Smartphone upgrades have become very expensive as companies like Apple, Google , and Samsung try to fit the latest technology into phones with larger screens or, in the case of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, into foldable phones. But Google is preparing to offer another option. There have been leaks and speculation that Google is working on a budget version of its flagship Pixel phones, unofficially dubbed the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite. The document filed on Monday doesn’t have any specific details, but it does include model numbers.
A Google spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company typically declines to discuss products that have not been released.
For the past three years, Google has been releasing its flagship phones every October.
The latest version, the Pixel 3, has earned rave reviews for its camera and improved waterproof design. The Pixel 3 and the larger Pixel 3 XL are currently available on Google's store for $200 off their regular price, which could mean something new could be on the way, well ahead of the highly anticipated annual "Made By Google" event.
If Google wanted to release a budget smartphone, it would do so at a time when the cost of flagship phones would have topped $1,000, causing many people to forgo upgrades and hold onto their phones for longer than usual. The average upgrade cycle in the United States is 32 months, according to a 2018 NPD Connected Intelligence report
