Google to make hardware play

The minimal invite sent out by Google, which hints at a new device being launched tomorrow night.

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The rumour mill is working overtime ahead of the Google event taking place tomorrow night in San Francisco.

The Alphabet-owned Internet giant is expected to make a major play in the hardware space, and could drop the Nexus brand from its range.

For years, Google has released 'pure' Android smartphones under the Nexus brand. The handsets are designed by different smartphone manufacturers each time (Huawei designed the Nexus 6P) but run the Android operating system how Google intended it - without overlays and bloatware.

Rumours suggest Google will drop the Nexus name and instead incorporate the smartphones into its Pixel brand, which already includes a Chromebook and tablet.

The public invite for the event only displays the date (4 October), the Google logo and the outline of a phone with pictures being replaced inside it every few seconds. The invite tagline reads: "Meet the newest member of the Google family" and there is a place to enter an e-mail address to stay updated on the latest information on Google devices.

UK retailer Carphone Warehouse accidently posted listings for Pixel phones on its site. Before the posts were taken down, it was ascertained there will be two Pixel models, the 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL.

Specifications include a Snapdragon 821 2.15GHz processor, 12MP rear camera, 32GB or 128GB of on-board space with a microSD card slot. The smaller phone will have a 2 770mAh battery and the larger version a 3 450mAh battery. Both will run Android Nougat 7.1.

Google is expected to announce software updates, unique to the handsets, which will set them apart from competitors.

In May, Google announced a virtual reality (VR) platform called Daydream designed to work with the Android mobile operating system. It is rumoured that tomorrow's event will see the company incorporate the platform into its own VR headset.

The launch date for Google's artificial intelligence personal home assistant, Google Home, is also expected to be announced, with possible updates to the smart technology.

A 4K version of the company's media streaming device, Chromecast, is rumoured to be unveiled tomorrow, called the Chromecast Ultra. It is expected to cost almost double that of the current version.

Lastly, Google is rumoured to be releasing a router, called Google WiFi. It is tipped to have smart features and a wider range than other routers.