Left a little bit underwhelmed by the recent iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus unveiling? You're not alone. It's time then to see what Apple's chief rival Google's got up its sleeve, as the Google Pixel XL has just dropped and we've been lucky enough to have an early play.
Replacement to the much-loved Nexus line, the Pixel XL, along with the smaller Google Pixel, marks the search giant's first effort at creating an own-brand phone, and it's not held back. There's all manner of high-end specs squeezed within the sexy brushed metal and glass body. There's also a staggeringly expensive, £719 flagship asking price to deal with. Is it worth it? Well, we put the phone through its paces to find out.
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Google Pixel XL Design: Well this looks familiar
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Hey, originality, where you gone, bro? As nice as the Google Pixel XL is to look at, it's not exactly the most original or creative of smartphone finishes. Sure, that two-tone glass and metal rear is pretty unique, but small glass cut-out aside, this is still just another softly curved iPhone-a-like.
There's excess framing around the top and bottom of the screen and a smooth, brushed metal back with standout antenna lines. All sounds pretty familiar, right? Well it is. But it's more HTC One A9 copy than iPhone clone - although the HTC blower was an iPhone copy in its own right, hmm. The metal and glass both feel a little on the cheap side and the phone's slightly plumper than you'd expect.
The result is a great-looking bit of kit, but one that just doesn't really inspire or wow in the same way that something like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge does. Sadly there's no waterproof smarts to save it from spilt drinks either, a major omission in modern smartphone times.
On the plus side, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack - take that iPhone 7 owners - and that new blue colour scheme (there are black and silver options too) looks all sorts of cool. It doesn't really look like north of £700 worth of kit though.
Google Pixel XL Screen: Big, bright and beautiful
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Good looks extend behind a phone's shell, and the Google Pixel XL has nailed the eye-appeasing visuals on the screen front.
Packing a 5.5-inch panel - that's the same size as the iPhone 7 Plus but smaller than the 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 7 - the Pixel XL packs a stunning 2560 x 1440p QHD display. Echoing the likes of the S7 and HTC 10, this display is all sorts of beautiful.
It's not just bigger and sharper than its little brother, it's a damn sight brighter too. More noticeable than the added pixels, this increased brightness really helps the AMOLED panel pop. Looking back at recently shot photos, the display really helped the whole process feel more immersive and engaging. It will eat a bit more battery than a Full HD display, but we think it's worth the compromise.
Google Pixel XL Features & Performance: All the power you'll ever need
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Forget owning a supercar, the Pixel XL is like having a tank with a couple of Ferrari engines thrown in. It's hella powerful. Putting your laptop to shame, there's Qualcomm's latest top of the line Snapdragon 821 chipset under the hood alongside a massive 4GB of RAM. That's like strapping a small explosive inside the thing.
Sadly, during our brief play, we didn't get the opportunity to really stretch the legs of the Pixel XL. Everything we did push its way, however, was batted back without a flicker of effort. This thing is seriously overpowered. Whether busting out some serious work-based multitasking or enjoying a hearty gaming session, it will handle whatever you throw at it. And all without breaking a sweat.
It's not just raw power that the Pixel XL's got going for it either. Staying power looks set to be pretty strong too. Although we've not spent enough time with the phone to truly put its battery life to the test, Google has fitted it with a massive 3450mAh battery. This should be more than enough to send you cruising through that first day's use and comfortably into a second.
The big-G has also suggested that when you do need to re-juice, you'll be able to do so in double-quick fashion, with impressive Quick Charge skills adding 7 hours to the phone's power supply after just 15 minutes connected to the mains. We'll put these claims to the test during our full Google Pixel XL review due in the coming weeks.
Add to this the latest, untainted version of the Android Nougat OS, one that's been topped off with the new Google Assistant - a digital PA that puts Siri to shame - and you've got the ultimate in smartphone sophistication. Seriously, we can't wait for another play.
Google Pixel XL Camera: Completing the package
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This year is quickly becoming the year smartphone snappers step up to a whole new level. And the Google Pixel XL isn't falling behind the crowd. Around back there's a 12.3-meg snapper, actually the same f/2.0 camera that featured on last year's Nexus 6P. This feature recycling isn't a bad thing. It was immense to start with, and this time out, Google's rebuilt the lens and added new software smarts to help improve image quality, especially when the lights come down.
During our brief time with the phone, the couple of sample shots we were able to fire off - in typically crappy lighting - were pleasingly sharp and on point. Colours weren't washed out and focusing was razor-sharp despite the natural lighting. Further testing is required before final judgment can be passed, however.
And it's not just around back that the Pixel XL is sporting impressive camera smarts. Up front, an 8-megapixel selfie snapper will up your Instagram game no end.
First Impressions
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The Google Pixel XL is a phone that shows so much potential, but on first use doesn't really stand out as a must-have handset worthy of a £719 price tag. It looks good, is ridiculously powerful and has a solid camera, but none of it really wows.
Unadulterated stock Android is a major draw, and the arrival of Google Assistant only enhances this, but with such a lofty price tag it doesn't really do much to stand out from the masses. We can't wait to spend more time with the phone, but at this early stage we wouldn't be rushing out to buy one.
Source: Google Pixel XL Review: Hands-on with Google's iPhone-challenging oversized flagship phone
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