The Mountain View giant posted a not exactly enigmatic message on X with a message coded in binary that translates to: “New year, fresh drop”.
As The Google site mentions, it will be in the Minty Green color, and the photo posted alongside the teaser also gives us a first look at the shade. It looks cooler and brighter than the currently available colors.
Google has been dropping subtle hints that a green Pixel 8 is on the horizon. For example, the company already sells a mint silicone case for the Pixel 8 even though the lineup is currently available only in Hazel (green-gray), Obsidian (deep black), Rose (pink-orange), Porcelain (white), and Bay Blue (sky blue).
As spotted by an eagle-eyed Redditor, Google also briefly listed a model with a green camera bar, fueling rumors that a new model was on the way.
Companies release their phones in new shades mid-cycle to boost sales. However, this is not a routine practice for Google, as the company only released a Almost Blue Pixel 4a in 2020.
Although there are no official sales data available, the Pixel 8 series seems to be doing well, with a report stating that Google was the only brand to see an increase in shipments in the second quarter of 2023.
The new Pixel 8 will have the same specifications and design as the currently available models, but the new shade is a smart strategy on Google’s part to reignite interest in their phones amidst renewed competition from Samsung in the form of the Galaxy S24.