Google Pixel XL
From £719 inc VAT google.co.uk
Google has pulled the covers off its newest smartphone creations: the Pixel and the Pixel XL. The new devices mark a departure from the Nexus line that has served the company well for so long, bringing high-end specifications and prices to match.
Price
With its new Pixel phones, Google has decided to move up to the premium end of the market, both in terms of specifications and pricing, where it will compete with other flagship models, including the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and the iPhone 7. Two versions of the Pixel XL are available: a 32GB
version, priced at £719; and a more capacious 128GB iteration that will set you back a whopping £819. That’s a big difference from last year’s Nexus 6P, which cost £449 for the 32GB version. It also follows Apple’s pricing for its iPhone 7, so Google must be confident that the new design and construction will be able to take on the Cupertinobased company.
Design
At first glance, the Pixel XL has a lot in common with the current iPhone design thanks to its gently curved metal frame and large lower bezel. The Pixel XL’s dimensions of 76x155x8.6mm and 168g weight also make the new model more manageable than the Nexus 6P. It feels a lot nicer in the hand.
There’s a sizable area below the screen that is home to nothing, on the outside at least, which is a shame. This is offset by smooth rounded edges that allow the XL to sit snugly in the palm, and while you won’t want to use it one-handed too often, it’s a very nice phone to hold.
The power and volume buttons are all located on the right of the handset, with a double-tap on the former launching the camera even if the screen is off. A Nano-SIM card tray is on the left flank, so fans who hoped that the switch to the Pixel brand would see the introduction of an SD card slot will be disappointed. USB-C is the charging port of choice, just as it was on the Nexus 6P, and on the top of the device is a headphone jack.
Turning over the device reveals the lower half to be the same matt aluminium as the sides, while the upper section, which houses the fingerprint
reader and camera, has a polished glass finish. It’s an interesting look that makes a welcome change from the plain metal backs that now come as standard on most flagship models.
Having the fingerprint sensor on the rear is handy when you’re holding the phone, since it’s where your index finger naturally lands. However, you’ll need to use the lockscreen if the Pixel XL is sitting on a flat surface like a desk.
Google has opted for a range of colours that include the amusingly named Quite Black, Very Silver, and a rather fetching Really Blue that has already won our hearts, although this is a limited edition for the US only. There will also be a number of colourful Live Cases available from the Google store, which can show off photos or even a section of Google Maps.
The Pixel XL comes with an IP53 rating, which m means that it’s protect protected from light dust an and water spray. It’s not waterproof or even w water resistant though though, which is a shame as many other flagship phones offer this. Fo For some this will be a deal-breaker, especia especially now Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are wat waterproof and we expect expected more from Google at this price.
Hardware
The XL is the larger of the two new Pixel phones and has a 5.5in Quad HD AMOLED display, with a 2560x1440 resolution. If that’s too big, the regular Pixel is a more manageable 5in but Full HD. The screen is up there with the best with excellent contrast and colours – similar to Samsung phones, it looks like a glossy magazine at times.
To power all those pixels Google has used a quad-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 CPU running at 2.15- and 1.6GHz, aided by an Adreno 530 GPU and 4GB of RAM. This is a potent combination and during testing we found the unit to be snappy and responsive even with multiple apps open.
As mentioned earlier, you can get the Pixel phones in either 32- or 128GB storage capacities with £100 between the two. You’ll want to seriously consider which you one you get, too, as Google doesn’t offer expandable storage.
This is a strangely Apple-like decision, especially considering that the vast majority of its partners making Android phones include a microSD card slot. It’s something that differentiates them from the iPhone, but Google isn’t bothered about this.
Something to factor into your decision as to which model to buy is Google’s Smart Storage, which will automatically clear older photos and videos when your device gets full – those that have been backed up that is. Google is offering unlimited space for any photos or videos taken on the phone.
As you’d expect from a flagship model, the XL offers dual-band 11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and CAT 9 LTE. Infrared ports seem to be a thing of the past. It’s nice that the Pixel Imprint fingerprint scanner supports ‘moves’, although you’ll need to switch this on in the settings. It means you can swipe downward on the fingerprint scanner to access the notification bar and a second time for quick settings.
Nestling under the smart metal casing is a large 3450mAh battery that Google says will give you 32 hours of talk time, 14 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, or 14 hours of video playback. We found the Pixel XL will comfortably last a full day unless you hammer it and light users may even get a couple of days.
Fast charging is also supported (no wireless here). When we plugged our review unit in for 15 minutes via the USB-C port, the XL lasted for another seven hours. In our test the Pixel charged a decent 20 percent in that time period. It’s worth noting that the supplied charger requires a USB-C to USB-C cable, which is provided, as is a full-size USB to USB-C cable.
Either side of the USB-C port are two slots that you’d be forgiven for assuming are stereo speakers. In fact, just one is for the speaker, which is a disappointing step down from the front-facing speakers of the Nexus 6P. There is a headphone jack, though, which is perhaps an important issue if you’re trying to decide between the Pixel XL and iPhone 7 Plus.
Cameras are a big selling point for smartphones these days and the Pixel XL places its trust in a 12.3Mp rear unit with 1.55μm pixels that Google says was given a rating of 89 by DXO Mark, which is the highest score ever awarded to a smartphone.
You can see one of our tests shots, opposite. The camera is no different to the smaller Pixel, or on the most part, the Nexus 6P.
It now has phase detection and laser autofocus, but it’s strange that Google has opted not to include optical image stabilisation. Perhaps it didn’t want a camera bump, something it pointed out at the launch event. Instead, the phone uses digital stabilisation and while this certainly helps makes things smoother, it’s no match for the optical version.
If you like selfies, the 8Mp front-facing camera is a fine way to capture plenty of duck faces and holiday group shots. You’ll also be able to make use of this with Google’s new video calling app, Duo.
There’s no doubt that the cameras are excellent, but we’re struggling to think why Nexus 6P owners would upgrade or why anyone else wouldn’t be satisfied with a rival at a lower price. There are options that are exclusive to the Pixel, such as Smartburst and Pro controls, but for us that’s not enough. There’s also the fact that the iPhone 7 Plus (same price remember) has dual cameras with one being 2x telephoto.
Software
As you’d expect from Google’s own smartphone, the Pixel XL comes with the very latest iteration of Android Nougat (7.0). It’s a clean, smart update that doesn’t change things too much, but does introduce the ability to slide up from the main screen to open the app tray and replaces the Google bar with a small tab on the left. The round icons won’t be to everyone’s taste, though.
There are a few nice touches here and there, including the ability to blur the background wallpaper image, which we found useful almost straight away. You can also choose daily wallpapers or even Live Earth ones which move as you do things. Google has also added a Night Light, which turns the screen a red hue to ease the strain on your eyes and help you get to sleep. You can also get support from the firm, via call or chat, straight from the settings menu.
Speaking of the settings menu, we like the new notification style slots at the top, which mean you can quickly switch off things such as the Wi-Fi hotspot quickly and easily without having to delve into the menu.
The Pixels are the first phones to have Google’s new Assistant ‘built in’, so although you’ll be able to download it on other phones in the future, you can long-press the home button on the Pixel XL anytime to launch it. This impressive organisational tool is in essence a powered-up version of Google Now and can help schedule your diary, answer queries, give you directions to events and control various apps on the phone. It’s something that Google is making the central point of its entire range going forward, so as you use it on a phone, tablet, or even Chromebook, it will learn more about your preferences and improve in its suggestions.
Another included app is Google Allo, the new messaging that also incorporates Google Assistant. This has replaced Hangouts, which we think is no a bad thing, allowing group chats and even has a privacy mode. Google Duo also now comes as standard. This video messaging service is similar to
Apple’s FaceTime (and indeed Google’s Hangouts), is free and works on both Android and iOS.
The Pixels are the first Daydream – Google’s new VR technology-ready devices.
Verdict
While the Pixel XL is an attractive phone (if you can get used to the glass section) with a decent combination of hardware and software, it’s a disappointing device. It’s very similar, for example, to the much cheaper Nexus 6P and OnePlus 3. You can get plenty of other Android phones for less that have extra features such as waterproofing and expandable storage. Chris Martin
Specifications
5.5in (2560x1440) Quad-HD display