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Quite Black, Really Blue, Very Silver and infinitely exciting |
As expected, Google has today showcased the shiny new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones at its special event in San Francisco. The Pixel XL is the larger of the two, packing a 5.5-inch, 1440 x 2560 display compared to the 5.0-inch, 1080 x 1920 panel of the standard model. Both similarly equipped under the hood, each is powered
__with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 processor and 4 GB of RAM. In many respects, the Pixel series follows Samsung and Apple's blueprint of rolling out two near-identical flagships
__with different screen sizes and indeed, Google is clearly looking to sway iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S fans with a slew of exciting features in tow.
After several generations of Nexus, the Pixel duo sees the Big G delve into the premium smartphone space. The Pixel and Pixel XL are billed as no-compromise handsets but like all smartphones, they have their share of on-paper advantages and disadvantages.
Here, we reel off a few reasons why buying the Google Pixel or Pixel XL might be the best decision you ever made a very good idea.
10 reasons you should consider buying the Google Pixel
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The Pixel duo include the exciting, evolving AI Google Assistant. The system-wide feature, as explained by CEO Sundar Pichai, is improving all the time. As users continue to mold and enhance its capabilities simply by being users, Assistant can proceed towards its goal of human levels of intelligence.
Google Assistant
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Google has made the very bold statement that Pixel's 12.3-megapixel shooter is the best in the business. Indeed, DXOMark gives the rear snapper a score of 89, which is the highest it has ever given to a smartphone.
With f/2.0 aperture and 1.55 µm pixels letting in more light, the point-and-shoot experience sounds promising indeed. There's also 4K video shooting with in-built video stabilization, and El Goog promises that the software is both snappy and smooth while benefiting from Assistant.
Oh, and you can also save unlimited images and videos in Google Photos, as we'll elaborate on next.
'Best.. camera.. ever'
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Smartphone cameras can produce incredibly great snaps and videos if the Pixels live up to their billing, wannabe photographers and movie-makers will have a field day. However, such perks come at a cost, with the currency being multiple megabytes of internal real estate. Megabytes quickly transcend to gigabytes and before you know it, you're inundated with pop-up warnings about the storage being full.
In lieu of expandable storage, which isn't a Pixel feature despite rumors to the contrary, Google is offering uncapped cloud-based storage. So-called 'unlimited' cloud promotions for photos and videos are not uncommon. The key factor here, though is that full-resolution images and untouched video can be saved without limitation including 4K.
Unlimited, full-res photo and videos in the cloud
image
Android 7.1 has been leaked ad infinitum over the past few weeks and finally, the first major bump to Nougat is official. From what we've seen so far, the new firmware and launcher look more useful and functional than ever.
Meanwhile, owners of Nougat-ready devices will likely see Android 7.1 in the near future, but the same cannot be said for the vast majority of other Android handsets.
With today's announcement we also learned that the process of updates will henceforth be less arduous. As explained by Google's Sabrina Ellis, care packages are to be fetched in the background so once you restart your device, you're up to date. No interruptions or stop-start progress bars required.
Since the Pixels are available through Verizon among other worldwide network operators, it's very likely that these carrier-branded editions will have their updates delayed. Thus, if you don't want to have to wait longer than you should for new versions of Android, you'll be safer grabbing an unlocked version of Pixel or Pixel XL.
Android 7.1 Nougat and the Pixel Launcher
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As a follow-on from the last point, your device will be free of any added bloatware aside from what Google offers (provided you don't buy a Verizon or other carrier model). The UX of Android smartphones greatly varies from handset to handset but with an unlocked Google Pixel, you don't get the typical, often unwanted bolt-ons.
Whether you deem features like the bundled Duo to be unwanted, however, is a matter of preference.
Stock Google experience
image
Okay, so this one isn't strictly true. The Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe was the very first handset to arrive with the Snapdragon 821 SoC, and LeEco and Xiaomi are among others who've since indulged.
However, the Pixel and Pixel XL are the first mainstream handsets to boast the latest cutting-edge chip. The new silcon touts a 10 per cent speed increase in terms of booting and app-loading compared with the Snapdragon 820. The CPU / GPU speeds are slightly quicker, while the chip also offers incremental improvements in efficiency.
Overall, we're not talking massive gains over the 820, but if you like to be at the very cutting edge of technology, the Pixel duo joins a small elite group in the Android space.
First in line for the Snapdragon 821
image
Google's new phones are built to run harmoniously with the new Daydream VR platform. The search giant has also outed a very comfortable-looking, $79 VR headset called the Daydream View, which you can find out more about here.
As with most other VR headsets, you simply slot your device in and away you go. If you're serious about Pixel for the VR capabilities, we strongly recommend the XL model with its higher resolution.
Daydream VR
image
When shopping for a high-end smartphone, there's a broadly accepted criteria of features and the Pixel and Pixel XL have most of them covered. There's premium metal-glass build, top-notch processing power and graphics, 4 GB of RAM and the very latest version of Android on board along with Assistant, Daydream VR support, a fantastic camera and countless other perks.
Pixel ticks most of the key boxes and then some
![You don]()
image
The Nexus 5X is not a bad phone by any stretch of the imagination. But you only have to look at its specs to realize its inferiority versus the Nexus 6P. The industry as a whole has tended to punish fans of compact handsets by bundling inferior specs, and similarly, those with an affinity to larger devices are left to bear he cost of superior hardware they may not want or need. with the Pixel series, Google keeps things nice and easy.
If you want a device with a smaller display, you get the Pixel. If you want phablet footprint, you get the Pixel XL; it's that simple. Of course, there's a cost to bear for the larger-screened model, which of higher resolution and naturally, includes a larger battery. That aside, though, the Pixel duo is virtually identical across the board.
As we mentioned before, though, VR fans will appreciate XL's 534 pixels-per-inch versus the 441 ppi sharpness of the regular Pixel.
You don't need the big phone to get the big specs
image
While plenty of devices are already adorned with a USB Type-C port, the shift is really beginning to gain traction. A few days back, the USB-IF published guidelines for audio over USB Type-C paving the way for a wave of new audio equipment sporting the evolved connectivity.
There are numerous benefits to Type-C connectors versus microUSB. Simply put, they are reversible, can transmit a broader range of signals, and power is able to travel in both directions. Pretty soon, most of your favorite devices will be USB Type-C ready so in this sense, your Pixel purchase is future-proof.
Despite the presence of USB Type-C, the Pixel and Pixel XL do include a headphone jack at the top. Perhaps Google didn't have the courage to let it go just yet!
As a related point, the Pixel devices also get fast charging support for quick top-up, which is a massive plus.
USB Type-C and fast charging
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The Pixel duo include the exciting, evolving AI Google Assistant. The system-wide feature, as explained by CEO Sundar Pichai, is improving all the time. As users continue to mold and enhance its capabilities simply by being users, Assistant can proceed towards its goal of human levels of intelligence.
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10 reasons you should consider buying the Google Pixel
1. Google Assistant
The Pixel duo include the exciting, evolving AI Google Assistant. The system-wide feature, as explained by CEO Sundar Pichai, is improving all the time. As users continue to mold and enhance its capabilities simply by being users, Assistant can proceed towards its goal of human levels of intelligence.
2. 'Best.. camera.. ever'
Google has made the very bold statement that Pixel's 12.3-megapixel shooter is the best in the business. Indeed, DXOMark gives the rear snapper a score of 89, which is the highest it has ever given to a smartphone.
With f/2.0 aperture and 1.55 µm pixels letting in more light, the point-and-shoot experience sounds promising indeed. There's also 4K video shooting with in-built video stabilization, and El Goog promises that the software is both snappy and smooth while benefiting from Assistant.
Oh, and you can also save unlimited images and videos in Google Photos, as we'll elaborate on next.
3. Unlimited, full-res photo and videos in the cloud
Smartphone cameras can produce incredibly great snaps and videos if the Pixels live up to their billing, wannabe photographers and movie-makers will have a field day. However, such perks come at a cost, with the currency being multiple megabytes of internal real estate. Megabytes quickly transcend to gigabytes and before you know it, you're inundated with pop-up warnings about the storage being full.
In lieu of expandable storage, which isn't a Pixel feature despite rumors to the contrary, Google is offering uncapped cloud-based storage. So-called 'unlimited' cloud promotions for photos and videos are not uncommon. The key factor here, though is that full-resolution images and untouched video can be saved without limitation including 4K.
4. Android 7.1 Nougat and the Pixel Launcher
Android 7.1 has been leaked ad infinitum over the past few weeks and finally, the first major bump to Nougat is official. From what we've seen so far, the new firmware and launcher look more useful and functional than ever.
Meanwhile, owners of Nougat-ready devices will likely see Android 7.1 in the near future, but the same cannot be said for the vast majority of other Android handsets.
With today's announcement we also learned that the process of updates will henceforth be less arduous. As explained by Google's Sabrina Ellis, care packages are to be fetched in the background so once you restart your device, you're up to date. No interruptions or stop-start progress bars required.
Since the Pixels are available through Verizon among other worldwide network operators, it's very likely that these carrier-branded editions will have their updates delayed. Thus, if you don't want to have to wait longer than you should for new versions of Android, you'll be safer grabbing an unlocked version of Pixel or Pixel XL.
5. Stock Google experience
As a follow-on from the last point, your device will be free of any added bloatware aside from what Google offers (provided you don't buy a Verizon or other carrier model). The UX of Android smartphones greatly varies from handset to handset but with an unlocked Google Pixel, you don't get the typical, often unwanted bolt-ons.
Whether you deem features like the bundled Duo to be unwanted, however, is a matter of preference.
6. First in line for the Snapdragon 821
Okay, so this one isn't strictly true. The Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe was the very first handset to arrive with the Snapdragon 821 SoC, and LeEco and Xiaomi are among others who've since indulged.
However, the Pixel and Pixel XL are the first mainstream handsets to boast the latest cutting-edge chip. The new silcon touts a 10 per cent speed increase in terms of booting and app-loading compared with the Snapdragon 820. The CPU / GPU speeds are slightly quicker, while the chip also offers incremental improvements in efficiency.
Overall, we're not talking massive gains over the 820, but if you like to be at the very cutting edge of technology, the Pixel duo joins a small elite group in the Android space.
7. Daydream VR
Google's new phones are built to run harmoniously with the new Daydream VR platform. The search giant has also outed a very comfortable-looking, $79 VR headset called the Daydream View, which you can find out more about here.
As with most other VR headsets, you simply slot your device in and away you go. If you're serious about Pixel for the VR capabilities, we strongly recommend the XL model with its higher resolution.
8. Pixel ticks most of the key boxes and then some
When shopping for a high-end smartphone, there's a broadly accepted criteria of features and the Pixel and Pixel XL have most of them covered. There's premium metal-glass build, top-notch processing power and graphics, 4 GB of RAM and the very latest version of Android on board along with Assistant, Daydream VR support, a fantastic camera and countless other perks.
9. You don't need the big phone to get the big specs
The Nexus 5X is not a bad phone by any stretch of the imagination. But you only have to look at its specs to realize its inferiority versus the Nexus 6P. The industry as a whole has tended to punish fans of compact handsets by bundling inferior specs, and similarly, those with an affinity to larger devices are left to bear he cost of superior hardware they may not want or need. With the Pixel series, Google keeps things nice and easy.
If you want a device with a smaller display, you get the Pixel. If you want phablet footprint, you get the Pixel XL; it's that simple. Of course, there's a cost to bear for the larger-screened model, which of higher resolution and naturally, includes a larger battery. That aside, though, the Pixel duo is virtually identical across the board.
As we mentioned before, though, VR fans will appreciate XL's 534 pixels-per-inch versus the 441 ppi sharpness of the regular Pixel.
10. USB Type-C and fast charging
While plenty of devices are already adorned with a USB Type-C port, the shift is really beginning to gain traction. A few days back, the USB-IF published guidelines for audio over USB Type-C paving the way for a wave of new audio equipment sporting the evolved connectivity.
There are numerous benefits to Type-C connectors versus microUSB. Simply put, they are reversible, can transmit a broader range of signals, and power is able to travel in both directions. Pretty soon, most of your favorite devices will be USB Type-C ready so in this sense, your Pixel purchase is future-proof.
Despite the presence of USB Type-C, the Pixel and Pixel XL do include a headphone jack at the top. Perhaps Google didn't have the courage to let it go just yet!
As a related point, the Pixel devices also get fast charging support for quick top-up, which is a massive plus.
There are, of course, other reasons why you may wish to grab a Pixel or Pixel XL. Aside from those mentioned above, you'll be in ownership of a piece of history; a device with which, potentially, Google finally stepped up and set the bar for other OEMs to follow. It'd be a bit of a leap to compare these smartphones with the original iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S just yet, but in years to come, we may look back on the Pixels' launch as a seminal moment for Google and Android.
As we continue to process these two devices, will you be making the purchase? If so, which? Let us know in the comments.
Oh, and yes -- we also have a run-down of features Google might have added to make the devices even better.
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