And yet not a single hard detail in the article as to why the headline might be true. For going on ten years we've seen the "iPhone killers" come and go, and this article does nothing to tell me why this time it will be different. Perhaps because it won't be.<p>Of what very few details the article outlines, they just go on about nifty hardware. Have we not learned by now that cool hardware still sucks when hamstrung by crappy software? (A Samsung logo popped in my head while writing that, don't know why.) Now, Google is no Samsung, but they're a long way from Apple or even Microsoft on the UX front.<p>(EDIT: the Pixel phones could be all that, but I wouldn't know it because I'm currently content with iPhones and have paid no attention to Pixel. Point is, this article does nothing to relieve my ignorance, which is why I clicked on the thing to begin with.)
What is the draw here?<p>I have been running my Nexus 5 into the ground (soldered on a new power button when the original broke) in anticipation of the next Nexus phone. Pixel is no Nexus.<p>Seriously, what does this have that the year-old Nexus 6P and 5X don't, other than incremental hardware improvements? And a massive price hike? Why should I buy this?<p>(Seriously, Google? You want $650 for a phone with a 1080p screen? I know there's benefits to a lower resolution but then why not drop the price? It's ridiculous.)<p>My perception is that Google no longer knows what it's doing. Reference Allo for an even better example. The company can coast on their existing products but only for so long.
I think it is just me but I find this 'book me a concert and fancy dinner' schtick rather boring. May be well off people are so busy and book these things so often that these virtual assistant really save time if price is of no concern to them.
I don't like Google because they're gonna use my data against me.<p>I don't like Apple because it's a walled garden and millions other reasons.<p>I don't like Samsung because they bloat Android.<p>I don't like Huawei because I don't trust the Chinese government to not do stuff to it.<p>I don't like LG and HTC because the smartphone market is slipping away from them.<p>Am I just getting old?
The corporate structure of Alphabet does not make sense to me.<p>Nest was broken out as a peer to Google, but now apparently hardware is using Nest staff and expertise, but hardware is part of Google.<p>And apparently this new hardware team is going whole-hog after the smartphone market, which is WAY larger than thermostats and web cams. But Nest is an Alphabet sub, and hardware is under Google.<p>And Android needs a "firewall" to protect existing hardware vendor relationships from the new hardware team. But both Android and hardware remain under Google, with YouTube and Search.<p>And there are 2 separate Alphabet subs for biosciences, and 2 separate subs for finance.<p>It doesn't look like it's implementing any sort of coherent strategy. Aside from company politics, why are some programs peers to Google, and others are subsidiaries of Google?
“The difference with this device is that we started from the beginning,” says Dave Burke, who runs Android engineering.<p>Started from scratch, yet the end result looks like a iPhone knockoff from a random Chinese shanzhai company?<p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/LlqaAPO.png" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/LlqaAPO.png</a>
Last week we tried to launch an Android-first app at a major startup conference with 5000 visitors.<p>95% of the visitors (startups, entrepreneurs, investors, executives) had iPhones. We later confirmed this by looking at the network stats and couldn't believe it. In a country where Android statistically has 80% marketshare. The Android users loved the product, but we failed because we couldn't generate word-of-mouth.<p>For the target audience of the Pixel, this is an uphill battle.
The price makes me a bit sad tbh<p>One of the best things about the Nexus range was they offered the Google vision of android at a reasonable price. The Nexus 4, 5 and 6 were affordable.<p>I purchased my Nexus 5 for a shade below £300 when it came out, which I thought was excellent value for money in comparison to how much I had paid for a Samsung previously.<p>This Pixel line seems to have abandoned that ideal to compete directly with the iPhone.<p>Personally I'd feel very uncomfortable walking around with a £600+ phone.
"Their debut signals Google’s push into the $400 billion smartphone hardware business and shows that the company is willing to risk alienating partners like Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. that sell Android-based phones."<p>You mean not including the time they bought Motorola?
It blows my mind that there's not a single positive top level comment yet. Seriously, guys, what's up with the culture of entitlement and complaining?<p>We're hackers, let's get fucking excited about the new cool gadgets! This phone is <i>awesome</i>.<p>How about, before nitpicking and criticizing, we take a moment to appreciate and celebrate the new technology developed by our colleagues?
I'm saddened by the continued fragmentation.<p>"Google Assistant" replaces the Google search bar... but only on the Pixel? So this is yet another Android device that behaves differently from every other.<p>The exclusive carrier is Verizon. Why not Google Fi?<p>The default video app is Duo. Why not Hangouts?<p>Does "Google Now On Tap" get replaced by the assistant for the Pixel? Is that <i>just</i> for the Pixel?<p>I don't get it. I don't understand how Google can think this produces a cohesive, meaningful experience for their users when they keep changing things or fragmenting their platforms.<p>Edit: Full disclosure, my only smartphone is a Nexus 5X. I like it, I don't like Google's platform chaos.
<i>“Google is now the seller of record of this phone,”</i><p>And who is the servicer of broken phones? Is there a warranty? Can I get a customer service agent on a real voice line?<p>Given Google's track record of hardware they could have answers for all of this and I <i>still</i> wouldn't own one.
> Burke says the company will eventually be able to ship its own custom “silicon,” a buzzword for customized processors that make devices work better.<p>Silicon is not a buzzword. It is the element with which the processors are built. Perhaps it's colloquial or jargonistic to refer to processors as silicon, but it's not a buzzword.
I'm sorry, I just don't trust Google hardware efforts anymore. Nothing they've done indicates that they won't completely abandon this in a year and a half. It would probably end up in my Google Graveyard sooner rather than later, right next to my Google TV and Galaxy Nexus with Google Voice.
Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask, but has there been any information released regarding whether the bootloader can be unlocked or not?<p>I guess what I'm really asking is if I will be able to flash a custom "ROM" and kernel to this. I've heard rumors of Google taking a more aggressive stance on locking down their hardware, so I'd like to know if there's been any new information regarding this.<p>If I can't flash custom software to this, I may get the iPhone or HTC 10 instead. The main attraction to Android phones to me was the fact that you can flash modified kernels to do things like force fast charge on USB data links, etc…
I'd like someone to save me from Apple's garbage cloud services, but I just can't get away from their hardware. It's just too good.<p>So... Can anyone convince me that this thing is going to be different from the iPhone killers that are reported on every year in these regurgitated press releases?
Let's not go into a fight about Google vs Apple, but consider the landscape.<p>1) It is interesting to note that, different from the desktop market a decade ago, there is no monopoly by a single provider for smartphone tech. This means that the upcoming challengers try to challenge using the same tech rather than come up with something really innovative. That there is no monopoly in this space, might actually reduce the speed of innovation! These parties are happy to compete with each other on familiar grounds. To me this comes across as a gentlemen's agreement in which knights establish the boundaries of their fight. Google says: it's gonna be phones, don't be afraid we come with weapons that you're not anticipating.<p>2) If we limit ourselves to smartphones, what would real innovation look like? For me it's twofold: a) getting rid of the other things in my pocket. I currently carry: keys, a wallet, a public transport card, a customer loyalty card, a squash subscription card, and a driver license mainly as ID. b) never worry about charging. The former can solved by actually making use of the existing technology. The latter needs a wireless charging infrastructure that works on a distance and a few R&D years (<a href="http://www.wi-charge.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.wi-charge.com/</a>).
The actual product announcement page <a href="https://blog.google/products/pixel/introducing-pixel-our-new-phone-made-google/" rel="nofollow">https://blog.google/products/pixel/introducing-pixel-our-new...</a>
I think the most unfortunate thing about this being so expensive and underwhelming is that now there's no good alternative for people that don't want to spend that kind of money on a phone to have an Android phone without an OEM skin and with quick updates to new Android versions. This premium phone is only guaranteed updates for two years, and the update situation in Android land is still appalling. Why isn't anyone working on a better driver model for smart phones like for the PC? I want the latest version of Android without any kind of skin, but I don't see any real alternative for me anymore. How can the company behind Android be satisfied with this situation?
Why, in 2016, is anyone still talking about "iPhone killers" or threats to the iPhone?<p>Outside the US it is not the dominant platform. Sure, it has a good share of the market, but it's not like Apple even outsell Samsung's Galaxy range.
One thing I like about the iPhone is the strong emphasis on security. Many features in the iPhone are built around it such as password inputs eventually stop working after a certain amount of tries, plane tickets show up on home screen without needing to unlock the phone and default encryption. I like knowing that if I lock my phone, not even the FBI can get into it. This gives me confidence to use services such as Apple pay. How does the Google Pixel compare in security?
So far, aside from the camera (apparently excellent), everything I've heard about why the Pixel is so great comes down to software.<p>So far, of everything software that people have enthused about with the Pixel... none of that software shines if you only have Google Apps accounts.<p>Aside from the camera, why would anyone with a Google Apps account buy this?<p>(I'm referring to the Allo AI assistent, etc which only has limited functionality for Google Apps users, as does Now, Trips, Spaces, App Sharing, Play Music Family, etc.)
The graphic showing rating of camera's is super disingenuous [0]<p>The gap from 88-92 is actually shorter than the gap between 86-89.<p>[0] <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ehp0sn8w04fpf2q/Screenshot%202016-10-04%2015.57.32.png?dl=0" rel="nofollow">https://www.dropbox.com/s/ehp0sn8w04fpf2q/Screenshot%202016-...</a>
The interesting part will be for how long will the Phone + Software be supported. Now that the price is the same I think it's fair the support should be the same as the iPhone.
It's a real threat to handset makers who use Android. Their OS supplier is now competing with them.<p>Look for a third ecosystem to come out of China.
They both locked enough people in an ecosystem where they control the competition well enough that they can justify asking twice as much as their device is worth...<p>I was hoping to upgrade a nexus 5 I paid 399 CAD and this year they want to charge 899 CAD for the base model!<p>This is insane and I just ordered a OnePlus 3 (519CAD) hoping that we'll see more competition instead of reliving the 90s desktop OS situation...
You cannot be serious Google?
$1079AUD for Google Pixel when it's $650US....At current conversion would be $853AUD. Of course there is shipping, projected volume of sales in Australia etc... but $226 in shipping is a bit much...
<a href="https://store.google.com/config/pixel_phone" rel="nofollow">https://store.google.com/config/pixel_phone</a>
<i>"The Pixel phones will also be the first to run the next version of Android, Nougat 7.1
[…]
Everyone is treated the same, including Rick’s team"</i><p>Treated the same, to a limit, I guess. If everyone is treated the same, they wouldn't be able to guarantee to be the first ones out with Nougat.<p>Let's see how short or long the lead start is they will give their own phones.
For a "threat to Apple's iPhone" article the content is pretty low on camera specs. Not to mention a comparison to the rest of Apple's extremely integrated and streamlined hardware/software.
So does this come without tracking and more privacy because for that price you can't play the "they need to recoup the costs through user data" card.<p>Apple it seems can do it for devices in those price range.
Biggest problem with this phone is how it looks, and it looks like an iPhone, which for me is not a good looking phone.
Why the bottom is so big? Why does it have all those rounded corners?
Features on phones seem to have plateaued.<p>I can't justify spending $650 on the newest phone for a slightly better camera.<p>My current iphone 6 is just fine, the battery is waning but not unbearably so.<p>Does the pixel offer anything that justifies the price? Or would a consumer be better off just purchasing an older generation smartphone?
The thing people often overlook is the value of iMessage. I switched to Android for a few months and using plain SMS with my friends was a definite downgrade. True, we could use a 3rd party chat network, but everyone seems to prefer a different one.<p>Also, hard to quantify, but there was an element of social cost in that every knew I no longer using an iphone because the texts weren't blue. HN tends to dismiss such things but branding/advertising are important to perception of value, like it or not.
It seems roughly equivalent to a fairly recent iPhone. I see nothing like being officially water resistant like the iPhone 7, and seemingly no now widely lauded portrait mode thanks to dual cameras and its depth perception. The iPhone 7 also seems to use an (in normal use) more powerful CPU.<p>So maybe it's more like a premium priced iPhone 6s or so. Outside of Apple's ecosystem. How in the world would that be a "real threat"? The 32 GB Pixel is expected to land at $650, the (now finally) 32 GB iPhone 6s will cost you $550. It'll cost you $100 more and it'll make you lose your ecosystem!<p>It looks like a method for Google to stop the drain to Apple through an alluring Apple design at best, not something that will do much in the other direction.<p>As an iPhone user, this doesn't interest me in the slightest, other than an "academical" interest where it's interesting to see Google finally seeing the light. Now let's see if Google will introduce a certification program so people can look at a label in the specs of any Android phone and know that the smartphone will not be loaded with crap. Let the OEM's be still free to do it, but let people have an easier time to vote with their money.
Big time Nexus fan (and owner or N5, 6P) here. One thing that is of big concern for me now is that previously (until the Nexus line) their only OS was Android AOSP, and making it better was their sole motive. Now, it's in Google's best interest to market their exclusive Pixel phones, and differentiate Pixel Android from the 'other' Android, the AOSP. The whole Android community might suffer because of this.
Aren't they playing right into Apple's hands by pricing it like an Apple product?<p>Google will never, and I mean NEVER, be able to compete with Apple on fit and finish as well as the all round user experience with which Apple are able to justify their seemingly outlandish pricing.<p>If anything, people will now scrutinize fit and finish even more closely at this price range and that's the last thing they need.
That price though.. :(<p>If pixel is completely replacing nexus, then it's a complete bummer, as one of nexus' best points were very good hardware in reasonably good package for half the price as flagship competition (galaxy, iphone). OTOH, it's maybe a good business move if they manage to take galaxy users to buy pixel, Google will make a good buck for it.
The main reason I see/hear people coming across from Apple to Android is they get a quality handset at half the price. Given this pricing is inline with Apple, I cant see as something that will seriously threaten other than crowding the market a bit more.<p>I still dont understand why Google didn't keep pushing the mid-range nexus. They were onto such a sweet spot.
Whether it's a nice phone or not, I'm not tempted. I left Android due to an inability to get o/s updates. Android depends on the cell carrier (Bell Canada, in my case) for o/s updates, a model that doesn't work well, in my opinion. With Apple the o/s is always up to date.
Hm, same price as iPhone7, according to Wired (will have to see). I'm interested in leaving iOS but on a more mid-tier smart phone level. Very compelling design and size though in my opinion, would definitely be in the market if budget was available. Well, pending some reviews.
The bottom of the article says the phone is assembled by HTC. I suppose the difference between this and the Google Nexus phones is that Google is no longer doing hardware design in collaboration with outside manufacturers. However, collaboration in hardware assembly continues.
The reference to Nest isn't a big plus in my book.<p>I've only heard bad things about it - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpsMkLaEiOY" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpsMkLaEiOY</a><p>This phone isn't going to kill the iPhone - in fact it would take a big screwup on the part of Apple for people to start migrating away from its products. Not that Apple is incapable of screwing up, but so far they've sailed their ship pretty well.<p>Apart from the hardware, there's the whole ecosystem of app developers, programming environments, cloud services.. Ultimately it's about who can attract the more talented developers - and that is a lot more difficult than snapping a faster CPU or better camera in your phone.
Apple manufactures fashion items which also facilitate communication. You can't threaten a fashion item. It doesn't work that way. Technological comparisons also don't apply. Only some truly epic fail on Apple's end would threaten them.
They finally did it! The $1000 smartphone!<p>Thankfully, for only $649, you can get the 32 GB version, which has the same storage capacity as the Nexus 5 released in october 2013. Oh yes, the Nexus 5 was sold for $150 less.
Still sad it doesn't have a hardware keyboard.<p>I really, really, really want a good phone with hardware keyboard.<p>Even better if the dialer is not a common app, and is something you can access immediately even if the "user OS" crash.
I see several references to good video stabilization, but never mention if it's 1080p or 4k, since I didn't see any mention to OIS and sensor resolution is almost the same as 4k (at least the width) how can it effectively compensate to electronic video stabilization in 4k video?<p>(comment copy-pasted from <a href="https://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Pixel-smartphone-camera-review-At-the-top" rel="nofollow">https://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Pixel-smartphone-camera-revi...</a>)
It looks like a good device, but is it that special?<p>At $649, it's in iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 territory.<p>It doesn't have an impressive curved display like the Galaxy S7 Edge so the 5.5" Pixel is likely to be larger than a 5.5" Galaxy S7 Edge.<p>The Snapdragon 821 is probably the best processor they could get, but it doesn't stand up well against an iPhone 7 (or even older iPhones on common tasks like web browsing). So, that doesn't bring anything impressive to the table that I couldn't get before.<p>Google has just said that the display is "Hi-Definition" in their presentation slide. Looking at one of their videos, it looks like 441ppi on the 5" which means 1080p and 534ppi on the 5.5" so the 5.5" matches the S7 Edge, but the 5" is a lesser display than the Galaxy S7. Not sure it makes much of a difference, but it doesn't best a competitor at the same price.<p>The Galaxy S7 and many other devices come with 4GB of RAM.<p>There doesn't seem to be anything in this device that's so exciting with the possible exception of the camera. But how much of that is software? The DxOMark review notes that "Pixel’s biggest innovation is an enhanced version of Google’s HDR+ multi-image capability. . .the Pixel pushes the capability further than we’ve seen before". So, is this simply software that Google is going to keep proprietary in order to sell its device? That's certainly fair game, but it points to exclusive software, not hardware being the draw.<p>Unlimited photo and video storage is nice, but that really doesn't have anything to do with the device. That's just google offering an exclusive service with purchase.<p>To me, it mostly looks like what I can get in competitive phones, maybe with some exclusive software. It's not faster (constrained by the best Qualcomm can muster). The camera is marginally better than an iPhone 7 (though no word on the iPhone 7 Plus). The display is competitive with or worse than a Galaxy S7 [Edge].<p>I think Google has a better chance if they start developing their own chips as the article alludes to. Apple has a large single-code speed advantage that's particularly noticeable on the web (<a href="https://twitter.com/codinghorror/status/775777790494846976" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/codinghorror/status/775777790494846976</a>).<p>The Pixel looks fine, but it doesn't have something amazingly impressive. It's good, but nothing that truly makes me think that Google has outdone itself. If I were in the market for a new Android phone, I'd consider it. But the OnePlus 3 seems to have most of the same in a much cheaper package. The Galaxy S7 Edge seems to have a cooler package for much the same equipment. Plus, I guess my concern is whether Google is going to care about the Pixel phone 9 months from now. Maybe this is a huge new push. But OnHub seems to be abandoned for this new Made By Google thing after a very short time and generally Google has a bit of a history of not caring about things that don't immediately gain traction. So, maybe a couple years from now it'll look more attractive.<p>EDIT: looking at the specs, it's 8.5mm thick at the thickest which is how they avoid the camera bump compared to an iPhone 7 at 7.1mm thick.<p>EDIT 2: I'm very glad that Google is getting into the hardware game. I think they can create great devices and help push the industry forward. I think competition will be great for consumers. I think there are lots of areas (like WiFi) which need to be made better. But it's hard to beat the best smartphones with your first model. I'm glad Google is creating a phone, but smartphones aren't low-hanging fruit to create something remarkably better.
Why do they presume there is a risk of alienating other Android device makers? Those non Apple device makers are too deep in the Android universe with no viable alternative.
Before owning an iPhone, I was very happy with an (at the time) expensive Samsung Galaxy Nexus.<p>But then... Google dropped updates for this phone after just 18 months and the microUSB crappy plastic connector started to fall apart and don't charge.
It seems that now Google is selling premium hardware (finally), but what about software updates? I get about 4 years of updates on an iPhone now, who knows what are the plans for this Pixel.
Pixel's "integrated assistant" just smells too much like Internet Explorer embedded into Windows. I like Google Now, but I don't need something like an AI interface and everything clumped together. There are some things I don't use, and I'd like the choice to have it not get in the way.
Google's business model is based on gathering data from users and hence by definition will not be as secure to use as Apple which derives their income from the high margins on the phones they sell instead of gathering data on us to monetize. Hence, no matter what you say, Google software based phones will not be as secure as Apple ones nor will they protect your privacy as well as Apple does.
They have a live presentation now:<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4y0KOeXViI" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4y0KOeXViI</a>
After using a phone with stereo speakers ( <a href="http://cdn01.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Moto_X_Style_Black_Front_Back.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://cdn01.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08...</a> ) there's no way I'm going back to mono. What's frustrating is that the bottom part looks perfect for a second speaker.
Given that Samsung, LG and others are now competing with Google directly, maybe Firefox OS was too early.<p>Maybe we'll actually start seeing Tizen headsets from Samsung.
My theory is the only reason people switch from iPhones is that they no longer want an iPhone. There are plenty of other options but unless someone is driven to it by flaws from the iPhone then they are not going to switch. For me it was battery life, lack of customization, and my iphone/itunes not playing nice with a windows pc.
Stock Android is pretty broken in China.<p>A lot of things like connecting to a public WiFi (which tries to connect to a Google page which doesn't work), Google PlayStore, Google Maps, email apps, etc.<p>In China you need an Android that doesn't come preloaded with Google stuff or an iPhone which just works fine incl the AppStore.<p>It's very strange that Google doesn't offer at least basic support there.
I think this doesn't make sense from a business perspective. The cell phone like the PC will become a commodity item. Why get into a business with a lot of competitors. No real differentiation. Google should be trying to get google search into every phone which they are already doing. That is where they make their crazy margins and strength.
Android has already won. It is the hardware that has not managed to challenge hardware. But then Android's key selling point has always been about "choice". Blackberry like Android phones ? check. Android phones that feel like Windows UI ? Check, $30 phones? check, phones that look more like gaming devices ? check.
The first reaction of a friend of mine, Android developer, was like "Maybe I'm buying an iPhone 7 on leasing, because the Nexus are dead and the Pixel costs so much". Then he realized that the iPhone costs even more. He's not buying anything at the moment. He's got plenty of phones after all.
Besides the obvious economic benefits to the companies that make these phones, is there any real benefit to the user of not having a user replaceable battery? I feel really comfortable keeping an extra battery on standby for emergencies, especially since their charge capacity usually greatly diminishes in about a year or so.
Surprised they went with a form factor so similar to Samsung and the iPhone 6, just looks pretty dated really.<p>Think now would have been a good opportunity to go for something less rounded. An iPhone 4 style sharp design would probably end up looking futuristic next to all the faceless rounded blobs the market is full of.
From the pricing, and the fact that the blue version is available only in the US, this seems to be an "iPhone for Muricans that don't want an iPhone" (for whatever hissy fit). Now they have a choice, <i>exactly</i> like between Republicans and Democrats. Enjoy your HTC Pixels.
I am just hoping for a smaller phone like the iPhone SE. I never understood the drive towards huge screens that prevent proper single handed usage. I'm still using a Blackberry Q10 because it's a productivity monster - no time for games.
Probably the wrong time to say but.<p>Is or has there been any way I could purchase a new phone assign it my number and have 2 phones ringing at same time? I would have a side by side comparison in each pocket?<p>Like I buy pants. But 4 at the store and return 3
No wireless charging is rather disappointing for me. Other than those from Samsung, are there any options left for a recent flagship with built-in wireless charging?<p>Maybe I'll just hold out on my Nexus 5 for a couple more years...
I'm liking my Nexus 6 but it feels a bit big at times so I think the trend towards 5 or 5.5 is a good thing. Not sure about the price though, my 6 would have to completely croak before I upgrade from it.
What Google need to do next is to finally get out from under Qualcomm. They're a big part of the reason why older hardware can't be supported by newer versions of Android.
The hardware isn't really that impressive. iPhone still has the best hardware in my opinion. I'm not even talking about performance, battery, etc, I'm talking about usability.
My killer feature for the iPhone is seamless upgrades. Until Android has this (Play Services don't count), it's not going to be a real threat IMO.<p>Vertical integration FTW.
I'm seriously disappointed in this.<p>Fortunately, I'm not feeling the need to replace my Nexus 5X yet. Maybe next summer when the Moto G5 comes out, I'll see if it's worth switching -- or maybe I'll wait until 2018 and get a Moto G6, but I'm not getting a Pixel.<p>And if some key apps I use ever end up getting ported to Windows 10 Mobile, I'll consider Microsoft for my next device. But that'll be a ways off: I rely on Lyft to get around, so I can't use a phone that has no Lyft app.
I've been using a BLU R1 HD with Amazon lock screen ads and if I were Apple I'd be <i>very</i> worried. It's a very nice, fast phone with a solid camera.<p>After using Android for a few weeks I would be pretty happy using it instead of IOS. Among top tier apps and Google provided apps it's definitely now on par with IOS. $59 for a phone is unbelievable.<p>I just got my iPhone 7 and while it's a great phone and has a slightly higher build quality, it's more than 10x the price.
From: <a href="https://blog.google/products/pixel/introducing-pixel-our-new-phone-made-google/" rel="nofollow">https://blog.google/products/pixel/introducing-pixel-our-new...</a><p>> Pixel comes in two sizes, 5” or 5.5”, and three colors: Very Silver, Quite Black and our limited edition for the U.S. only, Really Blue.<p>What's your problem Google? You keep being the only big company still pulling this "U.S. only" stuff.
Apple innovates while other companies imitate. This looks exactly like an iPhone without a home button. I'm sure the hardware is fast and it's probably a very good phone. But what does it do <i>better</i> than iPhone? Unless it runs iOS, there's no way Android will ever catch up to iPhone.
<vaguely off topic rant about Android 7.1 - but relevant as they control the hardware and specs here><p>Why is Google still insisting (with 7.1) that the 3 navigation keys (menu, home and back) need to be on screen - either wasting real-estate or annoyingly hidden - requiring a swipe to expose them?<p>Old Android phones used to have hardware or software keys that were off the bottom of the screen - and in fact my Xiaomi Mi Note Pro still does - it frees the entire screen for content. If the '3 keys' regularly changed meaning I could see the need to have them 'on screen' but they don't.
I'd have thought that with innovation and greater availability of components, smartphones would become cheaper. Instead, I experience quite the opposite with all these new devices.
No threat to either iPhone or Note 7 and incredibly overpriced. Pixel is basically a mid-range phone for high-end price. OnePlus 3 for $400 in mid-range or Meizu M3 Note for $140 in lower end are much better deals.
> <i>Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone</i><p>Haha, what? Google already thoroughly beat the iPhone: they made Android. This is just a ridiculously overwrought way to say "Google is making a new phone".