Google just announced the Google Pixel, a new Android smartphone. It looks exactly like the rumors suggested and features a polished aluminum body. Google’s Rick Osterloh, head of the company’s hardware division, even took a stab at Apple, noting that it has “no unsightly camera bump.”
Google said there are five pillars to the pixel: Google Assistant (it’s the first with this built in), Photography, Storage, Communications and Virtual Reality. “It was designed inside and out to be simple and smart,” Google’s Pixel software product management team head Brian Rakowski explained, noting that it features the company’s new Pixel launcher software. Google Assistant is available from any screen, inside an app or on the home screen.
The Google Pixel will ship with Nougat and will get software automatically in the background. Google says it’ll be taken care of without you even knowing.
Google Assistant for Google Pixel
Google Assistant, as we learned during Google I/O, is smarter than Google Now. You can ask questions and, thanks to Google’s Knowledge Graph, can continue providing information based on your initial search. You might ask for directions to the lower east side in New York, for example, and then ask for restaurants in that area.
Google Pixel Camera
Google said the Pixel has already been tested by DXOMark and that it received a rating of 89, the highest rating ever from DXOMark for a smartphone. It features a 12.3MP f/2.0 aperture with 1.55 micron pixels, which allows it to capture more light. It features HDR+ for “vivid pictures even in challenging conditions” and a feature named “Smartburst” that picks the best picture from a bunch – a feature we’ve seen from other smartphone makers. Video stabilization functions sample the gyroscope 200 times per second to ensure video isn’t jittery, too.
Pictures are, of course, automatically stored in Google Photos. Google Pixel owners will get free unlimited storage for full-size images and video.
Google Pixel battery life
Google said the Pixel has new quick charging functionality that provides up to 7 hours of power with 15 minutes of charging.
24/7 Customer Care
Google Pixel owners will have 24/7 live customer care, similar to Amazon Mayday, which lets you connect with someone for support right on your smartphone.
Google Pixel Specs and Price
Google Pixel will ship in two sizes, as we already knew, including a 5-inch and a 5.5-inch display. It features 4GB of RAM, a 2,770mAh battery (3,450mAh in Pixel XL), 32GB or 128GB of storage and a fingerprint reader. It’s the first Google smartphone to support Daydream. It’ll be available through Verizon starting at $649 or unlocked. It’s available for pre-order today in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany and U.K.
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