After the downfall of BlackBerry, Apple’s iPhone has finally met an equal match in the shape of Google Pixel and Pixel XL handsets.
Google has finally got everything together and with the Pixel and Pixel XL, Android fans have a phone that can boast great performance and runs as smooth as the Apple iPhone. Not so many saw this coming, with earlier rumors about the phones labeling them as Google Nexus 2016. But what really makes the Google Pixel and Pixel XL a perfect answer to the Apple iPhone?
Design and display
Many have termed the design of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL as similar to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but the glass and metal combination on the former look more premium than the all-metal design of the iPhone. Still, this doesn’t make the Pixel phones feel more special because the iPhone 7 is equally awesome when it comes to looks.
Lucky for Google Pixel and Pixel XL buyers as the 3.5mm headphone jack is still alive, unlike the iPhone 7 where this feature is missing. Keep in mind that while the latter can be played with in water thanks to its IP67 rating, do so at your own risk with the former thanks to its IP53 certification.
As for the screen, the Google Pixel has a Full HD AMOLED screen of 5 inches in size while the Pixel XL keeps the same AMOLED screen but has a superior size of 5.5 inches as well as better QHD resolution. Both panels beat Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, where the former has a 750p resolution and the latter has a 1080p resolution.
Hardware and software performance
Google Pixel and Pixel XL have the latest Android 7.1 Nougat installed out of the box. The OS is built for this device, just like iPhone 7 was born with iOS 10. The transition between apps is seamless, the battery life is excellent, you’ll love the enhanced notification options and it gets even better when it comes to customer support.
The Android vs. iOS debate is now stiffer than ever as the two platforms have really evolved over time. Unlike other Google devices, the Pixel and Pixel XL have a different, albeit customized, version of Android that only works with the hardware on the device. This makes everything smooth, something that iPhone users have often enjoyed. This great performance is attributed to the Snapdragon 820 SoC that powers the phone alongside flagship RAM of 4GB.
Photography and storage
Independent players have rated the Google Pixel and Pixel XL cameras as the best in the smartphone industry as of now. However, one thing they probably lack that Apple iPhone has is the dual-lens camera setup that adds a 2X optical zoom lens. Nonetheless, you will love the shots you get from the 12MP snapper on the back of the phones alongside an 8MP selfie sensor.
When it comes to video recording, worry less as you can capture up to 4K videos with both phones, but this is not anything strange to the iPhone world. Given that 4K videos can be really huge in terms of storage size, Google offers Pixel and Pixel XL users unlimited cloud storage of their videos and photos (in their original form) via the Photos app. This is in addition to 32GB/128GB of onboard storage. Apple adds a third option to this – 256GB.
As for the battery capacity, Android phones have always had an upper hand on iPhones, however, this doesn’t promise longer battery life for the former. Nonetheless, the 2770mAh and 3450mAh battery units found on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are good enough to take you through a day and a half on a single charge. Who doesn’t need this in the modern era? A phone with great hardware, latest software and a longer lasting battery is a dream come true for every smartphone user – but this one comes at a tough cost, especially for seasoned Google Nexus users.
The smaller Pixel starts at $649 and the larger Pixel XL starts at $769. Adding $100 in each case will get you the high-end 128GB storage model. These are the same prices for Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.