The reviews for the Google Pixel phone have hit the web. There’s a lot of praise, but not all are so positive. We’ve collected some of the best takes on the new devices from the top tech sites around.
Engadget
[The Pixel phones] certainly have their share of shortcomings, like a drab design, wimpy water resistance and some hefty price tags. The thing is, Google had to start somewhere, and the foundation it built with these two phones is a surprisingly strong one. These aren’t just great first attempts at smartphones; these are great smartphones, period, and every other Android device maker out there should be a little worried.
The Verge
This is Google’s first phone, and for a first effort it is remarkably good. By almost every metric I can think of—speed, power, camera, smart assistant, you name it—it matches or exceeds the best phones available on the market today. And though the design is far from groundbreaking, it’s certainly approachable. The whole package is pretty incredible, and if you’re not put off by the premium price, you’ll be very happy with this premium phone.
Walt Mossberg (for The Verge)
Google has come out of the gate with a top-flight phone and suddenly, there’s no longer an Apple-Samsung duopoly in premium handsets.
Ars Technica
Comparing each new Android phone to the iPhone is something of a cliché at this point, but the Pixel line makes the comparison unavoidable. Pixel phones carry the same prices as iPhones, have a similar design, and even use marketing that pokes fun at the iPhone. Google has set itself a high bar to clear.
Android Central
With Pixel, the company finally delivers on what we’d wanted all along from a Google phone. With each cycle of Nexus handsets, it used to be a question of “What would they screw up this time?” We’re far beyond that with this new, singular vision of what a Google Android phone should be. And I can’t think of a better phone to buy going into 2017.
WIRED
I’ve always been an iPhone guy … But I’m switching. For real. I’m turning off iMessage, rebuying apps, and warning friends that I probably won’t get their texts for a few days. I am a little worried about Google’s long-term commitment to this new hardware push (and the customer support that comes with it), given its propensity for killing products that don’t get billions of users. But I’m totally in love with the Pixel.
Gizmodo
If you’re like me, and have avoided the iPhone all these years, it’s time to give in. The iPhone is definitively better this year. The current roster of flagship Android phones are a complete joke. The Galaxy S7 at least looks nice, but it’s already more than six months old. If you must buy an Android phone, the Pixel makes a strong case. But I can no longer heartily endorse buying an Android, because if this is the best phone available, it’s time to move on.
The New York Times
If you are uninterested in Project Fi and are not deeply invested in Google’s ecosystem, there is another route: Try an iPhone. Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus outperformed the Pixel in every way in terms of hardware features. And so far, to my knowledge, Apple phones haven’t blown up.
So there you have it. What do you think? Will you be buying a Pixel phone? Are you switching from another brand? Let us know in the comments.
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