Google has been involved in some heavy advertising for the upcoming Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones which are set to arrive in the next month.
Even though the devices are made by HTC as in the case of the recent generation Nexus phones, Google will not be branding the device with Nexus or HTC names. The introduction of the new Pixel line-up has already generated quite a buzz, and so is the pricing of the phone. Early leaks have suggested that the base Google Pixel with 32 GB of storage will start at a whopping $649.
The pricing brings the Google Pixel in the league of the Apple iPhone 7. The recently launched iPhone, though, comes with several new features like dual camera setup – in the case of the more expensive iPhone 7 Plus – and water resistant capabilities to great lengths. Google Pixel is also set to come with water resistant features but not to the same extent. The phone is reportedly set to offer IP 53 rating, which means that it will essentially be able to only resist splashes of water. The phone could be used in rain but it has to be held in a specific way so as to prevent damage.
These sound highly complicated for a phone that costs the same as the iPhone 7. On the positive note, the phone is expected to offer features like the brand-new android 7.1 operating system out of the box. The Google Pixel will have a 5.2-inch screen whereas the larger Google Pixel XL is expected to come with a 5.5 inch display. The smaller phone will only have 1080p resolution while the larger device will sport QHD resolution. If it turns out to be the case, it is highly unlikely that Google will sell many of the Google Pixel phones since not many devices at this price range have a 1080p screen.
Both devices are set to feature USB Type-C reversible ports. In comparison with the first Nexus phones that were launched at $349, it seems that Google is keen on taking its smartphone product line-up to a much higher level. Early indications also suggest that the phones will offer only the snapdragon 820 processor, while there are already reports of new smartphones featuring the brand-new 821 processors from snapdragon. This could also work against the two new offerings from Google, which are reportedly set for launch on October 4.