Google is reportedly preparing to launch 2 Pixel handsets as it kills off its build-it-yourself smartphone project

Google is preparing to launch two smartphones at an event on October 4, according to Android Police, who claims to have spoken to a well-informed source.

The Mountain View company will reportedly announce the "Pixel" and the "Pixel XL" handsets alongside a 4K version of the Google Chromecast.

There's no word yet when the devices -which take their name from Google's Pixel Chromebook - will go on sale or how much they'll cost.

It's also not immediately clear whether these Pixel devices will just be a rebranded version of its existing Nexus range - though some believe this is the case. Taiwanese mobile giant HTC is expected to continue doing the manufacturing.

The report from Android Police came within hours of a report from Reuters that cites two sources who say Google has suspended Project Ara, its ambitious project to build a modular smartphone with interchangeable components.

Google announced a host of partners for Project Ara at its developer conference in May and said it would ship a developer edition of the product this autumn.

The company's aim was to create a phone that users could customise on the fly with an extra battery, camera, speakers or other components.

Modular smartphones have generated great enthusiasm in the tech community for their potential to prolong the lifespan of a device and reduce electronic waste. But the devices are difficult to bring to market because their interchangeable parts make them bulky and costly to produce, said analyst Bob O'Donnell of TECHnalysis Research, who told Reuters that he was not surprised to see Google halt the project.

"This was a science experiment that failed, and they are moving on," he said.

Project Ara was one of the flagship efforts of Google's Advanced Technology and Projects group, which aims to develop new devices, but it had various stops and starts.

The alleged decision to kill of Google Ara has prompted debate among Google observers. Martin Bryant, former editor of The Next Web, tweeted that it doesn't feel very "Googley" when Google isn't investing in crazy projects, while Charles Arthur, former tech editor at The Guardian, argued that it is a sign of a "more cautious" Google/Alphabet.

Google did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.