Customer Ratings & Reviews

Quick bit about my current situation, I was offered this phone for testing purposes. Currently I have a Nexus 6P that I loved for a number of reasons, so this phone had quite a challenge to live up to. How did it do? Frankly, not bad. Out of box experience was almost perfect. From the container it was shipped in to the typical holiday feeling one gets when opening new gadgets, it was all there. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but activating the phone on Verizon was the easiest thing I have done with them in a number of years. All I needed to do was move the SIM card from one phone to another. Transfer of data was as simple as saying “OK Google, Set up my new device” on the old phone and the magic that is Google Now/Allo took care of the rest. The only minor disappointment I had was that the transfer started by offering to link one device to another via USB cable. For some reason, it didn’t want to work with my 6P - which is disappointing, but easily enough resolved via Google Now. Before we get too far into this review, the next question has got to be “how much software did Verizon ship with it?” The answer is nothing above base carrier software - IE, the stuff that will stop those “VZWSYNC” messages from appearing when you have a voicemail. It doesn’t even come with the MyVerizon app! So now your voicemail is built right into the dialer, a nice touch if I can say so. Interacting with the Verizon network on this phone is far, far better than what currently exists (or possibly will ever exist) for the 6P. Look and feel is amazing. From day one with my 6P, the one thing that I hated was that it was ever so slightly too big for my right hand to reach the top left corner. That problem appears to be mostly gone now, and yes, I do view that as something worthy of upgrade points. Honestly, with the white coloring, it reminds me of something out of a certain fruit shaped vendor. The phone itself is slightly lighter and smaller than the 6P and I could definitely see myself using this phone on a daily basis. The only thing that I don’t particularly care for (outside from the white color) is the glass panel on the back. It doesn’t seem to do much for the phone visual appeal, but it should help with letting the phone talk to the world. Camera. Believe it or not, this camera is actually a huge improvement (in the one scene I tested). Taken in low light, the 6P had a slight blur with no flash, and a yellow hue to a shot with a flash. The XL had no blur for no flash, and though the flash picture did have a bit of yellow in it, it was not nearly as pronounced. Also, a new, amazing feature: the new camera app has a white balance slider on the side of the image - allowing you to tone down a picture while taking it with next to no effort. Audio quality.This was my one fear when I signed up for this device. The lack of front firing speakers is a fallback to an older time in my mind. The phone, built and designed by HTC, should have had full access to the HTC BoomSound technology. In its place, they put two down-firing speakers. The result? Muffled sound if you are viewing it head on unless you cup your hand around the base of the device. This was what killed off one whole star on my review. I rarely used the speakers on my 6P, but when I did, I didn’t have to worry about anyone hearing it. In the case of the XL, I had difficulties hearing it when I was in my small apartment alone. At this price point, this is unacceptable from my point of view. Phone quality hasn’t really improved or declined - though we have had the opportunity to improve mobile phone technology for 43 years. Cool new things. The latest version of Android OS ships with a feature very similar to f.lux called “Night Light.” Personally I hate adding red to my screen (and would rather be sleepless), but this feature adds something that a number of people have been seeking for a very long time. The new launcher itself is somewhat appealing and definitely reminds me of things that appear in Nova Launcher. Is it good enough to be my only launcher, no - I much rather Nova for the amount of customization. So, would I run right out and buy one as an upgrade from a 6P? No. There is not much more present in this device versus the last generation. Against a Nexus 6? Maybe. This is a nice upgrade, if a bit expensive. Against an Apple product? Yep, I’d take this thing any day - even with its cost.

Pixel XL Very silver, 32GB, Verizon Sim As a long time Android user I have been on this journey along with lots of others. With the Pixel we have a real third option other than Samsung and Apple. This is getting interesting and will be good for all mobile devices and of course their users. From a pure hardware side as compared to the current Samsung S7s and the Apple iPhone 7, the Pixel is competitive but it didn’t really break any new ground. All three are amazing phones and the top end of what you can buy today. The open box and setup experience is fun and you know right away this is a high end phone. If you're on Verizon, the sim is preinstalled and it is a simple matter of turning on the phone where you can then activate on an existing account or setup a new one. If you're not a Verizon customer you would need to remove the preinstalled sim with the tool provided. It’s easy and the phone should activate on other providers with the correct sim. The phone is fast, smooth and feels great in the hand. But it’s where Google is taking the user experience that’s the real story here. This is the introduction of advanced learning from the device you have within arms reach most of the time. If you use Google services and your in the market for a high end phone this is it. If you just got an new iPhone you're already at the high end. The price here is also at the high end but not much different than the competition. The Pixel has the Assistant and like Siri was, this is the real news here. Google Assistant if allowed, can learn the more you use it to be your personal Assistant. If Google’s Android TV, Chromecast, Daydream VR and Google Home Assistant come together the way Google plans, were just another step closer to future. The possibilities Google can bring together to make this happen are very real. This is the very best of what Android can offer today. We have great hardware, the camera is excellent. The build quality and the display are premium. You get unlimited free storage of your pictures and videos. If you chose the smaller 5.0” display version you're giving up very little so don’t count that out especially for smaller hands. It worked correctly with Android Auto in my car. My only wish is that Google would include support for expandable storage. I hope Google Assistant can grow quickly over the months to come. And I also hope that Google Assistant becomes widely available on lower cost devices so more users will benefit from it. When Google Assistant becomes even smarter it can access resources to make a new smartphone experience that drives innovation for everyone.

After pre ordering the Black model with best buy and it being delayed I was quite disappointed, however my local store had the Silver/White model in stock on launch day and while my heart was originally set on the black I was somewhat glad my pre order was delayed as it gave me an opportunity to see the white in person which I wound up liking more. The camera is phenomenal on this device and battery life is one of the best I've experienced on an Android device. The fingerprint reader is fast and effecient and the the gestures you can do with it are quite convenient. The Pixel Launcher is very smooth and for the first time I don't find myself needing to download a third party launcher . Google Assistant is a lot of fun to utilize. Their is really nothing negative I can say about my time with this phone. The screen is gorgeous and the phone feels smaller in the hand than it really should for a screen this size.

When I unboxed the Pixel XL, I wasn't to sure what I was going to find. I can tell you that I was pleasantly surprised by it. The first thing that I did was compared it to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The size is pretty comparable and the weight is close as well. The screen comparison was the next thing that I looked at. The Pixel XL's screen is a little smaller, but it's very crisp in its presentation. The colors pop nicely and the video playback is smooth. It is definitely top notch and will be nice to have for travel with kids. To go along with the crisp video playback, I thought the sound was pretty clear too. The volume is certainly better than the S7 Edge with its speaker setup. It takes me back to the HTC One M7 that I once owned. The speaker combination and volume level helps bring it to another level. The last thing that I wanted to mention was the Google Assistant. I thought this was a nice addition to the Android OS. It's certainly their version of Apple's Siri and with time, it may be very useful. As it learns more about you, I can see it truly becoming the assistant that they envisioned. All in all, I thought the performed quite well. It would have been nice if the "buttons" and bezel were lessened to create more screen room. Some will be hung up on the 2 different surfaces on the body, but I like contrasts and I think that is what they were going for. While this phone doesn't go above and surpass the others, it certainly puts itself in the conversation when you are looking to acquire that new phone.

After taking a flying leap of faith and switching from Sprint(whom we loathed by this point) to Verizon, we opted to go with the Pixel XL, as it was the only smartphone out that could compare to the Note 7 that we had, but was recalled. After hearing several positive reviews from trusted friends about the Pixel, we did our own research into the device and decided to go for it. So we switched companies and brands, after being loyal to Sprint and Samsung for about 6 years. I have zero regrets. The device is highly responsive, has lightning fast charging speeds, takes high quality photos even in low light, has the option to provide Google feedback to pretty much any and all aspects of the device, has zero bloatware, and the Google Assistant is a whiz. It makes being on the go easier as I can just tell my phone what I need done, and it does it. Such as: talk to text(which is efficient and nails it nearly every time), making appointments, making phone calls, mapping directions, hands-free texting, and asking questions. While other devices have offered some of these features, I never got goo results from it and usually opted to just do everything manually. Also, the look and feel of the device is sleek, cool(to touch), and high quality. For the price of the device, it is a great value. Looking forward to being a loyal Google phone customer in the future.

Replaced my Note with this phone. Faster, easier and not as bloated as the Samsung phone. Doesn't work on my wireless charger, but that is the only thing I have found not compatible. Nice big screen, love the fingerprint opener.

Was the owner of a Samsung S7. After 1 week of using the Pixel I consider this a huge and amazing upgrade. The smoothness and absolute speed of this device is unlike any other. Opening, closing, and switching apps are lightyears faster than on a similar specced Samsung S7. The screen is great, the camera is great, the phone is great. It may seem like a boring looking device, but the software makes the experience. Android 7.1 Nougat runs so smooth. This is what Android users have been waiting for, an Android experience that equals and bests the "just works" function of the iPhone. Some dislikes are that the phone is slippery out of case, and top and bottom bezels are a bit large. But as someone who basically buys every new phone whenever it comes out, this is the one. Had the Note 7 and wasn't too happy about switching from that beautiful device to something a little more "plain". Holy cow this thing is just pure amazing. The quickness of this device, and the lack of any kind of Samsung "skin" on top of Google's pure Android is what makes the experience. Buy it. Looking to switch from that stale iPhone experience? Do it.

Coming from a Galaxy S5 this phone is a much needed improvement at a reasonable cost. Like the screen size, speed, and camera. Photos saved to Gmail account is a nice feature.

Just bought the Pixel XL on Cyber Monday. What a great phone, super fast and smooth OS. Even though it is the 1st generation Pixel, as soon as I powered it up I was upgraded to the new Oreo 8.0 OS. That is the benefit of having a Google phone, updates are constantly coming. I like this phone better than my old Apple 6S, and the camera is the best on the market with amazing resolution. Battery life is excellent, I usually have 50% remaining after daily use. Highly recommend it. For $5 a month onCyber Monday it was a no brainer!

When I first saw this phone, I wanted it. I've used nearly every android device that has hit the market, and I really enjoy android. But I must say, you will never get the android experience you get on this phone from any other device running android. Just won't happen. Once you can get over the price like I did, you are golden. It is my daily driver, and I'm super happy to have it on hand. The software is worlds ahead of other android phones, and it's the original Google experience you would want on their first device launch. The hardware is great to me, because it's made by HTC. The cameras are very nice, battery is just amazing (at least 1 day of use, with about 5 to 6 hours of screen on time). I've not seen a faster phone out right now running android, just fluid...you will be happy. I gave it 4 starts though, because the price is way to high. No phone is really worth this much, when it lacks an SD, dual speakers, and higher memory on board. The really kind messed us over by only bringing 32gb or 128gb, very sad. 64gb should be the cost of the 32gb. But greed can get everyone at some point. They killed off the Nexus line, only to bring HIGH priced phones with less features. All in all, I'd still recommend this to TRUE android fans. PURE android is the best way to go.

I bought this as Black Friday Special. For the price I paid, this phone is fantastic. I upgraded from a Moto Z Droid. The Pixel is more responsive and fast. One huge downside is the fingerprint reader is on the back of the phone. Which is really inconvenient, because my phone is usually on desk. So to unlock it I have to pick then phone up. The Pixel takes great pictures. The phone speaker is so-so. It does connect to bluetooth devices really quickly. I would definitely recommend this phone.

After our note 7 was recalled my girlfriend and I need a new phones. We got the Google pixel XL because none of the other phones on the market came anywhere close to what we wanted out of the note 7. We have been so happy with the Google phone and would recommend it to our friends. It came as a blank slate without tons of bloatware which is a huge plus. It runs incredibly fast, the Google assistant is very helpful. The camera on the phone is fantastic my girlfriend is a graphic designer and a photographer and she says that the camera on the phone is worth the cost of the phone alone. The only complaint I have about the Google XL is that without downloading a different phone skin you cannot put all your applications in the application tray into folders, on your phone screen you can just not in the main tray. As for complaints I would say that's pretty minor.

Very fast and screen is very clear . I got it on a deal and coming from an iPhone se, it was really a step up. I was able to transfer all my contacts and pictures from my iPhone just by connecting the provided data cable to each other and the phone itself will guide you on how to do so. Very much impressed!

After note 7 recalled, I purchased Pixel XL. I don't think I will enjoy Pixel XL better than Note 7 just because Note 7 was the best phone you can get, and such a really good phone. However after using Pixel XL, I wasn't missing my Note 7 anymore just because Pixel XL does everything I ever wanted. Infact it is really good on performances, take a great photos and videos, and I love using Google Assistant. After using Pixel XL for a while, I don't think you will want to go back to any other smart phone. By the way, way better than iPhone. I recommend Pixel XL to anybody. The only thing that I see the downside of Pixel XL was not water resistant. Other than that there is nothing to complain about this phone.

Got the phone on Cyber Tuesday for 5 $ / month. Very pleased with the phone, although its a year old. Excellent camera, amazingly fast. No complaints whatsoever till now. Just miss the chop chop action to turn on the flashlight till now. Excellent phone for the price.

I upgraded after having an HTC One M8 for over two years. The Pixel XL is faster than my M8 ever was and has a much better camera. The only place the M8 wins is with its dual front facing speakers. Pros: Best phone call available Android 7.1 looks and feels great Build quality is incredibly solid Insanely fast Gorgeous display Great battery life and charge time Three free months of Google music and YouTube red Cons: Speaker is loud, but is in a bad spot and easy to cover up Only has mono sound Not a fan of the half glass on the back A bit hard to grip without a case

Bought this phone to replace a Motorola Droid. The pixel XL has an excellent camera. My husband has an I phone because of the camera quality and even he is impressed by the pixel XL. Very easy to use this phone and the battery life is superb.

By far the fastest Android phone I have ever used. The UI is buttery smooth, the camera takes great pictures, and the battery life could get you through 2 days of casual use. Daydream VR is a nice addition allowing this phone to stand out even more but in the end this phone gets all the essentials right. Even the live cases google has come out with is just an awesome addition to the phone.

I mainly use iPhone but I do use an android as my secondary phone. This is the first Android phone that if I could no longer use an iPhone I would be ok. Things I like about the phone. The OS is super smooth and almost on par with iOS. I have not had any stutters or lag. Scriolling and swiping has been a fast and fluent on the Pixel XL. The phone feels great on my hand. Easy to use and operate but I prefer larger phones. The display is top notch but Samsung phones do have better visibility outside. Updates are always fast and you will receive them first compared to any other phone. I use both ATT and Verizon and they both work fine. I hold an LTE signal well and the dBm compares well with Samsung Galaxy S7 and the iPhone 7. Sound is good from the speaker phone but I wish it was a little louder. Battery life has been incredible. I get two days of heavy use and 5-6 when I mainly use the phone on wifi. The only downfall of this phone is the price. There are other phones that are almost as good but if reliablilty, fast updates, Google support and great battery life are important to you this is the android phone for you.

For the most part, this is a fantastic phone. I have been jealous of my wife's Pixel for about a year. The OS is fast and the pics are amazing. My only gripes this far are that the Bluetooth connectivity is spotty and the dedicated search bar sometimes just freezes up. The Bluetooth keeps dropping the connection to my GMC Intellilink system in my truck. The search bar, initiated by tapping the Google icon on the home screen, sometimes acts as if it has totally lost connection to the internet. I can type in it but nothing happens. No search. No results. Apart from that, which seem to be software relates issues and, therefore, correctable, this is a great device. You haven't experienced Android until you've owned stock Android.