Home Gaming Say hello to Pixel, Google’s very first smartphone

Say hello to Pixel, Google’s very first smartphone

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Google reveals Pixel smartphone 2

Google has been in the smartphone game for some time now. The creators of Android used to claim the Nexus range of untouched Android headsets as their own, getting new manufacturers to produce new handsets every so often. That sort of approach, and the Nexus brand, is a thing of the past though. Google instead is taking over the reigns, revealing their first smartphone under the Google name. Say hello to Pixel.

Although manufactured by HTC, the Pixel is 100% Google designed. It’s the first phone of theirs that can truly be called that, and it comes in two size variants. The regular Pixel will feature a standard 5-inch display with 1080p resolution, with the larger Pixel XL sports a 5.5-inch display and Quad HD resolution. Both come with 4GB RAM, are equipped with the same Snapdragon 821 processor and run a specialized version of Google’s Android software.

The Pixel is what Google considers the quintessential Android experience, and during their press conference they highlighted a few key features that help achieve that. Google Assistant, for example, is the Pixel’s new powerful answer to Apple’s Siri. A long press on the home screen allows you to voice search anything, from photos you took months ago to songs on the internet. Google Assistant handles it all.

In conjunction with that, Google is also boasting that the Pixel’s rear-camera is the best on the market right now. And that’s not just them saying it – benchmark company DxOMark scored the camera an 89, the highest rating ever for a smartphone. Google also boasted about it being the fastest camera too, with a shutter speed that could make Barry Allen blush. There’s also the fact that it actually fits into the aluminium frame of the phone. No bumps here.

Google also revealed that Pixel users will get unlimited Google Drive storage for all their photos and videos, the latest Android updates as soon as they become available, and a platform that has been built from the ground up for mobile VR. The Pixel is Google’s long overdue statement of intent in the smartphone market, allowing third-parties to continue using Android and now play catch-up. The Pixel starts at $649, and ramps up significantly based on storage and size requirements. Pre-orders are live today.

Last Updated: October 5, 2016

29 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief

    October 5, 2016 at 10:38

    Yes, sign me up for one!

    Reply

  2. BakedBagel

    October 5, 2016 at 10:42

    • Admiral Chief

      October 5, 2016 at 11:03

      Yeah. So much lolz

      Reply

  3. Original Heretic

    October 5, 2016 at 10:47

    $649 STARTING price? I’d rather buy a kickass PC.

    Reply

    • Dungeon of JJ

      October 5, 2016 at 10:50

      Yea, my thoughts too.

      Reply

    • HairyEwok

      October 5, 2016 at 11:32

      GTX1080 price right there.

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    October 5, 2016 at 10:53

    People are way too obsessed with expensive phones.

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      October 5, 2016 at 10:55

      Dearly beloved Lagz community, we are gathered here today to upvote Hammer’s comment. Come one, come all, give the comment above your attention and spread the word all over the misshapen lump of rock we call Earth.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        October 5, 2016 at 10:55

        ROFL

        Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      October 5, 2016 at 10:55

      You can have my expensive phone when you pry it from my poor, bankrupt hands!

      Reply

  5. chimera_85

    October 5, 2016 at 10:57

    Looks like an iPhone, small battery like an iPhone, yet iPhone’s are “shit” yet all these companies want to compete with the “shittest” smartphones?

    Reply

  6. Admiral Chief

    October 5, 2016 at 11:04

    Hmmmm….manufactured by HTC…….not sure if want

    Reply

    • Viking Of Science

      October 5, 2016 at 11:20

      Are you Kidding, HTC Manufactures amazing tech, the One line of phones chief among them.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        October 5, 2016 at 15:06

        Still have a sour taste in my mouth from the last few HTC devices I helped colleagues with
        *spits*
        I hope they are better these days

        Reply

  7. Milesh Bhana

    October 5, 2016 at 11:05

    Looks like an iPhone with a headphone jack. Welcome to 2015, Google.

    Reply

  8. For the Emperor!

    October 5, 2016 at 11:16

    Does it come with less bloat ware than the other phones on the market? I want something light-weight where I do not have to manually disable 50 f’ing apps to stop them from using all my data for nonsense news or weather feed stuffs that I NEVER use!

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      October 5, 2016 at 11:30

      It’ll probably have EVERY Google produced app ever created on it.

      Reply

  9. DragonSpirit009

    October 5, 2016 at 11:19

    Damn… that price! It makes a person shudders!

    Reply

    • HvR

      October 5, 2016 at 11:27

      Year ago R9000 wasn’t too bad

      Reply

      • DragonSpirit009

        October 5, 2016 at 11:43

        Year ago I was still trying to figure out how to save money XD

        Reply

  10. VampyreSquirrel

    October 5, 2016 at 11:29

    People moaning about this phone costing R8k+… have you seen the starting price of Samsungs, iPhones, Sonys, and the like? R8k isn’t THAT bad.

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      October 5, 2016 at 11:33

      Samsung Note 7, R13k+ and it has the potential to blow up in your face. Yeah R8k is actually looking real cheap now XD

      Reply

      • VampyreSquirrel

        October 5, 2016 at 11:37

        R13k+ and the contents of your home… or R8k and life.

        Reply

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