Google will surely release its follow up to the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones and the introduction is likely timed with the Google I/O 2017 Developers Conference that will kick off May 17. Labeled for now as Pixel 2, the devices were recently spotted bearing the codenames "Walleye" and "Muskie," reports said.

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Android Police reported that the plan by Google appears to refresh both the regular- and jumbo-sized Pixels and work on the devices is now underway. The smaller Pixel 2 is internally referred to as Walleye while the phablet model is nicknamed Muskie. The labels are in line with Google's naming convention of using sea creatures for its upcoming mobile devices.

The same approach was first seen with the now discontinued Nexus smartphones and tablets.

To date, only Walleye has been spotted in the wild and Muskie or anything about remains elusive. But to be sure, the handsets will remain the showcase device of how Google envisions Stock Android generally behaves.

In a related report, WCCFTech said the new Pixel phones are likely to follow the lead of Apple and Samsung. The iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8 are widely rumored to unpack with all-screen profiles or the front display pushed far to the four edges of the devices. The Pixel 2 models are expected to boast too of bezel-free screen.

And like the iPhone 7 of last year, the Pixel 2 is likely to go wireless and ditch the 3.5mm audio jack connectivity. Wire-free charging is seen too as another banner feature upgrades for Google's Pure Android flagship bets.

As always the case and like the Nexus phones before it, the Pixel 2 will highlight the fresh features and functionalities that Google is set to deploy with the next Android full edition or version 8.0. Rumors say the follow up to Android Nougat will be known as Android O, and the O will soon be revealed as Oreo.

Android Oreo is likely to be introduced via the Google I/O 2017 this coming May, setting off the release date for the Pixel 2 smartphones that possibly will happen later in the year or October at the earliest.