Recently, foreign media slashleaks revealed three photos of Google's new machine. The model name on this photo is "PixelXE", which is a completely unknown name to the outside world. Based on the spy photos, we can see that the PixelXE features an in-screen single-hole design similar to Samsung's, which is not found on current Pixel phones.
We can also see that the two dubious +/- volume keys are positioned very far up on the right side of the phone, which is not at all in keeping with the style of Google's phones. While the volume keys on Google phones have been located much lower on the right side since the Nexus days, as the power button always sits on top of the volume keys, the PixelXE's key layout is quite novel.
Despite the mystery surrounding the Pixel XE, we can presume that the Pixel XE will not be Google's flagship. As Google has started gradually competing with flagships in the last three years.
The reason is simple: Google used to launch only flagship products with uncompetitive prices, and the price range of its products could not cover mainstream consumers, leading to a decline in sales year after year.
In order to reverse this situation, Google in the previous generation of products Pixel 3 added mid-range SoC, more affordable "a" suffix products Pixel 3 a series.
At first, the a-suffix series sold far more than the flagship series, and then the Pixel 4 followed that year with the a-suffix, and in 2020, Google took the plunge and canceled the flagship Pixel phones outright, while the Pixel 5 went straight to the Snapdragon 865 without a Snapdragon. However, if the Pixel returns to the flagship market in any given year, it'll be through the proper digital lineup, and it probably won't be the "XE". Chances are it won't be the "XE," so for now the Pixel XE remains a mystery to us.
