pixel 3 and will run on Andromeda OS or the fusion of Android and Chrome OS features and functions. It is understood that Andromeda is dominantly Android but in desktop environment and will serve as Google's latest thrust to outpace both Apple and Microsoft's hardware and software businesses.
"Bison ... would be the culmination of years of work by Google's Pixel team and Google's Android and Chrome OS teams," the report said.
Andromeda breaking into the scene was recently teased by Google executive Hiroshi Lockheimer, who according to BGR recently tweeted that the hybrid-platform's announcement will prove historic. "We announced the 1st version of Android 8 years ago today. I have a feeling 8 years from now we'll be talking about Oct 4, 2016," Lockheimer was reported as saying.
How exactly the soon-to-release, likely to seen in the second half of 2017, Google OS will dominate the competition is unclear at the moment but the report highlighted that Pixel 3 and Andromeda will prove bigger than the Pixel smartphones or any other Google products set to be uncloaked next week.
The details have yet to be confirmed but the Android Police report included specifications. One Bison or Pixel 3 model will likely sport a 12.3-inch touchscreen display and the power under the hood will be the combo of Intel i5 Core processing chip and up to 16GB RAM. Internal storage will start at 32GB with the high-end going as high as 128GB.
Other specs and features mentioned are the following: fingerprint scanner, USB-C connectivity, 3.5mm headphone jack, stylus support, stereo speakers, quad microphones, backlit keyboard, glass trackpad with haptic and force detection and 10 hours of battery life.
The report added that Google intends to match the MacBooks' premium design and build, and that the Pixel 3 will only measure 10mm in thickness or slimmer than the MacBook Pro 2016 could possibly be.
But really the killer feature packed with the Bison or Pixel 3 is the pricing. On release date, the Andromeda or Android laptop will start at $799, Android Police said. Obviously, the price level is something that the MacBook Pro 2016 cannot compete with.
