The brand new Google phones were shown to the world for the first time on October 4th 2016. They are currently available to pre-order and are officially going on sale on Thursday the 20th of October.
Google showed off their new phone with this quirky commercial:
A Phone By Google?
Google refer to the Pixel as being a ” Phone by Google”. It certainly looks like it, with the Google logo emblazoned on the back. However, there is some confusion about just how much of the phone really is Google’s. Technology magazine, PC Advisor, spoke to an HTC representative who said:
“HTC is excited to work with Google to create the newPixel smartphones. Google and HTC have a long and storied history together, from developing the first commercially available Android product, the HTC Dream, and the first expectation-defying Nexus phone, the Nexus One, to HTC’s award-winning One and Desire smartphones running the latest and most innovative versions of Android. We’re proud that when Google needed an industry-leading partner for the Pixel, HTC was the clear answer.”
It certainly seems a little peculiar that Google’s ad campaign has been so focused on their own brand as they have previously worked openly with third parties on their Nexus phones. However, apparently this is not the first time HTC have stayed out of the limelight on phones they have made, having manufactured phones for brands such as Sony Ericsson before they became a big brand themselves. At the end of the day, HTC is still making money. So, while it may seem a little strange, they are probably pretty happy.
But no matter who made it, people are probably just dying to know how good the phone itself is…
Duplicated Design?
The phone comes in two sizes: the 5 inch Pixel and the 5.5 inch Pixel XL. Both are available in the slightly comically named “Quite Black” and “Very Silver”. The “Really Blue” they go on about in the advert isn’t available in the UK.
Google have been criticised about just how similar the phone looks to the new iPhone 7 but up close it is a little different. The home button is on the screen itself and the finger scanner which can be used to unlock the phone as well as pull down the notification screen is on the back of the phone. The back of the phone is totally smooth with no bump from the camera lense. However the glass panel covering about a third of the back of the phone “is a little offputting, and feels plasticky” according to a reviewer from The Guardian.
Google Pixel
Apple iPhone 7
Crystal Clear Captures
While it only has a 12.3 megapixel rear camera compared to other Android smart phones with up to 20MP, it has been called the “the highest-rated smartphone camera” ever tested by DXOMark, an image quality reviewer, due to its quick autofocus and high quality photos in low-lighting. The front-facing camera is also of high standard with 8MP compared to the new iPhone 7 with 7MP.
Spectacular Storage
Both the Pixel and Pixel XL are available in two storage capabilities, 32 GB and 128 GB, and also come with free unlimited cloud photo storage. For Nexus phones, the unlimited storage could only be used to store compressed versions of photos for free and users would have to pay additional fees to store their high resolution photos on the cloud. But now, with both versions of the new Google (and/or HTC) phone, users can store unlimited HD photos and videos and even super high-definition 4K videos.
Rapid Recharge
Google claims that the phone can last for a full day easily and can be powered up with approximately 7 hours of charge in a mere 15 minutes.
All-new Assistant
While similar to Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri and Google’s own Google Now, the new Google Assistant is reportedly excellent at helping Pixel users. The assistant contextualises conversations making it quicker and easier to find what you need.
Compatible Communications
The Pixel and Pixel XL also come with built in Google Allo and Google Duo to cater for all your communication needs. Once again similar to other smartphones with Allo being very like iMessage and Duo being almost parallel with FaceTime. Google Assistant can also be used within the Google communication apps.
Delightful Daydream
The Pixel and Pixel XL are also the first phones which will be compatible with Google’s new VR headset, Daydream.
Hooray for the Headphone Jack
The “satisfyingly not new ” headphone jack may have been a not so subtle dig at Apple for deciding to remove the headphone port from their latest iPhone model. Yet, nevertheless, the headphone jack is an important feature for music lovers who either don’t want to spend extortionate amounts on wireless listening devices or simply don’t like fiiddling around with an extra bit of wire to attach their headphones through the USB port of their phone.
With the infinite storage space, best in the business camera, assistant with the potential to supersede Siri and of course the headphone jack, the Pixel and Pixel XL may become real competitors for Apple’s iPhone 7. Other Androids should also watch out because although it isn’t quite perfect, the Pixel could be one of the best phones of the year.
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