Google Pixel and Microsoft Surface Phone: Let's Compare 2 Possible iPhone Killers

Google, owned by Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL), launched its two new smartphones, Pixel and Pixel XL, at its October 4 event. The Pixel phones will run Android Nougat 7.1 operating system and are designed to compete with the iconic iPhone, the main player in the smartphone market. They even look practically identical. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is also taking aim at Apple’s iPhone with its Surface Phone, but it’s safe to believe that there will be tough competition among Google’s Pixel, Microsoft’s Surface Phone and Apple’s iPhone. Let’s take a look at the Pixel phones and rumored specs and features of the Surface Phone, which is expected to be unveiled on October 26 in New York City.

Google Pixel

The Pixel is the first phone made by Google inside and out, according to the search engine company. The phone, with rounded the edges, uses 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the front display and back glass. On the back, there is Pixel Imprint, a fingerprint sensor.

The Pixel features a 12.3MP camera with latest technology that lets users take photos in any light – low or bright. The Pixel is available in two sizes, a 5-inch model or a 5.5-inch model. It comes in three colors: very silver, quite black and really blue.

The Pixel phones are available for pre-order today at $649 in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany and Australia, and India.

The Pixel features Google Assistant, the built-in customer support service, unlimited and free backup of full-res photos and videos, and Smart Storage. Google Assistant is designed to compete with Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Amazon’s Alexa.

Google Assistant is better than Now, the current digital assistant available on today’s Android devices. Google Assistant can do everything Google Now does. But it has an artificial intelligence that allows a two-way conversation. The AI technology allows Google Assistant to learn and recall personal details you share with it and then recall them in future chats.

The Pixel also features Pixel Launcher, unlimited original quality photo/video backup to Google Photos, Pixel Camera and Sensor Hub processor with tightly integrated sensors. The Pixel Launcher, EIS 2.0 (Google’s alternative to OIS), solid navbar icons, new blue SystemUI theming, wallpaper picker, new setup look, and dynamic calendar date icon are exclusively available for the Pixels.

The Pixel line up will be powered by Android 7.1, which is coming with a few new goodies. All devices running Android 7.1 will receive Night Light, performance improvements to touch and display, fingerprint swipe down gesture, a Daydream VR mode, and a “manual storage manager.”

If you don’t already know, the Android 7.1 version will miss some most popular features of Pixel smartphones, a report in Tech Crunch.

Microsoft Surface Phone

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is rumored to launch the three versions of the Surface Phone on October 26. There will be a consumer model, a business model, and an enthusiast edition, according to the rumors mill. The base model will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, with a mid-range offering coming with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.

Reports suggesting that the Surface Phone will change Microsoft’s fate in the smartphone market.

The Surface Phone, according to observers, will target business and corporate users. It is expected to be the most secure and productivity-focused phone.

The Surface Phone is rumored to come with a 20 megapixel rear camera with a Carl Zeiss lens. It will have an 8GB RAM and a Kaby Lake processor, and will run Windows 10 Redstone operating system.

The Surface Phone is reportedly feature a unique fingerprint sensor. The company’s patent filing reveals that company is planning to integrate the fingerprint sensor on the phone’s display.

Rumors also suggest that the Surface Phone will support Win32 apps, allowing the phone to run legacy Windows program that people run on their PCs.

As we reported earlier, the availability of Win32 apps on the Surface Phone might give a compelling reason to iOS and Android users to switch to a Windows Mobile. If the reports are true and Microsoft makes the Surface Phone to run Win32 apps, the Surface Phone could get an edge over iPhone and Android devices.

The Surface Phone will cost between $699- $1,100, according to a report in The Bitbag. The base model will carry a price tag of $699, while the top-level will be available at $1,099.