Google - Pixel 4G LTE with 32GB Memory Cell Phone - Very Silver (Verizon)

The Google Pixel is a game changer. My last phone was a Nexus 5X. I purchased the 5X for some of the same reasons I love the Pixel: pure android, the earliest updates, and a great feature set for the price. Pixel takes things a few steps further, though, with a several exclusives and a truly premium feel. In the box: 32GB Very Black Pixel phone, wall charger (USB-C), Two USB cables (one with USB-C on both ends, one with USB-A on one end and USB-C on the other), USB-C to USB-A adapter, 3-month pass to Google Music, brochure information, and key to open SIM tray. Pixel is an excellent phone, but it is not perfect. Many reviews have complained about the large chin on the phone. Maybe it is bigger than it needs to be, especially given that there is only one speaker on the face of the Pixel, but it doesn't really matter. In person, it looks fine and offers an easy place to hold/balance the phone. Others have complained that it is not waterproof. I'll give them that. It is basically splash resistant, so it definitely lags behind several rival phones in this regard, and I do wish it were more resistant to water and dust. Some people don't like the look of the phone with the glass tile on the back. That's a matter of taste; I actually like it and think it adds a distinctive touch to the phone. Some people complain about the lack of an SD card or a 64Gb option for memory. I'll give them that; I wish Google would be a little more flexible in terms of memory, but at least they did include a nifty memory manager with unlimited cloud storage for full-sized pictures and video (very nice add-on). I am slightly disappointed the phone doesn't include wireless charging. Some people complain about the price, but this phone justifies the price when compared to the competition. It is not a Nexus; it is a new thing entirely, and it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best flagship phones in the industry. But when it comes to negatives, that's it; and those are all minor issues relative to the overall function of the phone. And everything else about the Pixel is amazing. The phone feels great in the hand. It is clearly a premium phone in terms of look and feel. I have the "Very Black" version (which strikes me more as a very deep gray, fwiw), and it is very attractive. With 4Gb RAM, the new Snapdragon 821 chip, and Nougat 7.1, the Pixel flies effortlessly through any task. I haven't found anything that makes it stutter. It is the fastest phone I have ever used, bar none. The 1080p Super AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass 4 offers a fantastic screen image with rich colors and great viewing angles. The glass also feels good. I don't usually see reviews mention the feel of the glass, but I have used some phones where the glass just doesn't feel as nice. This one feels great. And it has night mode built in. This is a terrific screen, although the Pixel XL does have better resolution than the 5" Pixel. It can wash out a little in direct sunlight, so be aware of that. The camera is AWESOME! I'm picky about cameras (those 20+mp Nokias with Carl Zeiss lenses spoiled me). The 5X had a decent shooter, but was frustratingly slow. Pixel improves the camera and is extremely quick about launching, focusing, and taking the shot. It is, quite simply, one of the best phone cameras on the planet. The camera includes a bolstered HDR+ mode that helps improve low-light performance, which was already impressive with the Nexus 6P and 5X. Additionally, Google includes electronic image stabilization, which has performed impressively thus far when taking pictures or shooting video, even in 4k. Google points out the phone doesn't have a camera bump. To remove the bump, Google made the phone very slightly thicker at the top, so it tapers to the bottom. This allows it to rest flat when on a desk or table. I don't actually mind camera bumps, but it was a thoughtful design touch. You might not even notice the taper if no one points it out to you. I will say the lack of a camera hump makes the phone just look more coherent than some others. I love the fingerprint reader on the Pixel. It is similar to the one from my 5X, but it has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Most notably, you can swipe down on the fingerprint reader to open the notifications panel. It's no wonder some reviews have called the Google fingerprint reader the best in the business. It has worked every time for me. So far, the 2770mAh battery gets me through the day a bit better than the similarly-sized battery in my 5X did. I'll be interested to see how it performs after its been broken in longer. Frankly, I would have preferred a slightly larger battery, though – say maybe 3000mAh. Google says it reaches 90% charge in 15 minutes. I was at about 40% when I plugged it last night, and it zoomed to 100% in less than 10 minutes, so that was good. Plus, the battery appears to be safely of the non-exploding variety. ;-) In terms of software, Nougat 7.1 is an excellent incremental improvement with one serious wow factor that is currently exclusive to Pixel – the addition of Google Assistant. While Siri usually just annoys me, I am a big fan of Cortana. Google Assistant is already better than both, especially in terms of recognizing a series of questions in a conversational manner. You need to try it to believe it. It was a lot of fun to just play with at first. Google Assistant scores extremely high in terms of recognizing what you say. Sure, it still makes a few mistakes, but the potential is very enticing. It can also provide you a snapshot of your day in the morning, which can be very helpful. Pixel launcher is also pretty nice. I've generally used a third-party launcher in Android, but I might end up staying with the Pixel launcher due to the neat features (swipe up for the app drawer, easy access to Google Assistant, etc). But there isn't much customization with the launcher, and that factor may drive me back to something like Nova Launcher Pro. Several additional little software tweaks are much appreciated. For instance, now it is easy to visually see how to initiate a 3-way call in the native dialer. It's a little thing, but I've long griped about the dialer in Android. Also, you can use app shortcuts (Quick Actions), which is similar to Apple's 3D Touch feature. Basically, a list of options will appear when you long press on an app icon. This can be very helpful. It seems odd to include the fact the phone has a headphone jack as part of a review, but it is worth mentioning these days. The jack is located on the top of the Pixel. Some people seem bothered by the location, but I actually tend to prefer it there. I should also note I am extremely pleased the 5" Pixel has the exact same specs as the larger 5.5" Pixel XL, other than screen size and resolution. A five-inch phone is right about the sweet spot for me, and my only regret with the 5X was the fact it was a lower tier phone than the larger 6P. I'm happy to see Google recognize that its "smaller" phone can be every bit the premium handset as its larger phone. The Pixel fits my hand well and is easy to operate with one hand. Of course, the larger XL should be better for Google Daydream View (Google's new virtual reality offering), given the higher resolution and larger screen; but I expect the Pixel will be fine, too. I have not had an opportunity to experiment with Daydream, but the Pixel phones are the only ones currently that support it. It is worth noting the Pixel has 24/7 customer service built into the OS. That indicates to me that Google is serious about this being a long-term project. At the end of the day, the Pixel is an excellent phone. It has performed every task flawlessly. Could it be improved? Sure, and I expect the next generation will have some welcome tweaks. But I'm very excited with this new direction by Google and think they've done a great job with the first gen Pixel. Very highly recommended. Pros: --Latest OS directly from Google --Google Assistant --Speed --Great camera --Unlimited cloud storage for full-size pictures and videos --Exclusive Pixel software features --Solid, premium feel and appearance --Beautiful screen --Quick charging --Flagship specs --Responsive fingerprint reader --Easy one-hand operation --Daydream ready Cons: --Not waterproof --Single speaker --Lacks expandable memory --Smallish battery --No wireless charging I've included a few photos. The pictures with three phones all show my 5x (left), Pixel (middle) and iPhone 6 (right) for comparison. Despite the mild negatives, the Pixel is a 5-star performer and deserves all the accolades it is getting in the press. I believe this the best 5" phone on the planet right now. If you want a top-tier Android phone, I highly recommend the Pixel.

I'll preface this by saying that I'm an Apple guy so I'm basically comparing this phone to my iPhone 6s Plus. This phone was really nice. It had a great feel and weight to it so it felt like it was quality made. I'd rate the display a notch above the iPhone 6s. Both have vivid colors and accurate blacks. The finger print reader is in an odd (to me) location on the opposite side of the screan. Would make it hard to use if your phone wasn't already in your hand. As you would expect from a phone of this caliber, it can handle lots of apps running at the same time. No lag at all. The Google Assistant was able to understand what I said right out of he box quite a bit easier than Siri. Camera quality is noticeably better than the already outstanding iPhone. Overall, this phone seems slightly superior to the iPhone 6s. I do like the larger size (didn't think I would) of my iPhone 6s Plus so I would buy the Pixel XL if you're used to a larger screen. I can't speak for how it compares to the iPhone 7, but I suspect they are comparable with the exception of Siri which the google assistant wins. I'd gladly carry this phone around with me. Very functional and stylish.

Pros: - Amazing cameras (front and back) - Quick access to the camera (double-press the power button) - Quick, reliable fingerprint scanner - Great looking screen (even if "only" 1080p resolution) - Decent battery (gets me through the day with light-moderate use) - Google Assistant - Timely software updates straight from Google Cons: - No water resistance - No wireless charging - No expandable storage - Only one speaker (it looks like there are two on the bottom, but only one is a speaker) - Power button and volume rocker are on the same side (this one is personal preference) I know other people have said this, and I apologize for repeating it, but I wish Google spent a little more time to come up with a different design for the phone. It looks too much like an iPhone from the front (the missing home button is the only giveaway it's not an iPhone) and the back looks as if Google realized halfway through the design that they were making an iPhone, so they added the fingerprint scanner and glass on the top half of the phone. Seriously, turn the phone over and cover the top half with your hand, then tell me it doesn't look "familiar". I was able to get over the design quickly (the iPhone is a nice looking phone), and I'm glad I did. The phone feels great to hold, and unlike my old Samsung Galaxy S6, the Pixel doesn't feel as if it is going to slide out of my hand. I don't feel compelled to slap a case on it to prevent it from being accidentally dropped. The fingerprint scanner is on the back, which took a little while to get used to. The scanner is very quick and accurate, I have yet to have the phone prompt me to try reading my fingerprint again. I don't have a preference as to having the fingerprint scanner on the back or the front of a phone (my previous phone was a Galaxy S6, so I'm used to the scanner on the front), but if you do have a preference it's worth thinking about if you're trying to decide if you want to buy this phone or not. I have the smaller Pixel phone (not the XL), but even though the screen resolution is "only" 1080p, it looks amazing. Colors look great, the picture is sharp, and I wouldn't have guessed the resolution was 1080p had I not known. Watching videos, viewing pictures, or playing games looks fantastic on this screen. Along with a great screen, I was surprised how well the speaker sounds on the Pixel. While the phone doesn't have front-firing speakers, it still sounds clear and loud. I was a little disappointed to see that it only has one speaker. If you look at the bottom of the phone, it looks as if there is a speaker on each side of the USB-C port, however only one is a speaker (the other is an imposter!). I'm not a huge mobile gamer, but the games I do play look great and show no signs of lag or frame loss. As with just about any phone, it does start to heat up after a while when playing, but not warm enough to worry me about damaging the phone. Call quality is great, but what impressed me is the signal strength. I'm seeing full bars of service on my Pixel in the same areas that my wife gets 2-3 bars on her Galaxy S7. My biggest complaint about the Pixel is that Google is asking for flagship pricing while leaving out features found from other flagship phones: no water resistance, no wireless charging, and no expandable storage. I could have forgiven the lack of expandable storage if this was a new Nexus phone, since Nexus phones have never had that feature, but this isn't a Nexus. If you're trying to decide between the Pixel and Galaxy S7, it's hard to not want to go with the S7. ** REGARDING THE PIXEL OR PIXEL XL IF BUYING FROM VERIZON ** There was some confusion online regarding the Pixel and Pixel XL if you purchased them from Verizon and if the phones were locked or not. I wanted to help clear up the confusion: the phones are NOT locked to Verizon Wireless. If you are a Verizon Wireless customer and buy the Pixel or Pixel XL today, you're not "tied" to Verizon with your Pixel phone. You can toss in an AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint SIM card without any issues. I was able to use an AT&T SIM card and it worked just fine. Where is the confusion coming from? The BOOTLOADER is locked if you buy the Pixel or Pixel XL from Verizon Wireless. All this means is that you can't flash a custom ROM to the phone. If you don't know what that is, or don't care, then don't worry. Again, the Pixel and Pixel XL from Verizon Wireless are NOT SIM locked. If for whatever reason you don't want to continue being a Verizon Wireless customer later down the road, you're free to take your Pixel or Pixel XL with you.

I have HTC 10 and iPhone 7, so I can provide unbiased reviews. I owned 2 Nexus devices (Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 5) in the past. So I'm very excited to get my hands on the Pixel. Pros: - Fast, no lagging - Fingerprint reader placed strategically on the back, it actually does work better than being placed on the front. I thought it would be awkward, but it's pretty natural. - Nougat UI is clean and fluid. - Assistant is very smart! I was driving and it sent me a notification that there's an accident ahead. - Google smart lock remembers most of my password when I downloaded my apps. - Camera is very vivid. I was worried when I learned the camera doesn't use OIS technology since I record videos of my kids but they turn out great with very minimal shaking. - Battery: fast charging! Up to 70% in 15 minutes. - No bloatware - CDMA and GSM: iPhone 7 stripped this dual technology feature. I'm glad Pixel is keeping it. Cons: - Design: I still love the design of HTC 10 the best. I honestly don't get the half glass design on the back. iPhone 7 is just meh. - Speakers: I expected more since Pixel is made by HTC after all. But the 2 firing bottom speakers do not sound as rich as front firing speakers of HTC 10. - The 2 changes in Nougat that bothered me the most: center key is no longer opening the drawer, now you have to slide up on the arrow to open up your drawer. The option to clear all your apps hidden on the very top, so if you have many apps opened up, you actually have to scroll all the way up before you can clear them all. Why??? - Charging: no light indicator, red or amber or green. No battery percentage on the icon. I think this goes back to Vanilla Android design. TouchWiz or Sense build in their own. - No SD card, although this is not as a big of a deal anymore for me since it comes with unlimited photo storage, and I uploaded all my music to Google Play anyways. In summary, Pixel is like that geek in your senior high. Not as pretty with that weird glass on the back, but this phone is smart and powerful!

Easily one of, if not the best Android phone. The hardware is superb, and the latest version of Android (7.1) is very polished. There are many things to like about this phone. The camera is definitely at the top of the current selection of smartphones. The battery life has also been very good. I'm easily getting a full day, and could probably go another half-day. I usually just put it on the charger at night. Which brings up another great feature - rapid charging. The Pixel can get around half the batter in a matter of about 15 minutes. The screen is very sharp, and has great color. Really, there isn't anything I can complain about with the hardware. I wouldn't mind if it was water resistant. I also do miss the wireless charging of my previous phone. There's also the great fingerprint sensor on the back, which is a great spot for it, and it works excellently to unlock the phone quickly. You can also swipe down on it to slide down the notifications menu. The only trouble I've had so far was connecting to my car stereo via Bluetooth. Though, this issue was remedied with a quick conversation with Google's support, which can be accessed from the settings on the phone itself. For those wondering, I was getting the error of Bluetooth connected (no media). Just needed to do a Network Connections Reset from the settings. If you're looking for a high-end Android phone, you can't go wrong with the Pixel. Pros: Camera, Battery Life, Performance, Rapid Charging, Screen, Fingerprint Scanner Cons: No wireless charging, not water resistant, wish the Google Assistant would read text messages via Bluetooth in my car (this may be able to done with a third-party app, or a future update).

I went from a Samsung S5 to a Google Pixel, which is a huge upgrade! I’ve always been a fan of Android and Google did a great job with this phone. All the Google applications are installed on the phone with no extra bloatware other than the Verizon app that came with it. The package design and look and feel is very consistent with Google products. Phone is built well and is lightweight. I wish the fingerprint sensor was in the front, but I think I’ll eventually get used to it. It has a 12.3MP camera and takes great photos…I just upped my social media game with the Pixel. The phone is responsive and takes photos quickly. Also, it comes with unlimited Google photos/videos, which is great since the phone I’m reviewing comes with 32GB. The AMOLED screen is vivid and has crisp colors. So far the battery life is amazing. I can go a full day of using apps consistently, which might not compare to the iPhone. Google Assistant is pretty useful, but can be fine-tuned to be even better. My only gimmick with the phone is I wish it allowed for additional storage and I hope Google will consider adding this feature to the phones in the future. Also, they need to add a battery percentage on the icon.

The Pixel is the first no compromise Android phone. Great screen (OLED higher resolution than Iphone) with good calibration, fast processor, hardware/software optimization, no unwanted Android add ons, monthly security updates (not when apple or verizon decide it is in their interests to patch), 2 years of Android updates, split screen, plenty of RAM, free full resolution backup of photos and videos, extra help without paying for apple care plus, fast charging (without overheating), great battery life, near instant fingerprint sensor (on the back where it should be). great size and weight. More cost effective than apple, easier setup and backup, great GPS, pedometer, and the new iteration of google assistant is the future of AI. Just buy and swap SIMS card and enter google password and you can upgrade in minutes.

To start I'll list everything it comes with in the box. The Google Pixel phone itself of course, 2 USB C cables, a USB C adapter, the Wall charger, sim card tool, and the user guide with other papers. The charge cable itself is a little short, but it works ok. Set up was fast and easy. You have the option to transfer your data from an iphone, or other android device, but I decided to start fresh. You then add your google account, and set up the voice assistant. Thats all. I tested out the messaging and was genuinely surprised out how fast it sent and received messages. Quite a bit faster than my other phone which is an S7. Call quality was very clear both regular and on speaker phone. I had no issues sending or receiving calls. I tested out my LTE speeds up against my Galaxy S7, but of course this will depend on your carrier but here is what I got. Pixel LTE Speed average of 3 tests: 13.98 Down - 3.22 Up Galaxy S7 LTE Speed average of 3 tests: 6.57 Down - 3.42 Up Google has done a lot of advertising about how good the camera is and I have to say thats been true for me. I took some pictures using my Galaxy S7 and the Pixel and did some comparisons. The thing that stood out the most for me was that the pictures the Pixel took had a lot more detail in areas with low light. And the pictures really look good. If a great camera is on the top of your list for what you look for in a new phone this is a great choice. One thing I thought I would notice when comparing the Pixel up against my Galaxy S7 was the quad HD screen on the S7 vs the 1080p screen on the Pixel. And I cant tell any difference at all. The text, icons, and screen all look great. One thing I thought my be an issue was that this version of the Pixel has only 32gb of storage, with no SD card slot. But after setting it up and installing a couple apps I had 7.31gb used of the total available 29.70gb, leaving me with 22.39gb left for the rest of my apps, games, future pics and videos, etc. But this is not that big of a deal because the Pixel comes with unlimited picture and video cloud storage. And a system that automatically backs them up so you dont have to worry about running out of space. Although I dont use fingerprint security since Im the only one that ever touches my phone I tested it out and its awesome. It is extremely fast and never errors out asking for your chosen back up security type. You can set it up to fully unlock to your home screen just by holding your finger on the sensor. Ive used Samsung devices for the last few years so Ive never really been able to use pure Android. And I really like it. Its simple with no overlay that can complicate things. And since its a Google phone you'll get the latest security and firmware updates when they come out rather than having to wait for your carrier to approve the update. The new 7.1 is very fast. I havent experienced any delays, errors, or anything of the sort. Everything just works and works fast. Ive never been much into the whole voice assistant thing, but this phone has made me think twice about that. The new Google Voice assistant is MUCH smarter than before. It works for so many different things, and you can continue in whatever topic you are searching for. It will remember what you are asking rather than having to start over. I think this new voice assistant has won me over. Ill be using it for sure. So overall Google has really knocked it out of the park with this phone. I am very happy with it and the new Android 7.1 features have won me over. If you are looking for the best of Android the Google Pixel is it. Thank you for reading.