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"Blueline" shows up again as codename for Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL; mid-range Pixel codenamed "Bonito"

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By Alan Friedman

Updated: Jul 10, 2018, 9:34 AM

"Blueline" shows up again as codename for Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL; mid-range Pixel codenamed "Bonito"

You might recall that last October, the third generation of Pixel handsets was said to have three possible fish-related codenames of "Crosshatch", "Albacore", and "Blueline." At the time, the thinking was that the third model would be a super-premium version of the phone. However, in recent days it has become apparent that there will be a mid-range Pixel reportedly equipped with the Snapdragon 710 Mobile Platform. This model is expected to be released in the first half of 2019.

Now, it appears as though the Google Pixel 3 or the Google Pixel 3 XL will indeed carry the codename of "Blueline." That name pops up in an AOSP page under a commit that mentions a "new Spam API that can query additional information." According to the AOSP site, the "InAppSpamTest" was "verified using Blueline device."

We can speculate that "Blueline" is not the mid-range model because of a tweet sent out by tipster Roland Quandt. The latter said that the codename for the mid-range Pixel is "Bonito." The Bonito is related to the tuna, although smaller in size, and there is a Blueline Tilefish. Since October, we have not seen "Crosshatch" or "Albacore." A little research discovered that a "false Albacore" is hard to tell apart from a "Bonito." With that in mind, perhaps the "Albacore" was originally the mid-range device and enough changes made to it (for example, the inclusion of the new Snapdragon chipset) that the name was changed.

Based on an image of screen protectors allegedly designed for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, we came up with images that show what these two models might look like. The first two generation of Pixel handsets were introduced in October, so we could be just four short months away from the unveiling of the next-gen models.

Tipster Roland Quandt tweets about the Bonito codename for the mid-range Pixel expected next year

source: AOSP, @rquandt via Droid-Life (1), (2)

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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