Customer Ratings & Reviews

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.

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 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!

Google outdid themselves this year with this phone. As an Android smartphone reviewer it is my job to dissect the latest and greatest devices to hit the market. I own and have used countless devices over the years and I can honestly say the Google Pixel and Pixel XL are the best Android phones on the market.

(due to Best Buy complaining that my review is too long, I have to revise a lot of what’s on the original draft) Original Review Draft: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13I_bewxTRSSZlst0NCWjG2uTsjRdEapUNmTp6hjaXUU/edit?usp=sharing Let’s get this out of the way. This isn’t Google’s first time in the hardware business. And this isn’t their first phone either. The niche market Nexus brand is part Google and part manufacturer. In last year’s case, that was LG for the Nexus 5X and Huawei for the Nexus 6P. But if you really want to get technical or into specifics, then this is the first Google-branded phone. I’ll start with the biggest barrier entry -- price. This isn’t cheap. Its price point is meant to take on the giants -- Apple and Samsung. Whether or not the high price point is justified depends on how you look at it. With a baseline starting price at $649 for 32GB storage capacity, it’ll definitely tear a “galaxy” sized hole in your wallet. I personally believe that a starting price at $500 would fit better for this phone. But again, this depends on how you view it. Everything here will be compared to my 2 year old Motorola Nexus 6. Immediately, the first thing that gets me is the physical size of it. The Pixel is a 5 inch screen model so having it in my hands feels strange. But the feel of the phone in my hand makes for a nice comfortable grip. The small profile makes for easy reach from one edge of the screen to the other. Those who prefer being able to do things on one hand will find that this is the ideal size. On the other hand, those who prefer larger sized phones will find the Pixel too small. I like the feel of the edges on the Pixel, as it makes it easy to grip, unlike certain other phones. The 5 inch screen is 1080x1920 using AMOLED. Colors look great but I cannot test it under sunlight due to weather. The sound is okay but is a big downgrade from the front facing speakers found in the Motorola Nexus 6 and the Huawei Nexus 6P. There’s only 1 media speaker and it’s located on the bottom edge on the left side (when holding it vertically). As to why Google designed it this way, I do not know. Using the fingerprint reader is wonderful. I do not know why I did not pick up the Nexus 6P last year. But perhaps skipping that year was a good thing, for reasons that will be mentioned later on. The reader is quick and setting up is straightforward. If you opt in to use it on setup, it’ll ask you to use a finger to train it. Afterwards, you can add in more fingerprints (obviously, for your other hand). Unlocking the phone via fingerprint is quick and easy. Security is two layers, however. But it only applies upon the phone’s startup. The second (un)locking layer is through either a pattern, a PIN, or a password. Hardware performance is fast. It is obviously faster than my two year old Nexus 6. But reading/writing to the internal storage should be faster than most other phones out there. The tech-savvy will recognize when I say that the storage interface is UFS 2.0 rather than the old eMMC. 3D rendering should also be fast (and possibly faster than Pixel XL) as it only have to render 1080p. 4GB of RAM makes for a smooth transition between apps and should be plenty for apps that uses a lot of memory. Wi-Fi performance seems pretty good. But most of this is conjecture and subjective, as there are a lot of variables involved. I used “Adventures of Mana” to download and install to test this and the download process took a few minutes to complete, give or take a minute. Using the launcher is a new experience. I’ve used Google Now Launcher for a long time but using the Pixel Launcher throws me off at times. The center button that used to call up the app drawer is now replaced by an app shortcut. So there are numerous occasions where I’d accidentally launch Gmail (the default app placed there) when I wanted to bring up the app drawer. The new Google Assistant is also new. It’s more natural and I’m really liking how it’s executed. The special keyphrase “Good morning” will give you a summary for the day, including weather, news, and any calendar agendas. These can be customized to suit your needs. The camera is a major improvement from the Motorola Nexus 6. But technically there’s little difference betwen the Pixel and the Huawei Nexus 6P. Gone is the optical image stabilization, which may seem like a downgrade. But after testing the software-based video stabilization, I was really surprised in how smooth the test video turned out. Exclusive to the Pixel and Pixel XL is unlimited photo and video storage. This is one of the big selling points, aside from the camera, and truly complements the fantastic camera that the Pixel is equipped with. Personally with this kind of perk, and with the camera, it’ll definitely push me to taking more photos. The selfie camera is also improved, providing a good 8MP sensor that should be able to get your good/sexy side. Little was done to test on how well Pixel performed on Verizon’s network. But I did manage to test their “HD Calling” (aka VoLTE to the rest of the world). Call quality is definitely better, even though the difference is small. But it comes with drawbacks. Should your signal drop below LTE, it’ll drop your call. Another is that not a lot of smartphone comes with this ability. And it’s safe to assume that classic flip phones may not be capable of this too. Overall, I like the Pixel phone. It’s fast. The experience is buttery smooth and snappy. It’s a great upgrade if you have a smartphone at least 2 years old. On the plus side, you’ll be getting the latest update from Google well before anyone would get theirs. Although you’re guaranteed 2 years of major Android upgrades, I question whether or not Google will change their stand for the Pixel. At least security updates will still roll out for a while. The camera is finally awesome and the unlimited photo/video storage perk that is exclusive to Pixel and Pixel XL owners is a major bonus. Do I recommend this? I lean towards a yes, rather than an overwhelming yes. It’s the purest Android experience as designed and envisioned by Google. If the Pixel was $500 or $550 for the baseline model, then I would have recommended it in a heartbeat. But that’s the price set forth by Google. If and when I finally make my switch more permanent to the Pixel, I know I will be enjoying it more and more. Pixel Camera Sample Archive: https://goo.gl/photos/a97VqGiHhRM1nj6T9

External of the Box: - 5" 32GB - Quite Black (interesting name) - Model: G-2PW4100 - Made in Taiwan (not made in China! YES! Wished it was made in Korea though instead) - Google Assistant - Google Cast - Daydream VR What's in the box? - 1x Google Pixel Phone - Instructions Packet: * Meet your personal Google Assistant * 3 months of Google Play Music & YouTube Red (FREE) * Thank You Card * Safety & Warranty Booklet - Sim Card Tray Removal Tool - USB to USB-C Cable - USB to USB-C Dongle - USB-C to USB-C Cable - AC Adapter Testing/Setup/Usage: Let me first say... If you're getting the phone with Verizon, be prepared for a LOT LOT LOT LOT LOT of issues. Now I mean issues as in not issues with the phone, but issues getting the thing activated with Verizon. It was a pain in the butt. It took me about 2 days and I got the phone working finally to be able to use it. The packaging that the Pixel comes in is awesome, good job Google! I'm a box guy, what can I say? The phone itself is aesthetically pleasing. I enjoyed using the phone. With the finger print sensor on the back of the device, it takes a little getting use to when moving from an iPhone. The screen is smooth, responsive, and clear. The phone is fast! Personally, I still feel like iPhone's IOS is still a little more fluid though in my opinion. I made a couple calls and was informed that my iPhone 6 Plus was more "clear" as far as speaking through the microphone goes. The Pixel isn't bad with calls, I was just informed that my iPhone 6 Plus was more clear. The speakers on the Pixel is pretty amazing, nice and loud. The camera in my opinion is good, but nothing spectacular. Compared to my iPhone 6 Plus, not even the iPhone 7; it seems like iPhone's pictures come out the same to the naked eye. I want to mention though that the Pixel's camera is definitely better than any Android phone I've used. The battery life on the phone is pretty good. I fully charged it around 08:30pm and used it pretty heavily till today around 11:00am and it still has about 30% left. When I say I used it pretty heavily, I played games on it, downloaded apps, set up my apps, surfing, Pandora, etc. Speaking of Pandora... There's a headphone jack! Sorry Apple, but having a headphone jack is crucial to some people. Charging the phone was pretty nice compared to my iPhone 6 Plus. I fully charged my phone from 7% to 100% in about an hour. With my iPhone, it takes longer than that. The cables included gives you a full range of how you wanted to charge your phone. From what I know, if you don't use the original AC adapter; the charge is not as fast. One thing that I really don't like about the phone, dust latches onto the phone like white on rice. The speaker, microphone port, etc has a material that stuff likes to stick to; not sure why. Coming from a person with OCD, it gets a little annoying. I clean my phone a lot so seeing so much dust latching on makes me clean my Pixel more than the iPhone 6 Plus. So far, I enjoy using the phone. In my opinion, its running great and its the best Android phone I've used. I purchased a Speck case for the phone and its really all you need. If you want, you can purchase a screen protector too but I feel like the Speck case was enough. With all the neat features on this phone, its a fun phone to use. If you're switching from iOS to this phone, it may take a little getting use to with the app drawer and the other features; even if you're switching from a different Android phone. Overall, I like the phone. If you're shopping, I would definitely consider the Google Pixel as an option. Conclusion: I would recommend the phone. If you're shopping around and you're tired of Apple for whatever reason, this Android phone is definitely worth a look at. Go into your local Verizon and try it out. Its not offered at AT&T or T-Mobile yet. Try it out and see how you like it, a recommendation is a recommendation. If you're tired of other Android devices or the one you have now, definitely check out the Pixel. I definitely enjoyed using the device. I knocked off a star because its definitely not a 5 star device but its like a 4.5. I feel like coming from an iOS device, I feel like iOS has a smoother and more solid built operating system. But, Android is catching up. What I mean by this is iOS seems more fluid and less "glitchy". I haven't ran into any glitches but if you've used an Apple device, you know what I mean. So there is my verdict, check out the Google Pixel; I think you'll enjoy it.

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.

After spending a day with the Pixel, I'm sold. There was a lot of hype around Google's release of this new model and they have come through. While pricey (but what new phone isn't?), the features packed into this device are awesome. What I loved: -The camera (front and rear) are said to be the best available. I agree. Not only is the picture quality great, but the photo app features are plentiful and useful. - Fast charging via USB-C. - Nougat OS seems impressive. This is my first stock Android phone and the lack of bloatware was appreciated. - The integrated google assistant worked amazingly well. The first several voice commands I attempted worked flawlessly, from checking the weather to providing directions to playing music from one of my favorite bands. - The fingerprint scanner on the back can be used to scroll notifications. This means I can get updates with one hand if I'm busy with the other. What I didn't like: - I couldn't find a way to wake the phone up other than pressing the power button. You can wake it up with the fingerprint scanner, but only if you have a lock on the phone as well and I don't like to lock my phones. That's my only negative. Google set out to impress with it's first phone where it controls the hardware and the software and they succeeded.

When approached to review this Google Pixel 4G Lte 32 Gb smartphone on Verizon's network, I did not hesitate. This is Google's first attempt to build both it's own hardware to run it's latest software, Android 7.1 Nougat. Google really released their first attempt at hardware with all cylinders firing. It is so beautiful, with it's polished aluminum, it's round edges, it's transition from screen to bevel, and the edges that are easy to hold onto. It's too bad mine will be masked in a protective shield of OtterBox, the Defender series and won't shine in all it's technological sleekness. The display is stunning, and I'm coming from a QHD screen. It's 1080p display has vibrant Colors, a sharpness that separates itself from others, without the battery drain of a 4K screen, and it's touch capabilities are exceptional. The Corning Gorilla Glass 4 looks no different that it's later versions, but as you guessed it is more durable and scratch resistance which makes sense. Even though Google's designers opted to move forward lacking front facing, stereo speakers, the mono bottom firing driver delivers clean and rich sound, that is loud while, not distorting at all. This is actually my first USB type C device mobile device. I understand it's purpose, it's just a pain when we are in transition fo standards. I have so many Micro Usb cables, and no Type C, I know not to bargain shop for these type of cables, because of some articles I have read. It will be easier as the standard is adopted across the board. I do appreciate that Google sent two cables and an adapter making the transition to new cables a little easier. I will use the one with the type A to Type C connector to charge my phone overnight with a less powerful charge, in hopes that the less I quick charge the battery, the longer it will last. I will have the charger block and Type C to Type C with me in those situations where I might need to top off the battery while I am out and about. This is also my first smartphone with a finger print scanner. I really love this feature, it makes unlocking the phone a breeze, where usually I would get tired of punching in my code and disable the security all together. This feature keeps the phone locked, but doesn't hinder the use of it. I love that the software is written to use the finger print sensor as additional input gestures. Once you have unlocked the phone, if you swipe down on the finger print sensor your notification shade opens down, if you swipe again, it will show more detail from you notification shade with some setting options, that you can customize to have options you want handy. When your done, swipe up, and the notification shade goes away. The camera hardware is by far the fastest camera I have ever experienced with a smartphone. It's low light capabilities are very strong as well. I have never owned an iPhone, but My daughter swears by their ability to capture images in low light. I am hearing a lot of chatter, saying this camera beats the iPhone...I will see as I continue to use it. This phone definitely captures better front facing images with it's 8 megapixel camera. I am head over heals for Android's 7.1 Nougat. It is so snappy with this hardware. I have had some issues with Google Assistant, but hope Google will be fine tuning or tweaking some of it's features. One in particular, I have a old Motorola Droid sitting in the kitchen, as I need to add something to my grocery list, I do it using Google Now, "Okay Google, add mushrooms to my Aldi list." It adds mushrooms to my Aldi list that is sitting in my Google Keep account. With Google Assistant, it only allows you to add items to your shopping list, which works well, but If you shop at different stores, why wouldn't be able to access or add to any list that is residing in my Google Keep??? I am hopeful that Google will fix this small detail. One of the biggest thing I miss from my old phone, is the knock on/off feature. I just was so use to using it, that I still find myself tapping my screen of the pixel, and waiting for it to wake up.I actually read a few articles reflecting that this feature may be introduced via some updates. But then you still would need to unlock the phone if you have it secure. Another thing that I notice and I'm not sure if it's a hardware issue or a software issue??? With my old phone, I could turn off my data, and I would still receive group messages. With this Pixel, I found that I got notified about the message, but to download it, the Cellular Data switch had to be on. I have only done a little research, because I seldom get group messages. Maybe in the next few days I will test out this 24/7 support, If I do I will update this post, to let you know how it went. I give Google an A+ for this wonderfully designed smartphone. I know that this Google Pixel 4G Lte 32Gb Smart Phone (in Slate) is a little bit of shock at $699.99, being all of Google's other handsets(Nexus) were about half that cost. But if you are the type of person that likes the latest greatest, there are several pricing/financing options when you go to purchase one. I would recommend this product to a friend. In doing some research on this new phone, it is being called the iPhone killer by some, I guess time will tell.

Googles first attempt at their own phone (software/ hardware developed by Google) is a solid homerun, even though it has a few shortcomings! The hardware; at least to me is absolutely beautiful and on par with any of the top cellphone manufacturers out there. The software; is so smooth and buttery, there literally is no lag! It reminds me of iOS in the early days. The screen at 5 inches is a sweet spot, though I love bigger screens, it's a nice comprise especially if you want a big screen but dont have big hands. If you are a died in the wool Android person, this phone is an excellent choice when considering a new phone. The price could be a shortcoming for some, and the lack of headphones baffles me especially when you're competing with the big manufacturers. 32 gb may not seem like a lot of storage these days, but Google gives you unlimited photo and video cloud storage for all taken on the Pixel. Google should be very proud of this phone and anyone should put it on their short list when searching for a phone.

I am a die-hard iOS fan. I’ve had every iPhone since they were released and almost every major technology device I purchase is Apple. Coming from the view of someone who is iOS all the way I can tell you that my short time with the Google Pixel has been interesting. I found the phone to be very well-designed and it rivals my iPhone 7 Plus. It’s an exceptional mobile phone and it was actually a pleasure to use. Most of the Android phones we get I pass along to others to write about because the operating system makes me jitter in my sleep. One of my big problems with Android is that the manufacturers and carriers tend to add a lot of ‘bloatware’ to the phones. And, because the carriers like to maintain control as much as possible, sometimes the OS should receive an update, but the carriers don’t allow the update through. The product designer and carrier just don’t ‘talk’ to each other. With Google, they have full over the hardware and software and the OS shows a great improvement with Nugget 7.1. Unlike any other Android phone I’ve ever used, I received an update the second day of using it. I don’t think I ever received an update while using other Android devices so it was a pleasant surprise. Let’s start this review by looking at the build quality. I found the body of the smartphone to be very familiar. The front reminds me of an iPhone without the fingerprint scanner. The ‘chin' is still there on the front of the phone and even though some people are complaining that it’s unused space, I see the non-touch screen real estate to be a useful resting place for my fingers when flipping to landscape mode. Google placed the fingerprint reader on the back rather than the front - this is somewhat typical of other Android-based phone designs. I was very impressed with the set-up process of the fingerprint scanner. It scanned my finger faster than the iPhone and reads my print correct the first time every time. The back of the phone is part aluminum (bottom half) and part glass (top half). Also located on the back is the camera and its flash. You will notice right off the bat that Google found a way not to have the crazy camera hump that the iPhone (and some Samsung phones) has and that makes for a smoother and cleaner look. Even though the back is sleek and smooth, Google did not attempt to hide the antenna line at the bottom of the phone. Apple took care to move the antenna line on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus so that it is less noticeable. The underside of the smartphone has one speaker port and a USB-C port for charging and syncing. The second speaker area looks like a speaker but it’s not. The USB-C post is a nice touch for the phone. At the top, you will see the good old headphone jack everyone is missing on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Personally, I was glad to see the headphone jack removed from the iPhone design, but I know that others still want it. Those people will be happy that Google included it here. When you hold the Pixel next to the iPhone 7 they feel and look very similar. The weight of the Pixel is (143 grams) where the iPhone 7 weighs in at only (138 grams). I found that when holding both the iPhone 7 and the Pixel that the iPhone felt like it weighed more but the specs don’t lie. The small diffidence in weight would be hard for anyone to detect. When it came to comparing the Pixel’s speed to the iPhone, it was a close race to call. When opening YouTube, the Pixel won. Safari won for fastest Internet Browser and the iPhone won for the best Instagram experience because of how it handled video. The general camera function was pretty much a tie. I think the iPhone 7 Plus has one of the best displays in the market, but the colors on Google’s Pixel really stand out with its AMOLED display. Speaking of displays looking, at the photos and video I’ve taken with the Pixel I find them to look beautiful. The camera takes wonderful photos and to be honest I was expecting to say the iPhone would just blow the Pixel out of the water but it really held its own. The Pixel handles backgrounds very well and takes super crisp shots. I like most of the shots I took with the Pixel and found them to show blacks much better than the iPhone, but there were some photos the Pixel overcompensated for with the colors and they look like someone added Instagram filters to them. When it comes to the camera you're getting more if you buy an iPhone 7 Plus but if you're looking for what I feel is the best camera with Android devices, the Pixel is the clear winner. I’m impressed with this Android phone. Nugget is a solid OS and for years I’ve bashed Android. If Apple stopped selling iPhones tomorrow and Google kept on this path with the Pixel it would be my smartphone of choice at this time.

This is a review of the Google Pixel’s build quality. All of the other smart phones I own are made mostly of plastic, in comparison the Google Pixel is made much better and has an all aluminum and glass exterior. The USB type-c charging cables and adapter included with the Pixel are really nice. The cables are thicker than most USB cables, and are made out of a more premium rubber, or rubber like material. The power and volume buttons have really nice clicks. The camera on the pixel is great and snaps good pictures in low light conditions. The LED camera flash is actually two LED’s angled in different directions, which illuminates an area better than an LED camera flash that points straight forward. The fingerprint sensor on the back is bigger compared to other fingerprint sensors I have seen, and it makes it easy to unlock the Pixel without even having to press the power/standby button. I was expecting to have to press the power/standby button to turn the screen on, then use the fingerprint sensor to unlock it, but all that is necessary is to touch the fingerprint sensor for a second, and this quickly turns the screen on and unlocks the Pixel. The 5” screen size on the smaller version of the Pixel, is easier to carry and fits in the pocket better than a bigger phone would. The 1080p touch screen on the Pixel is really nice and is covered with Gorilla glass 4. The Google Pixel has an overall luxury feel to it.

The phone comes with a USB-C Wall Charger, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-A to USB-C adapter. The packaging is reminiscent of the Nexus lines of packaging. No frills but high quality packaging and accessories. The phone is almost identical in size to a iPhone 6s (see photos) and considerably smaller than a Nexus 6P (see photos). The first thing I noticed picking up the phone, it feels high quality. Definitely a step up from the previous Nexus line. This is the phone all fans of the Nexus line up have been waiting for. The phone is the fastest most responsive phone I have ever used. As for the look of the phone, from the front, it looks like any other phone with no distinguishing characteristics. The back, does not look like a finished thought. Half glass, which it seems as if it uses the glass as a way to handle the heat, and half aluminum. The aluminum has a very nice grip to it. The glass is as slick as it can be. I don't dock any points for the look. It can grow on you or be covered with a case. Until I took the pictures, I forgot what my 6P looked like without its case. Most people who use cases probably feel the same way. The screen and audio are top notch. One minor flaw I found in the design, it is easy to cover the speaker when holding the phone in portrait or landscape layouts. Wireless and Cellular antennae are possible the best I have ever used in a Google branded device. From watching online reviews, I have found out that the speaker covering is cloth where most other devices are a metal covering. As noted in the review, this important to know if you are cleaning the phone earpiece. I also discovered this phone is much more durable than its IP rating. Check out the review from JerryRigged on YouTube. The reason I have dropped one star, and this is possibly a positive in the long run. The sim that came with the phone would not connect to the Verizon network. I attempted to use my Verizon sim card, but it was the wrong size. (I would have cut the card, but my sim cutter is in a box that is in storage until we get into our new place) So I took the sim out of my Nexus 6P I use on the Fi networks. It worked without issue. Interestingly enough, none of the Verizon preloaded software was installed. This phone deserves to be listed among the best on the market, and deserves consideration as the best on the block.

Google Pixel is the first phone that is entirely designed and engineered at Google, available with 32GB or 128GB of storage. The packaging gave the impression that Google has really attempted to produce a flagship device although the first impression of the device itself was not as compelling. When you hold the phone in your hand however you can feel that this phone is offering more than the average Android phone. It feels well made and it offers some surprising features, compared to other Android phones, such as the finger print sensor. Personally, I'm not sure that placing the finger print sensor on the rear of the phone is the best choice although it does mean that more of the front of the phone can be dedicated to giving the user more pixels (e.g. larger screen). The camera seems to be fairly good in most lighting conditions. Users will likely appreciate having a phone that is designed and built by the same company that builds the Android operating system. Hopefully that will result in a more reliable device over the lifetime of the phone. If you're definitely looking for an Android based phone then I'd say this phone should be a serious contender for your dollar. It's a shame however, that Google doesn't offer the phone with 64GB of storage however, 32GB is likely too little for most users while 128GB might be more than some users are looking for.

I like the phone but it is very Apple like in design and feel. Design: Apple has better quality to look and water resistance Software: tough. I like where Android is heading with its customizable interface and offer full phone and media backup like iCloud. The issue is the apps still need more polishing compared to iOS versions. Google assistant is much better than Siri but still far from the personal assistant they claim to be. The apps layout more on a page than iOS but like Androids perpetual issue as you slide left to right the pages never stop unlike Apple where you know you back at the home screen. Might be more difficult it for less tech savvy users. Battery: 4-6 hours but nowhere as long as Apple. I like how they offer chat and phone support unlike most Android smartphones. Screen: great and punchy but highly inaccurate in terms of color accuracy Storage: 32gb is not bad but there is no way to expand it and that normally is an apple flaw. Camera: it takes decent photos with less noise reduction but the iPhone seems more accurate. Also the iPhone has optical stabilization. Why say it has the best sensor but not stabilize it for low light photos. I will include a set of photos for comparison. Side notes: it runs hot Odd having to use your finger in the back to unlock it and open the phone. Can see trouble in the winter or times when it's laying on your desk and you want to unlock it. There should be a way to unlock on the front. For me the Samsung s7 edge is the better phone or apple is the better device in my opinion. For the record it is nice but unfortunately there are more polished solutions.

Initially I was concerned because this phone doesn't have wireless charging, its not water resistant and the fingerprint reader is inconveniently on the back. After using it for a couple of days I've learned that I really didn't need those things. The USB3 quick charge works way faster than wireless, the fingerprint reader in the back is easily reachable. As for water resistance, I just watched a youtube video where someone submerged it in water for 30 minutes and the phone survived. Other things I like about the phone are the amazing screen, black is super dark and the other colors are very bright and vibrant. The camera is super fast and pictures are extremely clear. Finally, I love the weight of the phone, Its very light, balanced and comfortable to hold.

The phone is fast, there's not a lot of bloatware on it, the SW is great. It's a solid choice. It's not full of Verizon apps that I don't want and can't get rid of. The fingerprint sensor is fast and works well. The location on back is great for when you pick it up. Yeah, a little inconvenient having it in the back if it's laying on your desk, for example, but until phone's all have 2 of them you'll have to pick. Or, in my case I make my smartwatch an attached device so if I'm wearing it and using my phone I don't have to unlock the home screen. Haven't used the camera a lot, but it's decent so far. Certainly faster than my old phone. Google Assistant reads me the news every morning when I ask it to :) The battery has lasted me two days without a charge but if you're using it a lot, charging at night would be better. The quick charge works well and USB-C is convenient (there's not right-side up or upside-down on the connector) and will be even better when more companies start using it. I've heard some people criticize the glass on the back cause it gets scratched. I used it for 2 weeks with no cover and it didn't get scratched. I didn't toss it around but I wasn't extra careful with it either. Normal use. Of course now I have a cover it like 99% of phones. (Spigen Rugged Armor if you're interested). Oh, and the free 24/7 support is real. It's great. Talk or chat with somebody any time with questions about the phone. It's the usual kind of support. Some of the techs you work with are good, some not so good. I haven't used it much because I have

I'm a long-time Samsung user and had every expectation of upgrading my Note 4 to a Note 7. Clearly, that did not happen. As a backup plan, I planned on waiting until 2017 to evaluate the specs of the next generation Samsung S8, but decided to take a closer look at the Pixel when it became available. Nothing irritates me more about Samsung phones than their bloatware. After the last Android update to my Note 4, the phone's battery-life took a major hit. Instead of getting a full day's use, I was recharging the phone half way through the day. There are so many apps added to the Note 4 by both Verizon and Samsung, that trying to identify the battery drain was impossible, There are dozens upon dozens of them. I tried removing the apps to no avail, and eventually purchased an extended battery from Anker to help. The Pixel XL, by contrast, has virtually zero bloatware, and battery time is unbelievably good. The fingerprint scanner - which is located on the back of the phone - is highly responsive and accurate. And the screen is very readable in direct sunlight (don't get me started about the Note 4 screen getting washed out in direct lighting). The camera on the Pixel is super fast and the photos high quality. I used to keep a copy of every photo I've taken on my phone long-term, but I no longer do so since the Pixel only came with a 32gb storage card. However, all photos are automatically transferred to Google's cloud storage for safe keeping, so keeping them local to my phone was no longer needed. I had gigabytes of photos on my Note 4, so this is a culture change for me. It's been about a month since I purchased the Pixel XL, and other than the fact that it looks like an iPhone (snicker) it has been outstanding. I give Google high marks for the phone and its operating system, although in truth I still haven't gotten used to the power button and volume keys being on the same side. Still, this is a small issue for me.

I have been an iPhone user since 2008 when the 3G came out. My most recent phone was the iPhone 6 Plus. I skipped the iPhone 6 Plus S, instead deciding to hold out for the 7 or 7 plus. When it came out, I was a little disappointed. The camera on the 7 plus is sweet but I wasn't totally sold. I wanted a phone that felt new and different. Enter Google's Pixel. I decided to buy the Pixel. I got used to Android pretty quickly. I found the Pixel very fast with great screen quality. The screen looks better than the iPhone in my opinion. In addition, I love the machine learning / intelligence that Google brings to the phone. There are things I noticed that I didn't with the iPhone (although they may be there somewhere). The other day, I was using the phone and it recognized that I was having to unlock my phone a lot at home. It recommended that I add home as a safe place so I wouldn't need to unlock there. Another time, I was eating at my local taco joint and the phone recognized that there was free wi-fi, brought it to my attention, and made a secure Google VPN connection. Google Assistant also seems to be much better in my experience than Siri. After a week of use, I decided to return the Pixel for an iPhone 7 plus. I was so used to the iPhone I was reluctant to switch. I also wanted the camera on the 7 Plus. Here's the thing - the 7 plus felt too big and clunky after using the pixel. Siri also seemed frustrating. I found I liked the Android user experience better after adapting to it. I returned the iPhone for the Pixel and haven't looked back. A final thing I like about the Pixel is that the screen size is bigger than the iPhone 7. It seems easier to read the Pixel screen than the iPhone 7 or 7 plus. To me, Android also does a better job of making text larger on some apps. I just find it better to read on overall. We'll see what the iPhone 8/8 Plus bring but for now the Pixel is my phone of choice.

Speed and reliability and it's from Google you really can't go wrong with this - it's super fast super clear screen and extremely easy to use. It features a unique slide up access to all of your apps which makes things very convenient and user-friendly. Google really knocked it out of the park with this. 32 GB of memory have unlimited cloud backup and it's got that core processor that really kicks in while multitasking my wife loves this. Provides her hours of entertainment and fun. you'll love using your Pixel