Google Pixel, Pixel XL pre-orders open: Here are the unique features

Google Pixel, Pixel XL pre-orders open: Here are the unique features

Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are available on Flipkart for pre-order. And it looks like Google is only bringing the ‘Quite Black’ colour variant to India for now, with ‘Very Silver’ and ‘Really Blue’ both not available in India yet. Google Pixel and Pixel XL with their premium pricing are set to compete with the likes of Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Google Pixel and Pixel XL are first ‘Made by Google’ smartphones, and come with Google Assistant in-built, which is also the highlight of the devices.

Honor 8 First Look Video

Google Pixel and Pixel XL have a aluminum and glass design. Google Pixel is priced at Rs 57,000 for 32GB version in India. The 128GB variant of Google Pixel costs Rs 66,000. Google Pixel XL is available at Rs 67,000 for 32GB storage variant and Rs 76,000 for 128GB version. Here’s a look at the unique features of these phones.

Specifications

Google Pixel features a 5-inch full HD display, while Pixel XL gets a 5.5-inch Quad HD display. Google’s new smartphones are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB RAM and 32GB/128 internal storage.

Google Pixel and Pixel feature pixel imprint fingerprint sensor and support USB-C port for charging. Pixel is backed by a 2,770 mAh battery while Pixel XL gets a bigger 3,450 mAh battery. The smartphones also feature 3.5mm headphone jack.

Camera

Google is touting the camera as the USP of these phones. It claims this is the best smartphone camera ever made, and offers one of the best low-light performances in the market.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones feature a 12.3MP rear camera with large 1.55 micron pixels and f/2.0 aperture.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL have 12.3MP rear camera with 1.55 micron pixels and f/2.0 aperture. Interestingly both smartphone cameras don’t have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), but EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization). Google says the EIS does a better job of handling low-light situations as it is dependent on software to compensate for handshakes, poor-lighting, and it will improve over time.

Google Assistant

Google Pixel and Pixel XL are the first Google devices to come with Google Assistant built-in. Google’s AI-powered voice-assistant is company’s answer to Apple’s Siri ,Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon Alexa. Google Assistant can keep track of daily meetings, appointments and send news, weather updates, as well as find a user’s photos from Google Photos. Google Assistant will also get third-party app in the future.

Google Pixel XL smartphone in ‘Really Blue’ colour option.

The home button can be long-pressed to activate Google Assistant. Google is planning to open Google Assistant to developers in December.  Google Assistant will be exclusive to Pixel smartphones for the time being.

Storage

Google Pixel and Pixel XL users get unlimited online storage for photos and videos in Google Photos. Google says Pixel owners can store everything in full resolution, even 4K video on Google Photos. The unlimited storage space for full resolution can also be carried forward to another device, if the user gives up their Pixel device in the future.

Once the device is running out of space, Pixel phones will automatically start deleting local versions of the photos on the device and back them up to the cloud in full resolution. A user has the option of downloading these pictures back on the device. Google has also added a Smart Storage feature that asks users to delete apps they might not have used in a long time.

Pixel launcher

Google Pixel, Pixel XL smartphones get the new Pixel launcher, which has some unique features. For starters, a hard press on the phone dialer will show the recent contacts. Plus, there’s a new layout for the apps in the launcher. However, users can change the launcher on the Pixel phones.

Data transfer tool in Google Pixel call the Quick Switch Adapter.

Data transfer

Google Pixel phones also come with special data transfer option to shift all their data including Messages (iMessages supported), Photos, etc from another Android/iOS device to their new Pixel device. Google has added Quick Switch Adapter in the box, and it is compatible with most phones running Android 5.0 and up, and iOS 8 and up.

Read: Google Pixel launch: Are you ready for some Google Magic, or should we say Google Assistant? 

Live in-built support 

Google Pixel smartphones come with a 24/7 live support for Google’s customer service. Also, Pixel users will be able to share their screen with the customer service to make it easier for them to detect the exact problem. Users can pause a screen in the middle of a live chat with the customer service. The new ‘Support’ option is in-built into Google settings itself. Apart from online support, Google will have walk-in customer servicing options in India as well.