12.3MP Sony Exmor IMX378 1.55μm pixel size withf/2.0 aperture, phase-detection Autofocus + Laser Autofocus, HDR+ Processing, Night Sight, HD 720p (up to 240FPS), FHD 1080p video (up to 120FPS), 4K 2160p video (up to 30FPS), Electronic Image Stabilization (sampling gyroscope at 200Hz)
ThePixel andPixel XL are a pair ofAndroidsmartphones designed, developed, and marketed byGoogle and the first smartphones to be part of theGoogle Pixel product line, succeeding theNexus line of smartphones. They were officially announced on October 4, 2016 at theMade by Google event and released in the United States on October 20. On October 4, 2017, they were succeeded by thePixel 2 andPixel 2 XL.
The Pixels have an aluminium chassis, with a glass panel on the rear, aUSB-C connector, 3.5 mmheadphone jack, and a 12.3 megapixel rear-facing camera. At launch, the devices featured certain exclusive software features, including the7.1 "Nougat" update to theAndroid operating system, integration with theGoogle Assistantintelligent personal assistant, live technical support services, and unlimited full-resolutionGoogle Photos backup for the life of the device.
The Pixels received mixed reviews, with praise for the devices' performance and cameras, but several critics noted similarities withApple'siPhone line in terms of hardware design, and criticized the Pixels's lack of waterproofing and high price.
Google previously co-developed flagship Android devices withoriginal equipment manufacturers through theNexus program, which were designed to be "reference" devices for the Android platform, but the devices retained similarities to other devices made by their respective partners.[6]Rick Osterloh, former president ofMotorola, joined Google as its senior vice president of hardware in April 2016,[7] and Google initiated development of an ecosystem of in-house products and platforms, including theGoogle Home smart speaker,Google Assistantintelligent personal assistant, andGoogle Daydream, Google'svirtual reality platform.[8] The Pixels were announced on October 4, 2016,[9] and serve as Google's launch devices for Android 7.1 "Nougat".[10] The songCloser byLemaitre Music was used in the device's introductory film.[11]
Osterloh said in an interview withThe Verge that "a lot of the innovation that we want to do now ends up requiring controlling the end-to-end user experience".The Verge wrote that the Nexus program had "fulfilled its mission", with a Google spokesperson stating that there are "no plans" to make another Nexus device.[6] The Pixel was designed by and marketed as being a Google product. Google worked withHTC on a contract basis on development[12][13] but have said that the Pixels are not based on any existing HTC device.[6] It offeredHuawei the contract to manufacture the devices, but after Google refused todual-brand the phone with credit to the manufacturer, Huawei declined the offer.[14]
In the United States, Pixel was exclusive toVerizon Wireless and Project Fi (nowGoogle Fi Wireless), but also available direct-to-consumer via Google's online store[15][6] or fromBest Buy.[16][17] In the United Kingdom, they are available direct-to-consumer via Google's online store, and throughEE andCarphone Warehouse.[18] In India, they became available for preorder from October 13 fromFlipkart,Reliance Digital, andCromā,[19] with general store availability on October 25.[20]
On October 4, 2017, Google announced thePixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones, succeeding the original Pixel devices.[21] The Pixel and Pixel XL were removed from theGoogle Store and discontinued on April 11, 2018.[1]
Pixel uses an aluminium chassis, with a glass panel on the portion of the rear housing the camera and "Pixel Imprint" fingerprint sensor.
The phones have a USB-C connector supportingUSB 3.0, for power and data exchange. The phone features a 3.5mmheadphone jack, which received media attention for being a contrast to competing smartphone AppleiPhone 7, the first not to feature the port.[22]
The Pixel and Pixel XL both use theQualcomm Snapdragon 821 system-on-chip, with 4 GB of RAM.[4][23] They are offered with either 32 GB or 128 GB ofUFS 2.0 non-expandable internal storage.[9]
The two models are differentiated by screen and battery size. The standard Pixel's display measures 5 in (130 mm)1080pAMOLED with a 2770mAh battery,[24] while the Pixel XL's display measures 5.5 in (140 mm)1440p AMOLED with a 3450mAh battery.[25]
To improve capture speed, 30 frames are continuously captured per second while the camera is active. When a photo is taken, up to 10 of these frames are composed to form a single image.[27] Later software updates to Pixel introduced "Night Sight", an enhanced low-light photography mode first introduced on one of the devices' successors, thePixel 3.[28]
The Pixel and Pixel XL shipped withAndroid 7.1 "Nougat", an update to 7.0 that was initially exclusive to the Pixel. Android 7.1 was later released for some existing Nexus devices in December 2016, but certain features remained exclusive to the Pixel.[10][29][30][31]
Pixel supportsGoogle Assistant, and provides live technical support services integrated into the OS. Similarly to Nexus devices, it receives Android updates directly from Google.[9][32] Pixel also supports theGoogle Daydream virtual reality platform.[9] Pixels 1–5 included unlimited full-resolutionGoogle Photos backup for the life of the device.[9][27] A November 2016 update added additional motion gestures, including double-tapping the screen to show alerts, and raising the device to wake the screen.[33]
Google states on its support pages that the Pixel and Pixel XL are guaranteed to receive new Android version updates until October 2018, and guaranteed to receivesecurity patches until October 2019.[34][35] In August 2017, Google releasedAndroid 8.0 "Oreo" for the Pixel and Pixel XL.[36] Android 8.1 Oreo was released for the Pixel and Pixel XL, as well as some other devices, on December 5, 2017.[37] Although after the date Google guaranteed the Pixel and Pixel XL would receive new Android versions, Google releasedAndroid 10 to the Pixel and Pixel XL in September 2019.[38][39][40] Google released the final official security update to the Pixel and Pixel XL in December 2019.[41]
The Pixel and Pixel XL received mixed reviews. Dieter Bohn ofThe Verge said the Pixel smartphones are "...easily the best Android phones you can buy" and gave the product a 9 out of 10, praising its long battery life and Google Assistant integration. However, criticism has been aimed at its pedestrian design and lack of waterproofing.[46][47]
Matt Humrick ofAnandTech praised the camera being flush with the body, but was critical of the price, stating that Nexus fans who were looking for a more affordable option would be disappointed.[48] Chris Velazco ofEngadget praised the build quality, camera, and performance, but criticized the high price, and lack of proper water-resistance present in rivals, such as theiPhone 7 and theSamsung Galaxy S7.[49]
Writing forArs Technica, Ron Amadeo said of the phone, "[it has] unbeatable software and support with a great camera, wrapped in a familiar exterior."[50] Zach Epstein ofBGR wrote in February 2017 that "There’s also no question that the phones feature a design that is sleek and impressive, yet all too familiar. Yes, that’s a nice way of saying that Google blatantly ripped off the iconic design that Apple has used on itsiPhones for the past three generations."[51]
In June 2017,Ars Technica reported thatGoogle Play's app for the Pixel Launcher, an app pre-installed on all Pixel phones, had been downloaded between one million and five million times. Although the report acknowledged the measurement's imprecision, the publication credited it for providing the first possible sales numbers.[52][53] In February 2018, an analysis byInternational Data Corporation (IDC) reported that Google shipped a combined 3.9 million Pixel/XL and Pixel 2/2XL phones in 2017, almost double the number of shipments from 2016,[54] when Google shipped nearly 2 million Pixel and Pixel XL phones in three months.[55]
"Bubbles" forming under the phone's display[64] (with Google replacing affected units and launching an investigation into the issue)[64]
Audio distortion and harsh clipping at maximum volume through the phone's speaker[65] (fixed in a February 2017 system update,[66] and later also addressed in the Android 7.1.2 system update)[67][68]
Random software freezes that leave the phone unresponsive for a few minutes[69][70] (fixed with the June 2017 monthly security patch)[71][72]
Unexpected battery shutdowns[73] (with Android 7.1.2 fixing the issue)[67]
Synchronization issues withAppleMacBook computers, reportedly due to an outdated synchronization program Google had not updated since 2012.[74]
Failing microphones, as a result of a "hairline crack in the solder connection on the audio codec", with Google announcing a replacement program[75][76]
Issues with properly backing up the devices, with failures of SMS, call history and apps. Google is reportedly looking into the issue.[77][78]
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