Pixel and Pixel XL posted on Carphone Warehouse

[Aquila]

But why pull an Apple and force people to spend an extra $100+ when all they had to do was put in a stupid slot? I skipped the 6P and will be skipping this as well if it is not included. Samsung listened to the outcry after screwing this up with the S6 and Note 5. Would be nice if Google did the same.

Because no matter how much a tiny part of the population bemoans the issue, SD cards still suck when compared to internal storage. So if you get to a sufficient quantity internal storage, the SD card becomes irrelevant in developed markets. The markets that need SD cards and are the primary driving force behind their inclusion in Android are those where A) connectivity options are slim to none in many areas and B) OEM's are still making devices with 4 to 16 GB of internal storage. Those markets are almost entirely absent from AC's readership, so the markets that microSD cards are intended for are not represented here, therefore it is safe to say that for most here, it's a more reasonable option to have more internal storage. That said, it's clear that some people still prefer that feature and that's fine - like what you like - but internal storage is faster, more secure, more stable, less confusing, less hassle and easier to design around from an engineering and design standpoint, so from an OEM perspective, internal is better in markets that have better connectivity and larger storage options.

 

[bighap]

They added adaptable storage with Marshmallow. Why not use the feature they introduced?

 

[keith2k1]

Hard pass...

 

[Aquila]

Here's a list of the Nexus devices I'm aware of:

Nexus One
Nexus S
Galaxy Nexus
Nexus 4
Nexus 5
Nexus 6
Nexus 5X
Nexus 6P
Nexus Player
Nexus Q
Nexus 7 (2012)
Nexus 7 (2013)
Nexus 9
Nexus 10

Of all of those 14 devices, only one (the Nexus One) had a microSD slot and that was because it had 0.5GB internal storage.

But, the Pixel devices are not Nexus devices and not related to Nexus devices, so it doesn't necessarily mean that there will be any philo in common - however if we make the assumption that Google was getting at least some of what they wanted from the OEM partners in the 14 Nexus devices, particularly the last 6 or so ... and we know the Pixel phones are EXACTLY what they want and so those intentions could have some overlap. That said, the first two Pixel devices ever made did have a SD card slot and the third, the Pixel C did not - so there's no pattern established yet.

 

[Aquila]

They added adaptable storage with Marshmallow. Why not use the feature they introduced?

Google still fully expects microSD card usage to continue in emerging markets and in Marshmallow they fixed most of the major security concerns. That doesn't mean they want to put that degradation in quality and user experience into their own flagships. If they wanted it, wouldn't their Marshmallow reference devices, the 6P, 5X and Pixel C have had the feature?

 

[xocomaox]

They need to get 2016 specs in these phones, and that would be 256GB internal memory.

I don't know anyone with a computer newer than 2010 with a SSD smaller than 256GB.

 

[Aquila]

They need to get 2016 specs in these phones, and that would be 256GB internal memory.

I don't know anyone with a computer newer than 2010 with a SSD smaller than 256GB.

High level I agree with you; Apple just showed that it is possible, although their devices are fairly oversized compared to their screen size. Normal PC SSD's are still much too large to fit in mobile devices but Samsung has been developing the storage and they're now in devices, so it's time to figure it out and start figuring out how to bring down the costs to make them consumer reasonable.

 

[worldspy99]

Dat bezels though....the fruit stand in Cupertino is going to sue Google for copying their patented and trademarked bezel, how dare they do something like that!!

 

[tdizzel]

They haven't had an SD card slot since the Nexus 4.

That's not accurate

 

[Law2138]

High level I agree with you; Apple just showed that it is possible, although their devices are fairly oversized compared to their screen size. Normal PC SSD's are still much too large to fit in mobile devices but Samsung has been developing the storage and they're now in devices, so it's time to figure it out and start figuring out how to bring down the costs to make them consumer reasonable.

Do you think it's the carriers and their tiered data plans that somewhat influence storage options? If you plan on using media offline, then 8/16GB isn't going to cut it. 32 will require you to actively manage your content and 64 should be comfortable if you're not gaming and watching offline, 128+ if you need games, music collection and videos. 256 to just not worry about storage at all.

With Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and other streaming services offering offline options. We don't have to worry about music or video streaming chewing up data plans. People for once can opt for a lower tiered plan because they don't use that much for social media.

If manufacturers would just offer 128 and 256 options, could data usage drop?

 

[ahaxton]

That's not accurate

You are correct. I thought the Galaxy Nexus had one, turns out I was wrong. So it has been since the Nexus One.

 

[raqball]

They haven't had an SD card slot since the Nexus 4. Why would this be any different?

That's not accurate

As far as I know the only Nexus to have ever had an SD card slot was the Nexus One..

 

[tdizzel]

They haven't had an SD card slot since the Nexus 4. Why would this be any different?

You are correct. I thought the Galaxy Nexus had one, turns out I was wrong. So it has been since the Nexus One.

As far as I know the only Nexus to have ever had an SD card slot was the Nexus One..

I didn't say anything about a Nexus

 

[ChuckG73]

I am now more confused than before. So I was hoping the back glass had a hidden light bar or really cool purpose but now seeing the leaked google live case for the PIxel it covers the entire back of the phone. One of the the issues that has always bugged me with the "Nexus" line and hope but am afraid that it will be the same for the "Pixel" line is lack of phone cases.Yes, I know there are a million cases on Amazon for the Nexus line, but no Lifeproof, no otterbox, no nice leather cases, etc..... I have an iPhone 6s Plus and love the Apple leather case, it fits so nicely and looks better with age.

So I hope there is a really cool reason for the back glass and also hope we get some premium case options, something better tan the slippery live case Google released.

Thanks

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

There's no SD card slot, at least on the smaller one.

There won't be one on the bigger one, either, because Google has made it clear that they think SD cards are for budget phones. You might disagree, and that's fine, but you're not making this phone. Google is so that's how it's gonna be.

I wasn't able to check, but I've been told the back is the way it is so NFC can transmit through in a lower power state.

Google products will always have bezels. Like Apple, they think it's kind of important to have somewhere to hold a phone in landscape and will purposefully make the case taller. This wouldn;t be the first phone from Google that had big bezels by design when they weren't necessary. After using some POS Sharp AQUOS with zero bezel, I can't disagree.

Buy the black. Trust me. I like white phones myself, but not this one.

 

[raqball]

I am going to be all over it like a hobo on a ham sammich!

But yes the constant 'looks like an iPhone' (which it looks NOTHING like) and the 'meh OMG bezel' comments are getting real old, real fast.

If people dislike the phone that much then their course of action is crystal clear = Don't buy it!

Me? Pixel (non XL) 128GB in Black and make it ship chop-chop and snappily fast please, Google!

 

[Todd Anthony1]

What is the upper 1/3 of the back so shinny? Is that suppose
to act like a mirror? Or help position the shot when using the
rear camera as a selfie camera for much better photo quality?

My initial thought a few weeks ago when these pictures were leaked is that the back of the phone resembles the whole "material design" concept. It almost looks like a notification shade being pulled down. Still have no idea why Nexus/Pixel devices insist on having huge bezels though (sides/top/bottom).

 

[Aquila]

I am going to be all over it like a hobo on a ham sammich!

this got an LOL

 

[LailaAK]

There's no SD card slot, at least on the smaller one.

There won't be one on the bigger one, either, because Google has made it clear that they think SD cards are for budget phones. You might disagree, and that's fine, but you're not making this phone. Google is so that's how it's gonna be.
.

I sure hope so...

Like I said, I will absolutely refuse to buy the Pixel phone if there is a MicroSD slot.
Hate it... don't want it... no, thank you.

I have both the Samsung Note5 and S7 edge. I hate the S7 edge because it has
a MicroSD slot... went back to using the Note5(no slot) as my daily driver. Will
not buy another Samsung phone unless the remove the MicroSD slot again.

 

[Gdwheel]

You don't have to use a Micro SD card, even if the phone accepts it.