Google is rumored to release three smartphone models this 2017 as follow up to the Pixel and Pixel XL of last year. In addition to the "Muskie" and "Walleye" handsets that the tech giant is supposedly working on, "Taimen" will be added as the biggest of the bunch with the display likely breaching the 6-inch mark.

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Citing unnamed sources, Droid Life claimed in a report that Taimen is the third device that Google will roll out this year, the first two being the Muskie and Walleye that were reported earlier in the week. The same report indicated that Taimen is a smartphone, discounting the possibility that Google is assembling a device that will replace the Nexus tablet.

However, it appears Taimen will hit the market as the largest Pixel model. "One source tells us that the phone will have a bigger screen than Muskie and Walleye," Droid Life reported. This was based on the fact that Taimen is a giant sea creature.

Details on the third Pixel 2017 phone remain scarce for now but it can be assumed that the handset is designed as Google's answer to the leading phablet brands out there. This year, Apple is widely reported to launch the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 while Samsung is set to unpack the Galaxy Note 8. Both devices are expected to come out in the second half of 2017.

According to Droid Life, it's possible that more hints on Muskie, Walleye and Taimen will emerge as Google starts providing details on the version 8.0 of Android. Speculations are rife that Google's pick for the next Android sweet is Oreo.

In a related report, 9to5Google said Muskie and Walleye have been confirmed as the internal names for the Pixel 2 handsets. It was suggested that Walleye will be the regular-sized Pixel 2017 while Muskie will boast of a larger screen.

While Muskie, Walleye and Taimen are not expected to be released until the second half of 2017, likely no later than October, the devices could be introduced with Android 8.0 Oreo via the Google I/O 2017 that will kick off May 17.