We’ve been using the Google Pixel phone since the day of its launch. We’ve been in a delima since than – Write a review about the Pixel or not write it. In the meantime we were using the phone in our everyday life and grew more and more appreciative about it, to the point that now we are going to make an attempt to review it. The Google Pixel XL differs only in terms of screen size from its smaller cousin. Me being an ergonomics lover, preffered the Pixel.
For the record, I would like to claim that this is the First ever smartphone that actually grows on you. As I go on using it, I’ve liked it more and adored it more.
Google for the first time have not been their usual silent selves when it comes to advertising the Google Pixel phone. This phone is not really #madebyGoogle – it is actually manufactured by HTC and software Android 7 Nougat is developed by Google. It sure is designed by Google.
Coming back to our delima with review, the phone at first sight does not contemplate uniqueness as the market is full of similar form factor devices. Maybe the Pixel draws its “Quietly Brilliant” DNA from HTC. The Glass back however is something that leaves a mark in the eyes of beholder. To a certain extent it improves antenna performance for better signal reception.
The phone does have the beloved 3.5 mm headphone jack and it has awkwardly wide bezel at the top and bottom of the screen. Sometimes reminding you of the Apple iPhone bezel which has fingerprint sensor. One good thing is that the phone isn’t overtly thin, ergonomic to hold in hands easily. And is fully suitable for one-hand operation.
That being said, lets dive into the phone review.
BODY: The phone has one of the best ergonomic dimensions. I have tried holding those 6 inch displays which handicap the user to be able to use only lower half of the screen and holding big screen causes frequent slipping. Google Pixel has the size of 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5 mm (5.66 x 2.74 x 0.33 in) and weighs only 143gms.
DISPLAY: An AMOLED capacitive screen gives the Pixel an aura and delights your eyes. Imges have depth and supreme clarity with 1080 x 1920 pixels. Not the best in the market, yet fits the bill. The Pixel has Night Light feature which tints the screen amber, making it a delight to read in dim light conditions. You can customize the schedule according to the times you turn your room lights off and go to bed. So next time you wake the screen at bed time, the bright light won’t roast your eyes.
UNDER THE HOOD: Google Pixel runs on Quad-core (2×2.15 GHz Kryo & 2×1.6 GHz Kryo). The same processor that powers industry’s biggies like Samsung Galaxy S7 and S 7 edge and S7 active, LG G 5, Sony Xperia XZ, HTC 10, Xiaomi Mi 5s, ZTE nubia Z11, BlackBerry DTEK60, OnePlus 3, vivo Xplay5 Elite, etc. The processor is fittied on a Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 chipset with Adreno 530 GPU. Hate to say it, but the phone does get warm easily and really hot when playing games or 4K videos. The aluminium body comes in handy to cool it down quickly once you stop pushing the phone.
MEMORY: I’m an avid smartphone user with heavy multitasking requirements. As far as using the Pixel goes, it has literally never hung or complained running low on resources. I have the 128 GB model with 4GB RAM and I’m not asking for more as of now. As I keep backing up full high res photos and videos shot from the Pixel onto Google Photos. Google Photos gives lifetime unlimited free cloud storage space for Google Pixel users. I do carry an external 128 GB OTG USB for carrying extra data when im not in home WiFi range.
CAMERA: No other feature of Google Pixel has caught the imagination of the internet as much as the Camera. Why? Because Google gave Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus run for their money in the image caputure deprtment. Apple has been advertising “Shot on iPhone” almost everywhere and a camera better than an iPhone, that too supported by critically acclaimed DXO Mark benchmark results is something for iPhone to ponder. And ofcourse an instant shot to Fame to Google Pixel owners. Stand in a group of camera enthusiasts and just say “Hey guys, I got the Google Pixel phone”, you’ll be a celebrity. Be ready to give out technical specs.
BATTERY: Pixel scores well with battery. My phone lasts more than a day even with frequent peak usages during the day. Office and personal Mails, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Duo calls, 1 hr talktime, 1.5 hrs HD video playback, Bluetooth headset on LTE network lasts me a day. The Non-removable Li-Ion 2770 mAh charges up quickly than usual android phones, half hour charging does give me 5-6 hrs use. OnePlus Dash charging is still faster.
SOUND: I’m afraid the acoustics aren’t very good, just ordinary with speaker at the bottom. There is only one speaker, not loud enough, decent enough for hands-free calls in relatively silent ambience. At first I thought I gt a faulty handset as I could hear sound form only one opening at the bottom, later to realize that the other opening is for mic. I’ve often blocked the speaker by accidentally putting my finger on it.
The phone comes with Nano-SIM and is Splash and dust resistant. Fingerprint sensor is very very conveniently placed at the back right where your index finger rests. I have not had a single miss while trying to unlock my phone with a not-so-clean finger print.
The phone has a notification light too, can be turned on in settings.
The Google Pixel is all-in-all, a complete phone. Rather its a ‘go with the flow’ phone, it handles things well, whatever you throw at it.
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