Google Pixel
THE PIXEL (AND THE BIGGER PIXEL XL) IS google ’s first for ay into the smartphone world . it ofers the best ‘purE-andro id’ exper ience out there , but can it re all y co mpete with the rest ?
Last month saw Apple come out with the best smartphone it’s ever made. Now it’s Google’s turn with the Pixel phone; let’s see what the big guns can do
Android is, of course, the world’s most popular mobile operating system, and spans hundreds of devices from numerous smartphone manufacturers. In the past, Google has partnered with the likes of Huawei and LG to produce its flagship Nexus smartphones, which offer a ‘pure-Android’ experience, free from manufacturer skins and (often unnecessary) add-ons.
Now, Google is going it alone with its first ‘Made by Google’ phones, the Pixel and Pixel XL. There are minor differences between the two handsets, mainly in the screen size and resolution (the Pixel is five inches and 1080p; the Pixel XL 5.5 inches and Quad HD). The battery is also bigger on the XL (3,450mAh compared to 2,770mAh). But aside from that, they’re pretty much the same.
Let’s start with the design. Unfortunately, the build of the Pixel is just a little underwhelming. Sure, it’s solid enough with its aluminium body and glass panel on the back (which looks like a sticker has been applied), but it doesn’t exactly shout premium. And at £819 for the 128GB Pixel XL, it really should. The Nexus 6P has a more premium feel, as does the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and both cost considerably less than the Pixel XL. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus feel a long way ahead in terms of build.
And then there’s the fingerprint reader. Unlike the iPhone, but like the Nexus 6P, the fingerprint sensor is located on the back of the device. This is in the ideal position when the phone is in your hand – but relegate it to a table or desk and you’ll need to either pick it up or use your passcode. We know, we’re lazy…
The Pixels are very light phones, feel excellent in the hand and are pretty compact, too. The rounded edges make them comfortable to hold, and everything about them feels very solid. Google has used aerospace-grade aluminium here, and it feels less prone to scratches than the iPhone. Which is great news. In a way, the design mimics Google’s brand identity: it’s quirky, slightly robotic and soulless, but ultimately quite endearing. It’s also quite thick, at 8.5mm, but the tapered edges do a good job of masking that. There are three colour options: ‘Quite Black’, ‘Very Silver’ and ‘Really Blue’. All a little pretentious maybe, but the black and silver versions both look great (we haven’t seen a blue version in the flesh, as it’s a US-only release). T3’ s advice is to always bet on black; it looks great.