PROS
- Stunning camera
- The best version of Android
- Good size for one-handed use
- Super fast
CONS
- Expensive
- Back panel prone to scratches
- Would like more storage option
KEY FEATURES
- 5-inch, 1080p display
- Snapdragon 821
- 4GB RAM
- 32 or 128GB storage
- Android 7.1
- Google Assistant
- Pixel Launcher
- 12MP and 8MP cameras
- USB-C and fast charging
- 2,770 mAh
- Headphone jack...
- Daydream VR ready
- Manufacturer: Google
- Review Price: £599.99
GOOGLE PIXEL – DESIGN
The least exciting part about the whole idea of the Google Pixel is its design. I know many people who dislike it completely, but I find it perfectly serviceable. It isn't as flashy as Samsung's Galaxy S7 but it's much nicer than than the latest batch of iPhones.
The body is made from metal and glass – pretty much a given these days – and it tapers down ever so slightly on the rear to help avoid any unnecessary camera bumps. A circular fingerprint sensor sits below the camera sensor, and both are encased in a divisive glass panel that runs about a third of the way down the back.
Unlike Apple, Google includes a 3.5mm headphone jack – but I’d have preferred for it to have been placed at the bottom rather than the top of the phone. In addition, Google has used a wide bezel above and below the screen – just like the iPhone. It would have been good to see this space used for a pair of front-facing speakers – maybe this will come with the Pixel 2.
The sides are heavily chambered, and this helps the device to fit comfortably in your hand. This is one of the easiest phones to hold, helped by the fact it isn’t overly thin.
It’s also completely usable in one hand, something that can’t be said for the larger Pixel XL. It’s roughly the same size as an iPhone 7, just a little taller and marginally thicker
GOOGLE PIXEL – DISPLAY
5-inch displays are becoming a rarity in the Android space, but for many they provide the perfect mix of portability and size. However, the problem – aside from the dearth of choice – is that smaller phones tend to be hamstrung by weak components and a lack of features.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case here. This is a 5-inch display phone with the innards of a larger device – and that’s great news.
The Pixel's display is fantastic, comfortably one of the best at this size. It’s an AMOLED panel – the same tech Samsung uses on its Galaxy series – with a 1080p resolution. This isn't as high as the larger Pixel XL and its quad-HD panel, but due to its smaller size you really won’t notice the difference.
It’s pin-sharp with zero jagged edges around icons when you’re looking at it from a normal distance. Get right up close, with your eye almost touching the screen, and you might notice a tiny bit of pixel-ation around the battery icons and on-screen buttons. Realistically, though, you won't be using the phone from such a distance.
GOOGLE PIXEL – PERFORMANCE
The Google Pixel is a seriously fast phone, probably the snappiest Android handset on the market for general use – and even creeping up on the iPhone 7.
Part of this is clearly down to the combination of the Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB of RAM, but the real success here is a result of how it's all been optimised.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is fast, as is the HTC 10 and OnePlus 3 with its 6GB of RAM, but random slowdown and strange behaviour is still commonplace in all those handsets. This isn’t the case with the Google Pixel: from opening apps, to scrolling through Chrome and playing games, it just feels right. It feels like it should; it feels like an iPhone.
It’s just another nail in the coffin of the traditional benchmark tool, as in most areas it falls behind the competition it actually bests. In Geekbench 4 its 4,079 multi-core score falls short of the Samsung Galaxy S7’s 5,481, while in 3D Mark’s IceStorm Unlimited the Pixel’s 27,453 can’t match the iPhone 7's 37,349.
Gaming performance is great, although intensive titles still load up quicker on the iPhone 7 initially. Once you’re in the game you won’t notice the difference, with loading times thereafter speeding up and no sign of any dropped frames.
Wi-Fi performance seems a little weaker than the larger Pixel XL model, but phone call and microphone quality remains excellent. The downward-firing speaker is loud and isn't at all bad considering its meagre size, but its position means it’s easily blocked when you’re watching YouTube videos.
The base storage option is 32GB, but 128GB is also available. It would have been better had Google started the range at 64GB, but I assume it wants you to pay a premium – and you’re less likely to do that with 64GB. Since there’s no expandable storage, you’ll have to choose wisely.
Following a few weeks of use I have 9GB free on my 32GB model, which I can see filling up quickly. However, an extra £100 for 128GB is still very expensive.
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