The Google Pixel XL, together with the Google Pixel, are the primary telephones ‘made [almost entirely] by Google’, and it’s one of the best ways to expertise the most recent and biggest that Android software program has to supply.

It places the immense energy of Google search behind the whole lot you do with the all-new Google Assistant, a context-understanding AI that’s usually smarter than Siri and Cortana. Sorry, Apple and Microsoft followers.

The Pixel XL launched with Android 7.1 Nougat, runs Android 7.1.2 and was among the many first to get Android Oreo. Going with that newest and biggest theme, it was additionally the primary telephone to get Google Daydream View VR headset powers.

Even should you’re not into VR, this implies you are getting top-of-the-line specs ok for power-hungry players, and that’s incredible information for anybody who needs a quick telephone years down the highway – sure, even with the Google Pixel 2 out on the planet.

The telephone debuts the Snapdragon 821 chipset, with 4GB of RAM within a glass-and-metal physique that is half-iPhone 7, half Samsung. The digicam is touted as ‘greatest at school’, and the 5.5-inch Quad HD display screen seems to be very good.

Google is ditching its inexpensive, developer-focused Nexus model in favor of the Pixel XL and its smaller 5-inch Google Pixel counterpart. This makes these new handsets costlier, however additionally they showcase better ambition on Google’s half.

Google Pixel XL vs Google Pixel 2 XL worth comparability

The worth hole between Google’s first-gen XL machine and the brand new Google Pixel 2 XL, to this point, hasn’t been that extensive. Thus, buying the previous over the latter merely could not be really useful. 

However as time goes by, the choice will grow to be simpler. Why? Properly, the costs are getting higher for the Pixel XL – decrease than they’ve ever been. 

Whereas worth varies for the unique Pixel, you will not see as a lot fluidity simply but for the Google Pixel 2. It simply launched in October 2017, so anticipate to attend one other handful of months earlier than massive offers present up. 

That stated, this is a have a look at the perfect values for Google’s newest telephone.

(Picture: © Google Pixel XL)

Worth and launch date

• Discovering the Google Pixel XL in inventory continues to be troublesome
• Dearer than any Nexus handset
• On contract from Verizon in US and EE in UK

Imagine it or not, the Google Pixel XL continues to be robust to search out in inventory. The official Google retailer has you be part of a obscure waitlist, however you should not have a lot of a difficulty scoping out a deal on websites like eBay or Amazon.

Launching at $769 (£719, AU$1,269) for the 32GB model, and $869 (£819, AU$1,419) for the 128GB mannequin, every iteration is now going for $100 much less. It’s Google’s smartphone all grown up and meaning it’s costlier than the now discontinued Nexus 6P.

There’s additionally no 64GB in-between inner storage dimension, and no microSD slot for expandable storage to make 32GB extra tolerable. You must go massive should you’re recording a variety of high-resolution video.

You may have higher shot at discovering Google Pixel XL in inventory at a provider retailer. Verizon sells it on contract, and it is available right now in the US. It prices $32.08 a month over 24 months and comes with day one updates.

Or, you may skip the contract and pay the whole lot up entrance for the SIM-free Pixel XL. It really works simply as effectively on AT&T, T-Cellular and Dash along with Verizon because of having each GSM and CDMA antennas.

Within the UK, you will get the Pixel on contract from EE, paying £9.99 upfront after which £55.99 per 30 days for 10GB of information and limitless calls and texts.

Design

• Premium – however peculiar glass-and-metal – design
• No digicam bump on the again in any respect
• Not waterproof, and no stereo audio system

Google referred to as the Pixel XL design ‘daring’ throughout its preliminary announcement, noting that the again of the telephone’s glass-and-metal make-up offers it “character and character.”

If that seems like a backhanded praise, it’s form of deserved. It’s nearly as if Google heard that folks like metallic telephones, but additionally like glass telephones, so it determined to throw in each supplies.

It’s an odd, two-toned combine on the again facet, making the Google Pixel XL really feel like we’re one step away from unwrapping the Neapolitan ice cream of smartphones. 

It does have quite thick bezel on the prime and backside, regardless of having no bodily dwelling button on the backside. It seemed okay at launch, however 2017’s development of slim bezels proved that this look is getting a bit lengthy within the tooth.

The excellent news is that, as funky because it seems to be, the supplies are strong: strengthened Gorilla Glass four for the highest third across the rear fingerprint sensor and digicam, and polished anodized aluminum on the underside two-thirds the place your hand wraps across the telephone.

Clutching this phablet shouldn’t be an issue should you might get the taller Nexus 6P in your arms. It measures 153 x 76 x eight.58mm, and tapers off to a depth of seven.31mm across the again.

It’s barely thicker and boxier than most telephones, together with the iPhone 7 Plus at 7.3mm, however not fairly as tall or, extra importantly, extensive. Regular-sized arms will do okay right here.

Google has thrown rather a lot into the Pixel XL design, however there’s one factor you received’t discover: an annoying digicam bump. The rear digicam is totally flush with the glass plate on the again, a design feat that Apple and Samsung have but to attain.

Sadly, the Google Pixel XL doesn’t dwell as much as these producers’ waterproofing requirements. Its IP53 ranking means you may’t get this one moist, by no means thoughts by accident dunk it within the sink, pool or bathroom. That is a deal breaker for the clumsy amongst us.

On the entrance, surrounding the 5.5-inch show is a quite massive ‘chin’ for a telephone that comprises no bodily dwelling button. All the face buttons are on-screen, whereas the riveted sleep/wake button and clean quantity rocker are on the fitting facet.

It does, nonetheless, use that further room on the prime to incorporate a headphone jack. There’s a speaker on the underside, however whereas there are two speaker grilles, there’s only one firing out sound. When you by accident cowl it up together with your finger (which occurs rather a lot when enjoying video games and watching motion pictures), it kills the quantity. It is extraordinarily straightforward to do holding the telephone in panorama mode.

Exhibiting that it does, the truth is, have ‘character’, the Google Pixel XL colours embody Very Silver, Fairly Black and Actually Blue, a poke at ridiculous phone-color naming conventions.

Actually Blue, a limited-edition and, to this point, US-only Google Pixel shade, offered out inside hours of the pre-order launch. Fortunately, Google promised to restock it and it did on December 1. It is not that restricted. You could have to affix a wait listing, relying in your telephone configuration of alternative.

You’re most likely going to get a Reside Case to cowl up the peculiar glass-and-metal design anyway, so if you are able to do with out a waterproof telephone and stereo audio system, you’ll be effective. 

Show

• Brilliant and colourful 5.5-inch AMOLED show
• Higher for VR than the 5-inch Google Pixel
• No rise-to-wake or always-on display screen

The Google Pixel XL additional proves why AMOLED shows look the very best for smartphones, because of its colourful and vibrant display screen that outclasses LCD panels each time.

It’s vivid and prepared for digital actuality on a funds,  the latter being one key motive we’d counsel you improve from the normal-sized, 1080p Google Pixel. When you’re into VR, massive telephones and extra battery life, this one’s for you. If not, save your cash.

The display screen seems to be higher than an iPhone 7 Plus, but it surely’s lacking one key characteristic we like about Apple’s show and newer Samsung and LG handsets: a rise-to-wake or always-on display screen.

Having to succeed in for the tiny, side-mounted sleep/wake button on this telephone simply to gentle up the lock display screen made us miss this informative show characteristic. 

The rear fingerprint sensor pad (not a button) lights up and unlocks the telephone with authentication, too, however that is solely helpful when it is in your hand, not sitting on a desk. At the least surrender a double-tap-wake characteristic to gentle up the lockscreen.

An Ambient Show modes does lights the display screen up in a black-and-white shade palette when notifications are available, but it surely’s simply not the identical.

Google has lastly upgraded its new telephone to incorporate a Night time Gentle mode that matches the iOS 9.3 characteristic. It lacks the adjustable orange-to-blue ranges Apple has had from the start, and turns from blue to orange quite abruptly at sundown, but it surely’s a begin.