Google has made an official shift from the traditional Nexus line of smartphones to new Made-by-Google Pixel and Pixel XL phones.
Unveiled at an event earlier this week, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL continue the company’s efforts of changing the mobile experience from time to time, but this time, there are more things to celebrate for. For starters, the dreams of many have come to live. Apple has long been coming in with premium devices that carry top-notch design materials, hardware specs as well as price. However, Google has been busy trying to impress the budget family with its cheap products. This has come to an end with the Google Pixel and Pixel XL as the two have premium builds, hardware specs as well as prices, just like their flagship counterparts from Apple or even South Korea’s Samsung.
Google might be coming in last when it comes to major smartphone released in 2016, with the likes of Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC and many other leading industry names having already done their part. In the world of Androids, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are actually the fastest handsets on paper. You get the latest Snapdragon 821 SoC alongside 4GB RAM. The two handsets also run on a customized version of Android 7.1 Nougat, which has minor tweaks and features that are only exclusive to the Google Pixel phones.
Past Google phones were slammed for their lack of a cutting edge when it comes to the camera department. While there were rumors that this time round the Google Pixel and Pixel XL will come with optical image stabilization, it did not materialize. Despite this shortcoming, the 12.3MP sensor on the back of the phone has received the highest ever rating for a smartphone camera from industry experts DxOMark.
Another perk that has been added to the Google Pixel and Pixel XL is water resistance, which is rated at IP53. When compared to the IP67 and IP68 certifications of the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, respectively, the Google phones are far from being the waterproof phones users have been dreaming of. Still, this shouldn’t stop you from getting a new Google Pixel or Pixel XL when the phones go on official sale.
According to industry leaders LifeProof, you can still enjoy your Pixel and Pixel XL phones even when in the rains or shower thanks to the LifeProof FRE waterproof cases that will be coming soon for those in the U.S. The company will be selling the cases through Verizon Wireless, the only carrier that is selling the Google Pixel phones in the country. The slim and precise designs of the cases mean you don’t end up with an oversized Pixel or Pixel XL phone. In addition, the case will protect your phone in water dives of up to 6.6 feet as well as drops of the same height. You also don’t have to worry about dirt or even snow when using this LifeProof FRE cases.
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL LifeProof FRE cases will cost $89.99 when available.