Google Pixel
Google has been releasing its own devices for many years. The first device was produced in collaboration with HTC: the T-Mobile G1. Later, various models were released in the Nexus range, each time in partnership with a different manufacturer. These included LG, Samsung and Huawei. Do you remember, for example, the Huawei Nexus 6P, or the LG Nexus 4? And of course, the Nexus One! In 2016, the Nexus series was discontinued. We looked back on this in a retrospective on the Nexus. It marked the start of the Pixel series.
The first generation of the Google Pixel was released in two sizes: the Google Pixel with a 5.0-inch screen and the Pixel XL with a 5.5-inch screen. Both models were manufactured by HTC and featured an aluminium unibody casing with a glass panel at the top of the back. This panel also housed the fingerprint scanner. Google equipped the Pixel devices with a 3.5-millimetre jack and a USB-C port. In terms of colours, there was a choice of three, of which the ‘Really Blue’ variant has since become a rare and sought-after collector’s item. There was also a choice between ‘Quite Black’ and ‘Very Silver’.
In this instalment of the ‘The Forgotten Smartphone’ series, we’re looking at the Google Pixel as it was released in 2016. As mentioned, it featured a 5.0-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. In terms of storage, there were two options: 32GB and 128GB. You had to make do with that; there was no slot for a memory card. It was notable that there was no 64GB version of the Pixel. The chipset in the device was the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. These days, Google uses its own chipsets from the Tensor range. The phone was released with Android 7.1 Nougat, and the device received updates up to and including Android 10. It had a 2,770 mAh battery that could be charged at 18W.
Google equipped the Pixel with a 12.3-megapixel main camera. This also allowed you to film in 4K. It featured laser autofocus and an LED flash. For taking selfies, there was an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Photography was a key feature of the Pixel phone. You could use manual mode, enable Smart Burst to take a rapid sequence of photos, and enjoy unlimited storage space for photos in their original resolution. The Pixel smartphones were also the first devices to have Google Assistant built in and to allow updates to be downloaded automatically in the background.
There was no shortage of competition. Samsung had the Galaxy S7, LG the modular LG G5, Apple the iPhone 7, and HTC offered a stylish design with the HTC 10. Then there was Sony, which had the Xperia XZ in this segment. The device was well received, particularly for its camera and excellent specifications. People were less impressed, however, with the price and the fact that you couldn’t add a memory card or replace the battery.
The Google Pixel was launched in 2016 at a price of 759 euros for the 32GB version and 869 euros for the version with 128GB of storage.
