Google Inc. is planning to launch a new flagship model with a notch like the iPhone X’s, according to the latest set of reports.

The word comes a little over four months ahead of when the search giant will likely launch its latest phone and tablet models. The Alphabet Inc.-owned company traditionally launches the latest incarnation of its hardware lineup in October. Although no date has been set as yet, Bloomberg reported that Google is planning to launch the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the latter with a notch to facilitate a front-facing camera.

“The larger phone is designed with a nearly edge-to-edge screen, except for a thicker bezel known as a chin at the bottom of the phone,” Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman wrote. “The display also will have a notch — or a cutout — at the top.” He added that his sources said the smaller model would look like the Pixel 2, with no notch or edge-to-edge look.

Gurman went on to claim that the Pixel 3 XL model will have two front-facing cameras and that both models will support stereo sound for the first time.

The phones are claimed to be the first phones Google has not relied on existing phone makers for, with the design and hardware specs exclusively designed in-house and the manufacturing outsourced to Foxconn. Google acquired part of HTC Corp.’s hardware business in September, and although how that deal worked out nine months later isn’t clear, the Pixel 3 lineup will be mostly designed and controlled by Google itself.

Despite Google’s previous “Don’t be evil” mantra and the theoretical appeal of the phone, Droid Life reported that the retail sales rights to the phone will be exclusive to Verizon Communications Inc., adding that the deal is no great surprise given both companies have worked together in the past.

Even with an exclusive point-of-sale retail provider, Google traditionally offers its hardware by direct sale as well, so non-Verizon customers will likely still be able to acquire one.

Photo: Weibo