Google Pixel: Birth of a new Flagship

The times are changing. Google, the founder of Android, hasstepped into the hardware game with the Pixel smartphone. With the branding'Made by Google', this Pixel range of smartphones is coming directly fromGoogle (although the manufacturing is outsourced to HTC) with no scope for error.Here's the new Android flagship that you can consider.

Design: Google launched two variants - Pixel and Pixel XL -and we are reviewing the latter. The Pixel XL competes in the 5.5-inch displaysize phablet segment and comes with a 2k display that looks stunning. However,it doesn't feel too big. It is convenient to grip, with just the rightplacement of buttons. While some might think the power button is slightlydifficult to reach, the fingerprint scanner at the rear addresses the issue ofwaking up the phone. Interestingly, the Pixel XL doesn't feel a part of thecluttered smartphone space. Google has used two different materials on the rear- on the top is glass with the bottom part made of metal. So we received mixedreactions - some people liked it and some hated this design. It's really apersonal choice. Unlike the new trend of ditching the 3.5-mm jack, Google hasgone ahead with one by placing it on the top. It supports Type C charging, withthe port placed at the bottom between the speaker grills. The Pixel XL also hasa non-removable rear panel and the single SIM tray is on the left edge with thevolume controls and power key on the right. Most importantly, the Pixel issplash resistant (not water resistant) that can prevent it from accidental watersplash. Google has launched the Pixel in three colours - white, black and blue.Unfortunately, the blue variant has not been launched in India. My review unitwas in black, which looked pretty good.

User interface and software: I am always game for stockAndroid UI over the custom ROMs and that is one of the reasons I always likedthe Nexus hardware and even the Motorola smartphones. Google's Pixel XLcontinues to have the stock Android UI yet it looks different as it runs onAndroid 7.1 (Nougat). The user interface has been refined and looks moreutility driven and refreshing.

Let's start from the lock screen - notifications appear onthe locked screen and one can respond from the same. There is a microphone iconon the left bottom of the lock screen for Google's voice assistant and camerashortcut on the left. The home screen looks neat. There is a 'G' icon on thetop left for Google feed that can show the time it will take to reach home,fetch scores of your favourite team, show weather, news and more. This can alsobe customised as I was able to see or remove cards from apps and websites.While customising, it asks for various questions such as do you like cricket,how do you usually get around, change settings to receive 'Now cards' from appsand websites and more. The three navigation keys - back, home and multitaskingare on the display. And long pressing the home key also launches Google's VoiceAssistant. Widgets can be added by long pressing on an empty space on the homescreen. Long-pressing an app icon on the homescreen shows quick actions; forinstance the camera app shows two options - take a video or take a selfie. Fiveapps can be added to the bottom that stays static across multiple home screens.Even the app tray has been refreshed. An upward arrow appears above these apps,which opens the app tray by swiping the finger upward. On the top of the apptray is the search app icon followed by a row of most actively used apps and isfollowed by the rest of apps installed on the device are placed alphabetically.Settings have undergone a major overhaul as it is now divided into two - alland support. There is a top banner that appears in case the hotstpot or do notdisturb mode has been turned on and offers to turn it off option too. Data usage,battery, storage, memory, etc.. show the status in the homepage of the settingsitself. 

Personal assistant: Google Now has been great personalassistant software and Google is betting big time on the Pixel XL as it is thefirst phone to come with built-in Google Assistant. And it works really well.It understands the Indian accent and is quick in answering queries. Thisincludes - checking the weather, calculating the distance between two places orbooking an Uber ride and more. The only place where Google Assistant haddifficulty was in identifying certain names from the phonebook. Google has beeninforming me about my upcoming flights but on Pixel it even reminded me of thedue dates of the mobile bills.

Camera: Google Pixel XL has a 12.3-MP camera with f2.0aperture with wide angle lens. There are various modes for capturing images andvideos including slow motion, panorama, photosphere and les blur other than theHDR mode. The lens blur is aimed at focusing on the subject while blurring thebackground, similar to the depth mode on the iPhone 7 Plus. And there is aparticular style in which this mode can be used - focus on the subject and thenslightly move the camera upwards. It worked well but wasn't as smooth and greatas on the iPhone 7Plus, which utilizes dual camera. However, the camera isblazing fast. It locks the focus quickly and the results are impressive. Theshots taken outdoors are rich and bight. But a close examination revealed thatthe Pixel was over processing the colours, making the images look unnatural attimes. It managed to impress me with the low-light photography too - oneparameter where most of the smartphones struggle.

Battery & Performance: Google's Pixel XL is a flagshipcontender and doesn't compromise on the specifications or performance. Be itlaunching apps, multitasking, browsing the web or playing heavy graphic games -there isn't anything I can complain about. Only when the camera is used for along duration, the camera module starts heating a bit. It has a QualcommSnapdragon 821 chipset paired with 4 GB of RAM. Our review unit had 32 GB ofinternal storage (with no expandable storage and unlimited cloud backup) ofwhich 5.39 GB was consumed by the system itself. The battery backup of thePixel XL was impressive as it lasted over a day with heavy usage. It has theType C charging port and supports quick charging, too, which lives up to theclaims of adding seven hours of juice in just 15 minutes. Google has beenclever enough to add two separate cables in the box - one plugs into theadapter and the second one with USB is for connecting it to the PC.

Service: Coming directly from Google, the Pixel XL comeswith a dedicated phone support across 56 walk-in service centres, in 30+ citiesin India. Google has partnered with HTC India for after-sales support.

Bag it or Junk it: The best Android flagship money can buy.More than being a threat to the iPhone 7 Plus, Pixel XL emerges as a strongcontender in the flagship Android smartphone space and as a formidable threatto Samsung's dominance.

Rating: 5/5

Price: Rs 67,000 onwards

Plus: Design, Performance

Minus: Camera over-processing colours