Enter the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, exit the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. The new has come, and this means a changing of the guard. Firstly, the name change is pretty obvious, although both the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are pretty close when it comes to its design and features, with the size being the main dividing factor. The Pixel XL is the most expensive Google smartphone that can be purchased from the market at the moment, so let us make one thing clear: these two smartphones will be Verizon exclusives.
Available for pre-order from Verizon in the US, the Pixel smartphones will also be available in Australia, Canada and the UK, arriving in Quite Black, Really Blue, and Very Silver shades.
Verizon is offering the 32GB Pixel XL for $769.99 a pop, and if you want quadruple the amount of storage space, be prepared to fork out an additional Benjamin for it as it arrives in stores this October 20th. If you pre-order the Pixel XL from Verizon from now until October 19th, you will also be the recipient of a free Daydream VR headset. Pretty cool, don't you think so?
Both the Pixel XL and Pixel will sport a similar design which comprises of rounded corners, a metal body and a glass portion which will cover majority of the back part. Going against the grain, the fingerprint sensor is placed at the back of both smartphones, with a customized version of Android 7.0 Nougat running the show. While they are definitely continuing from where the Nexus name left off, they will not be powered by a pure Android operating system.
One of the major talking points about the new Pixel XL and Pixel would be Google Assistant, where it is part of Google’s new Pixel launcher. Being Daydream VR-ready as well, you will be able to enjoy virtually unlimited storage for your photos. The Pixel XL has a larger sized battery with a superior resolution to the Pixel, sporting a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display at 2560 x 1440 resolution and 534 pixel density with Gorilla Glass 4.
Shared hardware specifications point to a 2.15GHz 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of RAM, a choice of either 32GB or 128GB of internal storage, a 12.3MP shooter with f/2.0, optical image stabilization (OIS), and unlimited Google Photos storage, while the front lies an 8MP selfie camera, fingerprint sensor, NFC support, USB Type-C support, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Android 7.1 Nougat in tow with the new Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant and Google Magic.
The battery itself supports fast charging capability, where a mere 15 minutes of charging should be able to provide you with up to 7 hours of battery life, now how about that for longevity while you are on the move?
The lack of a microSD memory card slot will certainly put some folks off, making us wonder whether the 32GB model will be able to see units fly off the shelves sans expandable memory. All in all, do you think that you would be willing to be tethered to Verizon for two years just to pick up the latest Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones?
