Google's post-Nexus phones come out swinging: Pixel and Pixel XL unveiled

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Welcome to the new Pixel era, Google has finally decided it’s time to get out of the shadows and make phones that can actually compete with two of the biggest global smartphone brands, Apple and Samsung. With premium features and top-notch aesthetic design, the Pixel and the Pixel XL are a big leap for Google in the smartphone manufacturing business. The company unveiled the two devices among other products at an event in San Francisco, California.

 In the last six years, we have seen the company release a series of Nexus-branded mid-range smartphones, but Google is now showing significantly more ambition than it did with those. From the design, you can tell that the company really took the time to come with an original design with the Google Pixel and Pixel XL instead of just tweaking other company’s design like we have repeatedly seen with their Nexus line of smartphones.

Premium features

Google wants you to see these devices as rivals to Samsung Galaxy models and Apple's iPhones. The Pixel smartphones are both top-shelf models unlike their last year's predecessors, the Nexus 5X and premium Nexus 6P. The devices have OLED screens, 4GB of memory and either 32GB or 128GB internal storage, for tasks such as audio and image processing, the devices come with a boost from Qualcomm's Hexagon technology. Regarding performance, the devices each come with quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processors (two cores clocked at 2.15GHz and two at 1.6GHz for more battery efficiency).

Google Pixel and Pixel XL against competition

The Samsung Galaxy 7 and the IPhone 7 are arguably the two best smartphones on the market, but Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL come with a set of pretty impressive features, maybe even enough to beat the top worldwide contenders. Whether the Pixels outweigh either the S7 or the IPhone 7 is a subjective argument, one only time can really tell. 

No more Nexus!!

The newly unveiled Pixel line of smartphones by Google marks the first time the company that the device is completely ‘made by Google’.  If you own a Nexus 6P, it might be a chance to catch up by upgrading to the Pixel line since the company does not plan on producing any more devices on the Nexus line. Google is apparently now a hardware company.

The Pixel and Pixel XL: Key Features

Android 7.1

The Pixel devices run on the Android 7.1 Nougat, the latest Android version. Their predecessor, the Nexus 6P runs a beta version of the operating system but will upgrade to the full Android 7.1 Nougat come November. This device does not, however, compare to the pixel devices in any way vis-à-vis software capabilities. Some of the Android Nougat features will be exclusively available on the Pixel and Pixel XL devices only, for instance, the Google assistant, the Android equivalent of Siri. There is going to be a lot of differences in the Android nougat in other devices vs. in the Pixels, with the Pixel devices obviously having the advantage.

Camera

The Pixel and the Pixel XL are equipped with a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. Google is really pushing for a premium camera with these two devices. The camera is top of the line, up there competing with the Huawei P9, IPhone 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7. However, with the Pixels, it is not really about the Megapixel size but the software optimisation.  Pixel users also get free unlimited photo storage in Google Photos at full resolution. Google is also offering several Pro features in the camera such as viewfinder grid modes, automatic focus locking, automatic exposure and exposure compensation, and white balance pre-sets. The devices also come with an improved HDR+ that processes incredibly fast as well as a proprietary gyro-based stabilisation software for videos.

Design and display

The Pixel and the Pixel XL feature an AMOLED display with the same Quad HD resolution — 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. The Pixel only has one speaker at the lower edge unlike its predecessor, the Nexus 6P which had two front facing cameras. The ‘G’ on the pixel and pixel XL sure looks better than the big Nexus name on the Nexus devices. The devices are more comfortable to hold with smooth edges and a relative smaller bezel.

Full Specifications

OS

Android 7.1 Nougat

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 821

Storage

32, 128GB no micro SD slot

4GB RAM

Connectivity

GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE

Bluetooth version 4.2, NFC, Infrared, Wi-Fi

USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack

Camera

12MP back camera

8MP front camera 

Battery

3,450mAh non-removable battery

Water resistance

IP53-rated

Sensors

Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer

Body

Polished glass and aluminium body combination

HD AMOLED display

Conclusion

The new Google’s flagship devices are pretty awesome. Google really outdid themselves on the creation of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL devices. Stay tuned for more updates on the price and availability of the devices in Kenya.

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