The Most Expensive Google Phones You Can Buy Right Now
The latest crop of phones by Google has finally been unveiled. Introducing the Pixel smartphones by Google – Pixel and Pixel XL. These phones hold much promise already saturated smartphone market. Google is very proud of its latest smartphone as it features innovative technology that could draw in loyal smartphone and Android users.
Let’s have a look at Google Pixel first;
Specifications of Google Pixel
The phone packs a powerful Snapdragon 821 CPU coupled with 4GB of RAM. The storage options start at 32GB and go up to 128GB. However, no microSD card slot is included. The phone runs on the latest version of Android, Android 7.1 Nougat. The OS features the pixel launcher and Google Assistant.
Here a quick view of the specs-
- Size: 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6 mm
- Weight: 143 grams
- 5-inch Full HD AMOLED display (1920 x 1080 resolution, 441 pixel-per-inch density) with Gorilla Glass 4
- 2.15GHz 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
- 4GB of RAM
- 32GB/128GB storage
- no microSD support
- 12.3-megapixel camera with f/2.0, 1.55um pixels, optical image stabilization (OIS), and unlimited Google Photos storage
- 8-megapixel-front-facing camera
- Fingerprint sensor
- NFC
- USB-C support
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- 2,770 mAh battery with fast-charging support (7 hours of use with 15 minutes of charging)
- Android 7.1 Nougat with new Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant and Google Magic
Google Pixel 12.3MP Camera And Video Stabilization
Brian Rakowski, VP of Product Management at the company, described it as “the best camera” on a smartphone. He points to the phone’s score on DxO Mark of 89, a higher score than that of the latest flagship phones from Apple and Samsung. However, many describe this as an overreach.
According to Trusted Reviews, the full HD display may be an undoing for the VR ready phone. However, since the phone comes with an AMOLED display, it looks great despite being a 1080p display. Regardless, it still falls short of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7 displays.
According to DxO Mark, the 12.3MP rear camera on the Google Pixel phone is capable of recording 4K video at 30fps and 1080p video at an impressive 120fps. The camera also includes video stabilization, allowing for smooth video even when the user is moving. The camera features a fast f/2.0 lens and HDR+. This allows for decent quality pictures even in low light. Since the phone does not support microSD, Google gives the user unlimited storage for full-resolution photos and videos.
Google Assistant
The Google Pixel smartphones come with the Google Assistant feature. The feature is part of the company’s artificial intelligence goal. It rivals Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri.
Android 7.1 Nougat
The latest smartphone from Google runs on Android 7.1 Nougat operating system. This new operating system comes with a few design changes. The traditional app drawer is now gone and in its place is an app dock. To access the apps, the user has to slide up from the app dock. Also, according to Tech Radar, the icon design has changed slightly to have a more rounded look.
Battery Life of Google Pixel
The Pixel smartphone comes with a 2,770mAh battery. Google claims that a 15-minute charge will give the user 7 hours of use. Also, the phone charges via a USB-C port.
Google’s latest smartphone packs innovative features, both hardware, and software. However, many are put off by the phone’s price: at least $649, something to consider when shopping around for a smartphone.
Moving on to the Google Pixel XL;
The Pixel XL shares the same design as Google Pixel. The only differences between the Pixel and Pixel XL is the size (off course). Compared to the Pixel, the Pixel XL has a bigger battery, and the screen features better resolution.
There is no difference in the camera, battery or OS either.
Specifications of Google Pixel XL
- Size: 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6 mm
- Weight: 168 grams
- 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display (2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 pixel-per-inch density) with Gorilla Glass 4
- 2.15GHz 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
- 4GB of RAM
- 32GB/128GB storage
- no microSD support
- 12.3-megapixel camera with f/2.0, 1.55um pixels, optical image stabilization (OIS), and unlimited Google Photos storage
- 8-megapixel-front-facing camera
- Fingerprint sensor
- NFC
- USB-C support
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- 3,450 mAh battery with fast-charging support (7 hours of use with 15 minutes of charging)
- Android 7.1 Nougat with new Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant and Google Magic
Google Pixel & Pixel XL – Pricing and Availability
Pricing starts at $649.99 for the 32GB Pixel. The 128GB version costs $749.99. While the 32GB Pixel XL costs $769.99, and the 128GB Pixel XL costs $869.99.
The phone will be available in the US, Australia, Canada and the UK from the October 4 for pre-ordering. The smartphones come in three colors- Quite Black, Really Blue, and Very Silver. You can pre-order the phones from Google from here.
The phone will be available in stores on October 20th. Verizon will be Google’s exclusive distribution partner in the US. A free Daydream VR headset will be offered if you pre-order the phone from Verizon right now, till October 19, 2016.
