So last week Google released the follow-up to the Nexus range being the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Well, it isn’t exactly a follow-up since Google promoted this phone as ‘new’ new. But, yes, it is a phone with the latest specs and the latest Google operating system (being Nougat). However, as much as there is alot of hype around this phone, it is really worth getting? Here are the main pros to the larger of the two variants of the Pixel phone: the Pixel XL which is looking to compete directly against the iPhone 7 Plus and, potentially, the Samsung S7 Edge.

#1 Not IP68 Waterproof

If the Google Pixel XL wanted any chance of competing against the iPhone 7 Plus, it had to match and beat the specs on the iPhone. The iPhone 7 Plus is IP68 waterproof which means it can survive being fully submerged underwater, up to a metre, for half an hour. The Google Pixel XL only has IP53 meaning it is both less water and dust proof than its competitors (*sigh*).

#2 No Wireless Charging

Although the Pixel Plus comes with the new USB Type-C and quick charging allowing the phone to gain 7 hours of battery within 15 minutes of charging, it would have been nice to have seen that the Pixel Plus was compatible with wireless chargers too. I can understand, to some extent, why wireless charging did not become as big a hit as when they first came out: because they take a long time to charge phones to full (and even longer if you choose to stick a case on your phone too). However, there are a lot of people that would be extremely happy to leave their phone on their bedside cabinet on top of a wireless charger knowing it is going to charge to 100% overnight every night rather than fiddle around trying to find and fit the cable into the phone. Google, it seems, missed out on a trick here…

#3 The Price

The Pixel range starts at an eye-watering $649 and goes to around $1,000 for the most expensive variant. For many people, this is just far too much.

Yes, it is around the same pricing as Apple and Samsung flagship phones. However, much of the appeal of the Nexus range, in the past, has been for the fact that it:

• Has the latest operating system which is clean and fast since it does not have any skin over the top of it.
• This has meant the specs inside the phone do not need to be top end to produce top end performance, reducing the cost of the phone to that of a mid-range phone.

What Google have done with the Pixel and Pixel XL is produce a phone that has top specs inside it which means it will be incredibly quick. However, the stock Android Nougat OS will be so efficient, did Google really need to do this? To some extent, yes. However, I think Google would have sold more phones if they went for lower end specs inside, such as Motorola have done with their ‘Play’ models.