As always with such revelations, I'd tell you there are no guarantees that Google is actually making its own AirPods alternatives for its new
Pixel phone lineup.
Not exact matches
They also pack some features that are exclusive to Android
phones (Google Assistant and Fast Pair) and others that are exclusive to just the
Pixel lineup: Google Translate.
Android 7.1, which shipped with the Google
Pixel phones and subsequently came to the Nexus
lineup, brings a couple of interesting new tidbits to the fore.
Google adds this in the
Pixel 2
lineup, and we saw how you can launch Assistant just by gripping the
phone tighter.
In December, hardware support for Google's ARCore remained limited to Google's
Pixel phones (now with
Pixel 2 support) and Samsung's Galaxy S8
lineup.
This development originated from Canadian carrier Telus after it occurred that customers who had pre-ordered for the
phones were receiving emails from the company's corporate reseller Mobileaxs saying that Google will be ceasing the production of the
Pixel lineup and hence the carrier will not be able to fulfill the placed orders.
In fact, these two
phones are among the best when it comes to software updates, if not talking about Google's
Pixel and Nexus
lineup.
Last year's
Pixel and
Pixel XL replaced the Nexus
lineup as the de facto flagships for stock Android purists, and they ended up being some of the best
phones on the market.
Android 7.1.1 Nougat on Google's
Pixel smartphones looks slightly different in comparison to other Android
phones, like Google's Nexus
lineup.
So what I'm getting at here is, the
Pixel 2
lineup is going to be a real competitor for the iPhone 8 and Samsung's Galaxy flagship line of
phones.
Google's
Pixel lineup doesn't sell nearly as well as Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy
phones, but they do generate plenty of interest from Android diehards.
Updates to the
Pixel lineup of
phones is handled by Google, so they're generally the first
phones to receive the newest software when it's released.
Despite being priced on par with the Samsung Galaxy
phones and Apple iPhone, the
Pixel still managed to offer a seamless Android experience and justified its price tag to become one of Google's best selling smartphones right after the
Pixel lineup.
This budget
phone is most likely to plug the gap that existed between the Nexus
lineup and the
Pixel.
So slotting these handsets into the
Pixel lineup may foretell HTC taking a backseat in the
phones» marketing campaign, relegating it to the same white - label role it played prior to selling smartphones under its own name.
Last year's
Pixel lineup marked the first - ever
phones that were truly made by Google, and sales figures were impressive for a first go.
Another nifty perk you get for purchasing this
phone is unlimited cloud storage for your photos and videos in full quality, something which was previously exclusive to the
Pixel lineup.
Considering that Walmart already sells Google's 2016 product
lineup, including the
Pixel phones, Google Wifi, and Google Home, it's very likely the retailer will also stock the 2017 models.
Google also made changes to its traditional Nexus
lineup and instead came in with the
Pixel phones.
The second beta update is not for all Android
phones and is presently available only for the
Pixel and Nexus
lineup of smartphones.
We're anticipating Google to unveil its
Pixel 3
lineup later this fall, and while the rumor mill is still fairly quiet regarding the
phone, that hasn't stopped some of our forum users from talking about what their hoping / expecting to see in the upcoming
phone.
Looking at the new tag for the
Pixel phones — Made by Google — it is obvious that the search engine is looking at bringing back what used to happen with the Nexus
lineup via this «Designed with our friends at Google» tag.
There's reason to be optimistic though: unlike all those years ago, Google now has a lot more skin in the hardware game: aside from
Pixel phones, there's also the Google Home speaker (dare we say
lineup of speakers?)
After the launch of the Google
Pixel and
Pixel XL, many fans of the Google Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and the general Nexus
lineup weren't so happy with the price tags of the two
phones.
The
Pixel lineup may not be as profitable as Samsung's Galaxy
phones or Apple's iPhones, but even if you're not super invested into the technology space, there's a good chance you've heard about the
Pixel phones at one point or another — whether it be in a Verizon store or through an ad on TV.
Users will be able to walk up and try Google hardware, with the initial
lineup planned to consist of the two
Pixel phones, along with the Daydream View headset once it debuts, as well as the 4K - packing Chromecast Ultra, once it hits retail.
HTC recently embraced Google's Android One program with the U11 Life, albeit only in some territories, and while the two are now closer than ever before following their collaboration on the
Pixel and
Pixel 2
lineups, as well as Google's $ 1.1 billion purchase of some of HTC's talent, the
phone maker hasn't given any indication that it's intending to participate in Android One initiative with the majority of its future offerings and likely doesn't have plans to do so.
As the official release dates of the Google
Pixel and
Pixel XL
phones draws even closer than ever, the search engine giant has been showing flashes of its determination to make the
Pixel lineup a huge success in the smartphone industry.
Pixel 2
phones are already relatively popular in the world's second - largest smartphone market, with a full
lineup of mobile services and apps also targeted specifically at local users.
Given that the new
Pixel phones aren't waterproof like Samsung's 2016 Galaxy
lineup, grabbing the new warranty might be wise if you ever have found yourself dropping your
phone in water on accident.
Remember, the Nexus
lineup did not include a microSD card slot, so, expect the same with the Google
Pixel and
Pixel XL
phones.
In fact, the launch of the
Pixel - branded
phones was in itself a let - down from Google for some fans, but it seems the search engine giant has a plan to replace the budget - friendly Nexus
lineup with a new non-
Pixel phone that should run stock Android OS.
The tech giant also boasted about the
Pixel 2
lineup «s Active Edge, a pressure - sensitive frame that allows you to physically squeeze your
phone to perform customizable actions, in addition to emphasising the front - facing stereo speakers found on both devices, as well as their Always - On Display technology that plays well with the new music ID service which users can enable to always see info about any songs playing in their surroundings on their lock screen, with this particular feature even working offline.
Much like most other offerings from the Orange County, California - based
phone accessory maker, the Plasma cases for the
Pixel 2
lineup are rugged additions to the recently announced smartphones which are meant to protect them against regular wear and tear, as well as mechanical damage and shocks.