Android in the Pixel XL seems fast and quite lovely with its clean, flat layer-based users interface. The bigger 5.5-inch Pixel XL starts at $769 for 32GB of storage.
Google Assistant knows things and can test whether you know them too. So no, it does not have the “typically Nexus” looks that defined previous phones from Google from the front – it is typical “all display front” with an earpiece, camera, and sensors above it, and curiously no buttons below – all the navigation buttons are onscreen.
The Pixel’s image quality is superb — though purists may quibble.
And when I asked when the next presidential debate would be held, Siri gave me the specific information I asked for; Google returned three news stories, only one of which, if I opened it, contained the relevant information.
But automation pays off in another way: The Pixel will automatically combine successive shots into an animated “GIF” file, offering a fun way to share a toddler’s steps or a dog jumping.
Verizon may be the only carrier that is loaded with the Pixel phones but rival carriers are not stopping to find ways into promoting the phone.
Brian X. Chen has spent some time with the phone, called the Pixel. But despite some big ideas, like Google Assistant, and great camera and processor guts, the Pixel falls short of Google’s ambition to make an iPhone-killer.
From the initial boot up animation to the new power menu, the Pixel’s software feels different than the standard Android experience.
There’s also the matter of the confusing marketing surrounding the Pixel. But it’s fine in good light and at typical distances for selfies. Unlike Apple’s Siri assistant, which users frequently complain about or simply don’t use at all, Assistant appears to be incredibly useful. Reviews of Google’s new smartphone went live this morning, including our own Google Pixel review. You need to check out our best iPhone 7 deals. It is possible to have entire conversations with Google Assistant and after watching the demonstrations (for both the phones and Google Home) it is hard not to be impressed. The Pixel is the first Google phone that provides free, 24-hour tech support by phone. This isn’t the end of the world, but when you have a screen – unlike the Amazon Alexa or the upcoming Google Home – you probably want to take full advantage of it. It will analyze your daily commute and warn of delays. Yes you can still see the Google Now cards if you swipe right from the edge of the screen, but Assistant claims to do a little more. Just like with Google Now you can say “Ok Google” and get it to do stuff like send Messages. There are no unwanted apps here, unless you count some of the Google apps as unwanted. And maybe it’s how I talk to computers, but every time someone else was around when I said “OK Google”, they didn’t think it was a command-they thought I was annoyed and talking to my phone. For example, long press on the Chrome app and it shows shortcut for opening a tab or opening an incognito tab. And, yes, it works a lot like Apple’s 3D Touch.
Both are excellent performers, giving good consistent results, but Samsung offers many more control options meaning more flexibility.
Like the iPhone 7, the Pixel has optical image stabilisation as well as the ability to record video in 4K. If you enable Smart Storage, it will remove backed up photos and videos from the device automatically when you’re close to running out of space.
