The fingerprint sensor/button should be on the front, at least with that bezel size. Makes for much easier unlock and use when the phone is laying on the desk.
Sure it does. The Pixel really is a blatant ripoff of Apple's iPhone 6/7 devices, right down to the huge lower bezel. That bezel serves a purpose on Apple phones, namely as a place for the fingerprint sensor, which on the Pixel is located on the back; this is what "thewhat" was talking about. So, they lazily copied Apple but moved the sensor to the back and shaved off the camera bump, which is what "Samus" was saying.
Or, "Samus" could totally be trying to ride the coattails of the first comment. We may never know the truth.
The iPhone 7 continues the 6 series' design language, only omitting the headphone jack and improving the touch sensor/home button. It's a refinement of the same design.
"Electronic image stabilization (EIS) for video recording (the camera still does not have OIS) was one of the highlight features mentioned in Google’s presentation."
I assume OIS is what you're giving up for that lack of camera bump? When you look at an iPhone6/6S/7 the camera module always seems to be encased in "mechanical"-looking stuff that, I assume, is OIS. cf https://www.quora.com/Why-couldnt-Apple-prevent-th...
Definitely. Or at least the three control buttons should rest on the bezel and not take up screen space. It's baffling why so many Android phones are designed this way when there's clearly enough space for dedicated buttons on the bezel.
No, and never. There isn't anything more distracting and ugly than fingerprint sensor on the front. It's place is on the back, always and forever. Placing it on the front also prevents usage with one hand, until you have 7 fingers and five joints on them, with two thumbs.
What should have ended on these outrageous bezels, are stereo front facing speakers.
Disagree. Back placement allows one-handed pick-up and power-on. I have a Nexus 5x in the household, and the back placement is a winner. Front placement is a big reason I didn't buy the HTC 10 - I was waiting to see what Google came out with.
I pick up and unlock my Galaxy S7 with one hand all the time, using either hand. Sure, you're limited to just your thumbs in that situation, but it also allows you to use your fingers to unlock it when it's resting on the table.
Now, having volume buttons on the back is something I really miss from my LG G2! That made volume adjustments in the pocket so much easier!
Do any modern Android devices with fingerprint readers support double-tap to wake? That's something else I miss from the G2, that would be useful on a device where the reader is on the back of the phone.
I think one of the Pixel live streams mentioned it was present here... Did recent LG/Samsung phones drop that? I'm surprised, as a Nexus 5 owner that actually seems more appealing than the whole fingerprint reader thing...
I already have my phone set not to lock in the presence of my watch or home Wi-Fi, so I really need to unlock it, but double tap sure seems easier than reaching for the power button.
Maybe I'll give the fingerprint reader a try tho, should be safer in case of theft i guess (whether thru home invasion or in the street in my presence).
Wrong, I have an iPhone (work) and a Nexus 6P. The front sensor is absolutely better. I would say they are essentially equal in normal pulling phone out of pocket use. However, the disadvantages of not being able to use it while sitting on a desk or in a car dock far outweigh any slight comfort there is to being on the back.
This. Fingerprint sensor on back is ideal for on handed use. No front facing speakers kills me. Not having to cup your hand on the bottom of the phone while watching videos is too nice to give up. I really hope that their next phone has this feature.
Have you actually USED an iPhone? Especially with iOS10? I simply have no idea what this complaint is about. I pick up my iPhone all the time with one hand, rest my thumb on the home button, and voila. It's just automatic in terms of how you would naturally pick up the phone. I simply do not understand the nature of the complaint here.
I for one absolutely LOATHE rear mounted fp. I honestly don't understand how can you people stand having to constantly pick up the phone, just to unlock it. The reason escapes me.
One handed usage is so overrated. T's only mildy important to maybe commuters in public transport, and even than, it's even easier to unlock using front fp with a thumb than it is rear one, since for the rear one, you need to reposition the phone, and for the front one phone is already at the "browsing stance".
Agreed... and the "one-handed" comment makes no sense. Use your thumb and it's PERFECT for one handed use with it mounted on the front. With it on the back you have to shuffle the phone around in your hand to get your index finger in place and then shuffle back to usage position (which is where it would have already been if you unlocked with your thumb on the front.)
I use my 5.2" phone with a single hand (my left, and I'm right handed) about 90% of the time. One handed use is not overrated just because you don't do it.
I guess if you like contorting your hand to use it. I have tried out a few phones with them on the back, and its impossible for me to use them while holding the phone. I literally have to use two hands to unlock them.
Not sure what you think is ugly about a finger print sensor, or why its looks even matter.
I always pick my phone up to use it, so a rear-mounted sensor works for me. But I'm sure I could live with one on the front.
The bottom 'chin' bezel is fugly. Tha single speaker had better sound amazing too. The single speaker on the 5X is awful for media (but strangely OK for speaker phone calls).
I have an iPhone 6 for work and a nexus 5x for personal. I can't stand the iPhone 6 front scanner. It's more cumbersome than the nexus back scanner. It is a more natural place to put your finger as you pick it up vs the front button. You have to more intentionally place your thumb on the front of the iPhone, and now press it too to unlock. It takes a lot longer to start using my iPhone, where as my nexus is ready by the time I have it positioned in front of me. Having both phones I can say hands down the back scanner is absolutely better.
I have an iPhone 6, and it is true that it usually takes a few seconds to unlock the phone, meaning that its hard to just pick up the phone with your thumb on the fingerprint sensor and have the phone be ready.
But the iPhone 6s and 7 have a newer fingerprint scanner which is so fast that just lightly touching the home button unlocks the phone instantly. Whenever I pick up my wife's iPhone 6s, it is already complaining that my fingerprint is wrong before I get the phone anywhere near my face.
This, I recently got a 7 Plus and having not had a phone with Apple Pay before I asked my wife ( who has an SE with the 1st gen sensor on it) how it works. She said you double tap the button on the lock screen, then use Touch ID. I literally can't double tap the button fast enough with my thumb (index finger works) for me to never see the fingerprint reading part, it's that quick.
Mark me as a front button person too (space permitting), since when I one hand my thumbs near the bottom anyway (and wouldn't be quite in the right spot on the Plus if it had a rear reader in the spot that the Pixel does).
No... I hate front fingerprint sensors. I love the sensor placement on both the 5X and 6P. So much so that I don't even set a timeout on lock any more. Just the act of grabbing the phone basically unlocks it for me.
I never understand this. Sure it makes it easier when the phone is on a flat surface but it's also more awkward when you're holding it in your hand. When I'm actually using my phone, it's mostly in my hand, not sitting on a desk.
Upon the unveiling I felt like these palmtops are just too much behind in terms of design, but it's growing on me. Overall, they objectively are right up there with the very best the market had to offer. Comparing the Pixel XL with the Galaxy S7 Edge, it's got arguably inferior design (bulkier, heavier, but on the other hand flat screen will be a clear advantage to many), but its camera seems a bit better, software too, performance should be superior and the screen is probably on par. Finally, the battery endurance should be the best out of the whole Snapdragon 820 running bunch if Google's official numbers are to be believed.
Best optimized android phone is here. Not most aesthetic pleasing or with other gimmicky functions, most used everyday smartphone functions are optimized to its fullest.
@Ro_Ja: I agree. There is a Verge article that put up a chart comparing how Google's Pixel stacks up against the latest Apple and Android devices. Looking at specs alone, I think that the 6P is a serious value! If only it were sized for smaller hands like mine....
The 6P also had a ton of hardware issues and it's simply too big for some people. I'm not sure it's a fair comparison honestly. Especially now, in every benchmark that's released that has the 6p on it, it's far behind most competitors
Good phones overall. Most definitely NOT worth the prices they're asking for. Absolutely astounding how they could sell a 5" phone for $650, when the S7 has been selling for $549 on Amazon. Give me near-zero bezel and a 3000mAh on the 5", and I might consider. But as they are, unless they drop to $450-$500 range, they are just not worth the money, not for the 32GB. It may be reasonable for the 128GB version (albeit still on the high side, especially as microSD is missing), but the 32GB? No, sorry, no. I suspect that the unlimited cloud storage adds quite a lot to the price.
@yankeeDDL: Don't forget the 24/7 support...sounds like they are trying to dumb down the Nexus line and help out new users who need the extra hand-holding....
The Nexus has always been "enthusiast-oriented". I can understand a little more user-friendliness, but then: why not offer a version without unlimited storage at a (considerably) lower price? I have hundreds of gigabytes in photos on my local hard drive, nicely categorized and organized and backed up: why would I want to use unlimited cloud? Maybe other customers would like that, but the price of unlimited storage for life ... well, that's got to add quite a bit to the price tag.
The rear glass covering the camera module could pose a concern as well. Normally there's sapphire over the camera for durability. Shattering the back glass wouldn't be the end of the world normally, but in this case you might have camera problems with a broken screen, and no way to easily repair it.
Well that's nice to see the Pixel range carrying on the Nexus trend of having 90% of the current flagship features but mysteriously omits some key features. This was fine when you were paying $300 but not when its $600+. Baffling. Oh yes a what a dull looking phone.
What are these "key" features you speak of? SD slot? The bezels are still smaller than on either iPhone and both are missing a 3.5mm jack and an SD slot. I don't even consider Samsung an option with their garbage UI and horrible optimization.
Samsung is a big no for me as well, BUT, they should've sized/repositioned the glass back a bit better so they could include Qi wireless charging... Tho I guess that's gone by the wayside on their phones for a while now. Having a half glass back and not including it seems like a missed opportunity tho.
Other than that, and maybe water resistance, I don't see much missing... They're never gonna build a phone with a card slot, that's a given. You'd think given my preference for those things I'd succumb to Samsung, but yeah, no... Rather get an HTC 10 or even a OP3 before an S7. Prolly just end up with a 128GB Pixel...
If only OnePlus made a smaller flagship like phone...
Water resistance for sure would be nice. As for the wireless charging....hmmm, yeah it wouldn't have hurt, but I don't miss it much at all. I think as these batteries have gotten bigger and fast charging has gotten more important, the wireless charging couldn't keep up. To be honest when I can charge hours worth of power in 15 minutes I don't really care anymore.
Matt, I'm surprised you phrased the top bezel as "sized to match [the large lower bezel], when it's most certainly the opposite way around, as informed by AnandTech's notable smartphone design coverage and optic coverage over the years—where the camera module being the largest single contributor to phone z-height, removing it from the display stack is the only way to optimize for thinness, particularly when you're dealing with a particularly large camera module as can be inferred here.
I take offense to this. It doesn't really look like an iPhone knock off. The Huaweis and Xiaomis, maybe. With an aluminum body, you have to put the antennas like this (well, not have to necessarily). Secondly, this design was really first introduced by HTC. I'm assuming you're an American then, where the iPhone is in the hands of everyone, so you're probably not aware that it's not "iPhone's" design.
I'm so torn now on whether or not no SD is a dealbreaker. Free photos and videos are nice. I use my device for a lot of music, usually at HQ and some videos and downloaded YT vids as well. Not to mention app data. That means data fills up fast.
Ehh... I was mildly concerned when I got my 32GB Nexus 5 but I've survived, just meant managing my on-device music library a bit more, and occasionally making use of OTG. If I get a Pixel I'll likely be a 128GB even tho the extra $100 stings... I actually think that's far more of a money grab and over-price than the base phone price... $50 would've been great, or do 64GB as base.
The fact that they are charging this price for a phone without OIS is ridiculous.
A lot of gadgets released these days that should have been great products are just getting f*cked by the designers' obsession of form over function. The pendulum has really swung too far one way.
Or an HTC 10 for the same price direct from HTC if you value better software/audio over wireless charging and water resistance... I'm probably still springing for a Pixel tho (as upgrade from my N5), once I'm posting this much I just don't care about an extra $100-150... Being on the latest OS, having bog standard Type C, plus a great camera will make me happier than saving a hundred bucks.
Not close to being excited by this. Perhaps Google should have KEPT Motorola, rather than sell it to Lenovo? This Pixel looks like a cross between Moto<>iPhone. They should have put in stereo speakers since it has the space for it on the front - it would have improved the looks but as stated, the phone bezel is unusually (and ugly) large on top and bottom. Even the Moto G2 or G3 has a much smaller bezel (top and bottom) and yet has speaker slots on top and bottom.
Like the finger reader on the back... but how about putting one on the side somehow?
The pure android is very nice to have. Another brand of phone that does clean Android is Motorola (still) - so there is no bloat. The costs of the Moto X and Gs are a better deal. The Moto Z has an ugly finger reader on the front thou.
At least its not a full glass back that can shatter..
Being a Verizon exclusive means limited sales - just like some Motos. Do many people change carriers over a phone nowadays? I mean, it did happen with the iPhone for a while... but that was years ago.
They're selling it direct and at Best Buy, it's not really exclusive to Verizon in an absolute way. Sony's been doing side finger readers for a while btw, I think I'd still prefer rear... Bottom bezel didn't bother me ergonomically, it's about the same as the N5, but it makes less sense than the top one technically (which they justify in the name of the bump less camera)... I think ultimately they just said screw it and made them symmetrical, the N5 had a narrower top bezel...
All this optimization would be nice on every other device with the same DSP. No shutter lag? Htc can't even achieve these results in their own hardware...similat sensor yet no 1080p @ 60 fps or 240 fps slo mo . Is it really that costly to have?
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thewhat - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The fingerprint sensor/button should be on the front, at least with that bezel size. Makes for much easier unlock and use when the phone is laying on the desk.Samus - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Wow, they didn't even try to make it not look like an iPhone. I do appreciate it doesn't have a camera bump though.Shadow7037932 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
And a 3.5mm audio port ;)lazarpandar - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
That doesn't have anything to do with the comment you replied to. Why reply to the first comment?kaidenshi - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Sure it does. The Pixel really is a blatant ripoff of Apple's iPhone 6/7 devices, right down to the huge lower bezel. That bezel serves a purpose on Apple phones, namely as a place for the fingerprint sensor, which on the Pixel is located on the back; this is what "thewhat" was talking about. So, they lazily copied Apple but moved the sensor to the back and shaved off the camera bump, which is what "Samus" was saying.Or, "Samus" could totally be trying to ride the coattails of the first comment. We may never know the truth.
smilingcrow - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
It can't be a rip-off of the iPhone 7 due to the release dates.kaidenshi - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
The iPhone 7 continues the 6 series' design language, only omitting the headphone jack and improving the touch sensor/home button. It's a refinement of the same design.name99 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
"Electronic image stabilization (EIS) for video recording (the camera still does not have OIS) was one of the highlight features mentioned in Google’s presentation."I assume OIS is what you're giving up for that lack of camera bump?
When you look at an iPhone6/6S/7 the camera module always seems to be encased in "mechanical"-looking stuff that, I assume, is OIS.
cf
https://www.quora.com/Why-couldnt-Apple-prevent-th...
JimRamK - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Indeed or else minimize the bezel like on the LG V20.yhselp - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Definitely. Or at least the three control buttons should rest on the bezel and not take up screen space. It's baffling why so many Android phones are designed this way when there's clearly enough space for dedicated buttons on the bezel.Lord of the Bored - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I thought Google's licensing forbade most manufacturers from using "hard" buttons.strifev1 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I hope they never put a physical button on the front of their phone ever.would rather have a clean bezel than an ugly button there.
Vatharian - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
No, and never. There isn't anything more distracting and ugly than fingerprint sensor on the front. It's place is on the back, always and forever. Placing it on the front also prevents usage with one hand, until you have 7 fingers and five joints on them, with two thumbs.What should have ended on these outrageous bezels, are stereo front facing speakers.
melgross - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
It's place should never be on the back. That's terrible. It's going to be a pain to use just like the others that were on the back.JBVertexx - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Disagree. Back placement allows one-handed pick-up and power-on. I have a Nexus 5x in the household, and the back placement is a winner. Front placement is a big reason I didn't buy the HTC 10 - I was waiting to see what Google came out with.phoenix_rizzen - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I pick up and unlock my Galaxy S7 with one hand all the time, using either hand. Sure, you're limited to just your thumbs in that situation, but it also allows you to use your fingers to unlock it when it's resting on the table.Now, having volume buttons on the back is something I really miss from my LG G2! That made volume adjustments in the pocket so much easier!
Do any modern Android devices with fingerprint readers support double-tap to wake? That's something else I miss from the G2, that would be useful on a device where the reader is on the back of the phone.
Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I think one of the Pixel live streams mentioned it was present here... Did recent LG/Samsung phones drop that? I'm surprised, as a Nexus 5 owner that actually seems more appealing than the whole fingerprint reader thing...I already have my phone set not to lock in the presence of my watch or home Wi-Fi, so I really need to unlock it, but double tap sure seems easier than reaching for the power button.
Maybe I'll give the fingerprint reader a try tho, should be safer in case of theft i guess (whether thru home invasion or in the street in my presence).
WPX00 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
LG still does. The G5 with an FPS on the back, and Knock Code on the front is the perfect setup.nidz109 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Says someone who has never owned a phone with a fingerprint sensor on the back. It is so much better on the back.grooves21 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Wrong, I have an iPhone (work) and a Nexus 6P. The front sensor is absolutely better. I would say they are essentially equal in normal pulling phone out of pocket use. However, the disadvantages of not being able to use it while sitting on a desk or in a car dock far outweigh any slight comfort there is to being on the back.KPOM - Friday, October 7, 2016 - link
Putting it on the back makes it impossible to open while the phone is on a desk without picking it up.strifev1 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
This.Fingerprint sensor on back is ideal for on handed use.
No front facing speakers kills me. Not having to cup your hand on the bottom of the phone while watching videos is too nice to give up. I really hope that their next phone has this feature.
name99 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
Have you actually USED an iPhone? Especially with iOS10?I simply have no idea what this complaint is about. I pick up my iPhone all the time with one hand, rest my thumb on the home button, and voila. It's just automatic in terms of how you would naturally pick up the phone. I simply do not understand the nature of the complaint here.
markiz - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
It would seem this is very polarizing.I for one absolutely LOATHE rear mounted fp. I honestly don't understand how can you people stand having to constantly pick up the phone, just to unlock it. The reason escapes me.
One handed usage is so overrated. T's only mildy important to maybe commuters in public transport, and even than, it's even easier to unlock using front fp with a thumb than it is rear one, since for the rear one, you need to reposition the phone, and for the front one phone is already at the "browsing stance".
grooves21 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Agreed... and the "one-handed" comment makes no sense. Use your thumb and it's PERFECT for one handed use with it mounted on the front. With it on the back you have to shuffle the phone around in your hand to get your index finger in place and then shuffle back to usage position (which is where it would have already been if you unlocked with your thumb on the front.)Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I use my 5.2" phone with a single hand (my left, and I'm right handed) about 90% of the time. One handed use is not overrated just because you don't do it.grooves21 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Not if you use your thumb as the ID finger.Stuka87 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I guess if you like contorting your hand to use it. I have tried out a few phones with them on the back, and its impossible for me to use them while holding the phone. I literally have to use two hands to unlock them.Not sure what you think is ugly about a finger print sensor, or why its looks even matter.
Gigaplex - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
It's a touch screen phone. You have to touch the front of it to use it, one handed or not.Meteor2 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I always pick my phone up to use it, so a rear-mounted sensor works for me. But I'm sure I could live with one on the front.The bottom 'chin' bezel is fugly. Tha single speaker had better sound amazing too. The single speaker on the 5X is awful for media (but strangely OK for speaker phone calls).
markiz - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
But most notifications are spam, and so most time you will not actually use the phone, just dismiss notification.zoenphlux - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I have an iPhone 6 for work and a nexus 5x for personal. I can't stand the iPhone 6 front scanner. It's more cumbersome than the nexus back scanner. It is a more natural place to put your finger as you pick it up vs the front button. You have to more intentionally place your thumb on the front of the iPhone, and now press it too to unlock. It takes a lot longer to start using my iPhone, where as my nexus is ready by the time I have it positioned in front of me. Having both phones I can say hands down the back scanner is absolutely better.ws3 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
I have an iPhone 6, and it is true that it usually takes a few seconds to unlock the phone, meaning that its hard to just pick up the phone with your thumb on the fingerprint sensor and have the phone be ready.But the iPhone 6s and 7 have a newer fingerprint scanner which is so fast that just lightly touching the home button unlocks the phone instantly. Whenever I pick up my wife's iPhone 6s, it is already complaining that my fingerprint is wrong before I get the phone anywhere near my face.
Deelron - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
This, I recently got a 7 Plus and having not had a phone with Apple Pay before I asked my wife ( who has an SE with the 1st gen sensor on it) how it works. She said you double tap the button on the lock screen, then use Touch ID. I literally can't double tap the button fast enough with my thumb (index finger works) for me to never see the fingerprint reading part, it's that quick.Mark me as a front button person too (space permitting), since when I one hand my thumbs near the bottom anyway (and wouldn't be quite in the right spot on the Plus if it had a rear reader in the spot that the Pixel does).
compulov - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
No... I hate front fingerprint sensors. I love the sensor placement on both the 5X and 6P. So much so that I don't even set a timeout on lock any more. Just the act of grabbing the phone basically unlocks it for me.marcolorenzo - Thursday, October 13, 2016 - link
I never understand this. Sure it makes it easier when the phone is on a flat surface but it's also more awkward when you're holding it in your hand. When I'm actually using my phone, it's mostly in my hand, not sitting on a desk.darkich - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Upon the unveiling I felt like these palmtops are just too much behind in terms of design, but it's growing on me.Overall, they objectively are right up there with the very best the market had to offer.
Comparing the Pixel XL with the Galaxy S7 Edge, it's got arguably inferior design (bulkier, heavier, but on the other hand flat screen will be a clear advantage to many), but its camera seems a bit better, software too, performance should be superior and the screen is probably on par.
Finally, the battery endurance should be the best out of the whole Snapdragon 820 running bunch if Google's official numbers are to be believed.
WorldWithoutMadness - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Best optimized android phone is here. Not most aesthetic pleasing or with other gimmicky functions, most used everyday smartphone functions are optimized to its fullest.osxandwindows - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
How is this optimized?Seems like just another nexus to me.
Ro_Ja - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I still prefer the Nexus 6P over this honestly :\ This phone is overpriced.eaccentsat - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
@Ro_Ja: I agree. There is a Verge article that put up a chart comparing how Google's Pixel stacks up against the latest Apple and Android devices. Looking at specs alone, I think that the 6P is a serious value! If only it were sized for smaller hands like mine....mortimerr - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The 6P also had a ton of hardware issues and it's simply too big for some people. I'm not sure it's a fair comparison honestly. Especially now, in every benchmark that's released that has the 6p on it, it's far behind most competitorsyankeeDDL - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Good phones overall.Most definitely NOT worth the prices they're asking for. Absolutely astounding how they could sell a 5" phone for $650, when the S7 has been selling for $549 on Amazon.
Give me near-zero bezel and a 3000mAh on the 5", and I might consider. But as they are, unless they drop to $450-$500 range, they are just not worth the money, not for the 32GB. It may be reasonable for the 128GB version (albeit still on the high side, especially as microSD is missing), but the 32GB? No, sorry, no.
I suspect that the unlimited cloud storage adds quite a lot to the price.
eaccentsat - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
@yankeeDDL: Don't forget the 24/7 support...sounds like they are trying to dumb down the Nexus line and help out new users who need the extra hand-holding....yankeeDDL - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The Nexus has always been "enthusiast-oriented". I can understand a little more user-friendliness, but then: why not offer a version without unlimited storage at a (considerably) lower price?I have hundreds of gigabytes in photos on my local hard drive, nicely categorized and organized and backed up: why would I want to use unlimited cloud? Maybe other customers would like that, but the price of unlimited storage for life ... well, that's got to add quite a bit to the price tag.
skrewler2 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
too bad t-mobile doesn't offer this w/ their jump plans.MonkeyPaw - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The rear glass covering the camera module could pose a concern as well. Normally there's sapphire over the camera for durability. Shattering the back glass wouldn't be the end of the world normally, but in this case you might have camera problems with a broken screen, and no way to easily repair it.jabber - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Well that's nice to see the Pixel range carrying on the Nexus trend of having 90% of the current flagship features but mysteriously omits some key features. This was fine when you were paying $300 but not when its $600+. Baffling. Oh yes a what a dull looking phone.eaccentsat - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Here here! The pricing on these devices is way too high to inspire people to give Google a try.Einy0 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Agreed way too expensive...nidz109 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
What are these "key" features you speak of? SD slot? The bezels are still smaller than on either iPhone and both are missing a 3.5mm jack and an SD slot. I don't even consider Samsung an option with their garbage UI and horrible optimization.osxandwindows - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Dual camera, water resistance,stereo speakers, better overall performance…Google is charging for the software features only.
Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Samsung is a big no for me as well, BUT, they should've sized/repositioned the glass back a bit better so they could include Qi wireless charging... Tho I guess that's gone by the wayside on their phones for a while now. Having a half glass back and not including it seems like a missed opportunity tho.Other than that, and maybe water resistance, I don't see much missing... They're never gonna build a phone with a card slot, that's a given. You'd think given my preference for those things I'd succumb to Samsung, but yeah, no... Rather get an HTC 10 or even a OP3 before an S7. Prolly just end up with a 128GB Pixel...
If only OnePlus made a smaller flagship like phone...
rsmartin11 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
Water resistance for sure would be nice. As for the wireless charging....hmmm, yeah it wouldn't have hurt, but I don't miss it much at all. I think as these batteries have gotten bigger and fast charging has gotten more important, the wireless charging couldn't keep up. To be honest when I can charge hours worth of power in 15 minutes I don't really care anymore.NeoteriX - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Matt, I'm surprised you phrased the top bezel as "sized to match [the large lower bezel], when it's most certainly the opposite way around, as informed by AnandTech's notable smartphone design coverage and optic coverage over the years—where the camera module being the largest single contributor to phone z-height, removing it from the display stack is the only way to optimize for thinness, particularly when you're dealing with a particularly large camera module as can be inferred here.piroroadkill - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
So it looks like a cheap knock-off iPhone, but it costs as much as an iPhone. No thanks.nidz109 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Still runs a superior OS IMO.osxandwindows - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
People don't pay for android, tho.If someone wanted android, theyy could just buy from the better competition.
mortimerr - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I take offense to this. It doesn't really look like an iPhone knock off. The Huaweis and Xiaomis, maybe. With an aluminum body, you have to put the antennas like this (well, not have to necessarily). Secondly, this design was really first introduced by HTC. I'm assuming you're an American then, where the iPhone is in the hands of everyone, so you're probably not aware that it's not "iPhone's" design.ws3 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
Nonetheless, it really, really does look like an iPhone. And that can't be an accident.Arbie - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Google wants their own Fire phone debacle... In six months these will be $200.mortimerr - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I'm so torn now on whether or not no SD is a dealbreaker. Free photos and videos are nice. I use my device for a lot of music, usually at HQ and some videos and downloaded YT vids as well. Not to mention app data. That means data fills up fast.Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Ehh... I was mildly concerned when I got my 32GB Nexus 5 but I've survived, just meant managing my on-device music library a bit more, and occasionally making use of OTG. If I get a Pixel I'll likely be a 128GB even tho the extra $100 stings... I actually think that's far more of a money grab and over-price than the base phone price... $50 would've been great, or do 64GB as base.maofthun - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The fact that they are charging this price for a phone without OIS is ridiculous.A lot of gadgets released these days that should have been great products are just getting f*cked by the designers' obsession of form over function. The pendulum has really swung too far one way.
Lolimaster - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The best deal right now if you're willing to pay over $400 is the Galaxy S7 at $549 @amazon.Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Or an HTC 10 for the same price direct from HTC if you value better software/audio over wireless charging and water resistance... I'm probably still springing for a Pixel tho (as upgrade from my N5), once I'm posting this much I just don't care about an extra $100-150... Being on the latest OS, having bog standard Type C, plus a great camera will make me happier than saving a hundred bucks.Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Paying not posting, wtf Swypemrvco - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
My best offer for the 32GB Pixel is $350 cash.Belard - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Not close to being excited by this. Perhaps Google should have KEPT Motorola, rather than sell it to Lenovo? This Pixel looks like a cross between Moto<>iPhone. They should have put in stereo speakers since it has the space for it on the front - it would have improved the looks but as stated, the phone bezel is unusually (and ugly) large on top and bottom. Even the Moto G2 or G3 has a much smaller bezel (top and bottom) and yet has speaker slots on top and bottom.Like the finger reader on the back... but how about putting one on the side somehow?
The pure android is very nice to have. Another brand of phone that does clean Android is Motorola (still) - so there is no bloat. The costs of the Moto X and Gs are a better deal. The Moto Z has an ugly finger reader on the front thou.
At least its not a full glass back that can shatter..
Being a Verizon exclusive means limited sales - just like some Motos. Do many people change carriers over a phone nowadays? I mean, it did happen with the iPhone for a while... but that was years ago.
Nowadays, its pointless to do so.
Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
They're selling it direct and at Best Buy, it's not really exclusive to Verizon in an absolute way. Sony's been doing side finger readers for a while btw, I think I'd still prefer rear... Bottom bezel didn't bother me ergonomically, it's about the same as the N5, but it makes less sense than the top one technically (which they justify in the name of the bump less camera)... I think ultimately they just said screw it and made them symmetrical, the N5 had a narrower top bezel...Vagabondjonez - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
All this optimization would be nice on every other device with the same DSP. No shutter lag? Htc can't even achieve these results in their own hardware...similat sensor yet no 1080p @ 60 fps or 240 fps slo mo . Is it really that costly to have?superkev72 - Thursday, October 6, 2016 - link
The pixel xl looks strangely like a Moto X Pure. I wonder if that was the basis for it.blzd - Sunday, October 9, 2016 - link
The Google iPhone is here.