The Google Pixel is not the first smartphone to be connected to Google. Google had previously partnered with mobile phone makers like LG and HTC to build Nexus phones that offer highend features at competitive prices.
Google also used its AndroidOne program to partner with phone makers to build entry level phones for emerging markets. The Infinix Hot 2 was the first AndroidOne phone to launch in Africa.
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However, Google Pixel is built from the ground up by Google. It is a premium phone competing with the likes of the iPhone7. Google Pixel offers a premium aluminium body with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back. It will be available in Blue, Silver, and Blue.
Google Pixel also features a fingerprint sensor on the back.
The Display
Google Pixel sports a 5.0-inch AMOLED Display. It offers 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution, which at 441 ppi should look brilliant.
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The Cameras
Google Pixel was rated 89 by DxOMark, giving it the highest ranking phone camera ahead of cameras on smartphones like the HTC 10 and the Galaxy S7 Edge. The camera offers a 12.3 megapixels sensor with f/2.0 aperture.
The camera boasts of a great low light performance with features like dual-LED flash, phase detection autofocus, HDR, and Panorama. Google Pixel also supports 4k video recording and offers an 8 megapixels front facing camera for taking selfies and making video calls.
The Google Assistant
Google Pixel will be the first smartphone to support Google Assistant, which is Google’s artificial intelligence powered natural language digital assistant that will be competing with the likes of Cortana from Microsoft and Siri from Apple.
The Google Assistant is focused on getting people to easily find information without typing. For example, you can just tell your phone to locate the nearest ATM machine or hospital. This AI powered Assistant will also drive the Google Home device.
Hardware and Software
Google Pixel ships with Android 7.1 (Nougat) and will get software and security updates as soon as they become available. This is probably one of the biggest selling points of the Pixel. If you are tired on waiting for Android updates, the Google Pixel might be a great choice.
The Android smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset. It is the state of the art SOC with two powerful dual-core processors clocked at 21.5GHz and 1.6GHz respectively. Google Pixel comes with 4GB RAM with 32GB or 128GB built-in storage. The smartphone does not support memory cards.
It offers dual-band Wi-Fi with support for 4G LTE that offers download speed of up to 300 Mbps. Google Pixel sports USB Type C as well as Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and a Barometer.
Google Pixel comes with a 2770 mAh Li-ion battery. The phone offers fast charging which can deliver up to 7 hours of use with just 15 minutes of charge.
The Google Pixel is ready for virtual reality with support for Google Daydream VR set.
Pricing and availability
Google Pixel is not yet available in Nigeria, Ghana, or Kenya. The Google Pixel is currently available for pre-order in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. It has a starting price of $649 in the US. Pre-order will begin in India on October 13.
It is not clear whether the Google Pixel will launch officially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Google Pixel Price in Nigeria is expected to range from 210,000 Naira to 450,000 Naira, depending on your location. Price in Kenya should start at around 70,000 KSh and price in Ghana should start at around 2625 GH₵.