The first phone designed entirely by Google looks uninspired, but the software inside is powerful as hell.
BuzzFeed News / Google
Of the tens of thousands of Android devices to choose from, I have always preferred the Nexus phones, which were made by Google and a rotating cast of partners like Samsung, Huawei, and LG. Nexus devices ran Android the way Google intended, without third-party “skins” and other feature gimmicks that afflict so many other brands that take advantage of Android’s free, open-source platform.
This year, Google broke free of their Nexus partnerships, opting instead to strike out on their own. While they are built in HTC’s factories, the Pixel and Pixel XL are the first phones designed entirely by Google. They hit shelves on Oct. 20 around the world.
After spending four-ish days poking, prodding, and reviewing the Pixel, it’s clear Apple, Nexus, and Samsung’s flagship phones heavily influenced it. And that’s not a bad thing.
If you’re looking at display, processor, battery, and camera specs alone, the Pixel is fairly average when compared to the most premium devices. But maybe that’s the point. Google doesn’t need to be the best.
With its new phone, Google proves that it can (mostly) keep up with big players like Samsung and Apple – and offer customers something only Google can offer: exclusive, killer features built for the online services that they already use, and direct access to an artificially intelligent personal assistant powered by the company’s massive knowledge graph.
Its hardware is nothing spectacular. But I found the Pixel to be the most pleasant, playful, and user-friendly Android device I’ve ever used. It’s an impressive first effort by Google as the architect of the Android platform and its vessel.
Nicole Nguyen / BuzzFeed News
Set up is less painful with a little help from Google.
The Pixel comes with a handy “quick switch adapter” accessory that helps users sync data from their old iPhone or Android device.
I transferred text messages (even the iMessage ones), music, podcasts, photos, and videos in under 10 minutes from my iPhone 7 to the Pixel. Because I use a Google account for most things anyway (email, calendar, reminders, etc.), the transition was fairly seamless. When I opened Google Maps, and my starred locations were already there.
My apps, however, most of which have Android versions, didn’t make it onto the new Pixel, which was deeply annoying. I had to manually search for and install 30-ish apps which, I already know, is way too many.
At first, switching from an Android device to the Pixel XL was a little tricky. Since both the Nexus 6P and Pixel have USB-C ports, the order in which they were plugged was important. I also needed to use the USB-A to USB-C cable with the adapter, instead of the USB-C to USB-C cable.
Eventually the issue sorted itself out, and the data transfer was quick and easy. Unlike with the iPhone, the Pixel automatically downloaded my purchased apps and even logged me into apps like Strava.
Nicole Nguyen / BuzzFeed News
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