Review: First impressions of Google's new smartphones
The new Google Pixel phones have Google Assistant integration, are Daydream VR-ready, and Google claims the "best ever" smartphone camera ever.
Picking up where the Nexus handsets left off, the Pixel and Pixel XL are the first phones to be made by Google "inside and out" - meaning that Google has masterminded the hardware as well as the software.
They are also the first phones to ship with Google's newest operating system, Android 7.1 Nougat, and offer the "cleanest" Android experience you are likely to get on a smartphone.
Design
Google has opted for an industrial design, with an aerospace-grade aluminum body and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 screen.
The Pixel has a 5-inch display, while the Pixel XL's display is 5.5-inches. A thin bezel gives both phones a near edge-to-edge display.Like the Nexus 5X and 6P that came before it, the Pixel has a fingerprint sensor on the back, putting it in easy reach when you're holding the phone in one hand.
The fingerprint reader is not only used to unlock the phone but also to access and scroll through notifications by swiping from top to bottom.
Camera
The Pixel has a 12.3-megapixel camera, featuring an f/2.0 aperture and big 1.55 micron pixels to capture lots of light.
While those specs may not sound all that impressive on paper, the Pixel's camera has been given a score of 89 by DxOMark - the industry standard for camera and lens image quality - making it the highest-rated smartphone camera ever tested.Google Assistant
Pixel comes with Google Assistant built in, so like with Apple's Siri, you can ask it a question by saying "OK Google" or holding down the Home button.
Google Assistant is more advanced than Siri in some ways, allowing you to have a natural two-way conversation.For example, you can say, “OK Google, where is the nearest cafe? And then tap the mic icon and follow up with "Remind me to leave for coffee with Jamie at 7am".
Other features
The Pixel phones come with Google's newest apps Allo and Duo pre-installed so you can video call and text with all your friends, whether they're on Android or iOS.They also come with quick charging technology, so you can get up to 7 hours of battery life with just 15 minutes of charging.
Price and release date
The Pixel costs £599 for the 32GB version and £699 for the 128GB version, and the Pixel XL costs £719 for the 32 GB and £819 for the 128GB version.That puts Google's smartphones exactly on a par with Apple's equivalent iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models.
The Pixel and Pixel XL can be pre-ordered from today, and will start shipping on October 20.
They will be available to purchase from the Google Store, EE and Carphone Warehouse.
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