The AC editors have a Pixel and Pixel XL — ask us about them!

[anon(9410778)]

I notice you guys are on Verizon on the review. So does the Verizon visual voicemail app work?

 

[mzanette]

Can you do an LTE speedtest? Curious to see how fast LTE-advanced is on the phone. Specifically Daniel since he's in Canada like me.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Is the back Gorilla glass really that scratch prone?

It's pretty scratch prone. I have one big gash, and several smaller lines, in my review unit after 6 days of usage. The phone is perfectly flat on the back, so the glass is bound to get beat up.

Has Google Assistant been helpful? I can't wait to try it out .

Right now it's only helpful if you know how to ask it questions, unfortunately. It's capable of giving you great answers, but only for a narrow set of queries, which in my opinion limits its overall usefulness. The great part about Assistant is that Google can improve it constantly on the back end, and it stands to get much better as millions of people start using their Pixels in the next couple months.

I notice you guys are on Verizon on the review. So does the Verizon visual voicemail app work?

I'm using an unlocked phone with a Verizon SIM in it. You can download any Verizon app and it'll work just fine. If you set up the phone with the Verizon SIM in it from the start, you'll load three Verizon apps (Go90, Verizon Messages and My Verizon) by default.

Can you do an LTE speedtest? Curious to see how fast LTE-advanced is on the phone. Specifically Daniel since he's in Canada like me.

Just posting one (or even 10) speedtests will tell you more about how fast the network is in my area than it will the LTE capabilities of the phone. The best thing I can say is that using it on both Verizon and Project Fi, the Pixel XL handled networks very well, matching speeds from other 2016 flagships.

 

[radgatt]

I thought I read somewhere that headphones come with international variants of the device. Does headphones come with the US version?

 

[monkeypimp]

Being that many of us are moving from the Samsung Note 7 to the Pixel. Other than obvious loss of the Spen features, how would you compare the 2 phones.

 

[rockdrummersrock]

Coming from a Moto Droid Turbo, any options for quick checking notifications with a wave of the hand or do you have to unlock the phone to view them? Any chance they stole the karate chop flashlight action? I know it's in the notification drawer quick settings but who has time for that?!

 

[Andrew Martonik]

I thought I read somewhere that headphones come with international variants of the device. Does headphones come with the US version?

No headphones in the U.S. unlocked box. Perhaps Alex will be able to chime in at some point (he's traveling right now) about the ROW model.

Being that many of us are moving from the Samsung Note 7 to the Pixel. Other than obvious loss of the Spen features, how would you compare the 2 phones.

Quite a bit different in terms of hardware. The Pixel XL is a bit easier to hold thanks to its more hand-friendly curves on the side, but is overall a bit bulkier than the Note 7 (think in terms of thickness). The Note 7 also has a more "striking" design while the Pixel XL is a bit more monolithic and simple.

In terms of software, both are extremely fast and responsive. Samsung's software is far more cluttered and has a lot more going on in terms of pre-installed apps and features, and I give the nod to the Pixel XL in that respect.

Camera-wise, I think it's about a tie between the two. Both are fast, and take great photos. The Pixel XL takes a bit more natural photos, while the Note 7 is a tad more punchy. (Be on the lookout for an upcoming Pixel XL vs Galaxy S7 edge camera comparison!)

Coming from a Moto Droid Turbo, any options for quick checking notifications with a wave of the hand or do you have to unlock the phone to view them? Any chance they stole the karate chop flashlight action? I know it's in the notification drawer quick settings but who has time for that?!

The Pixels have Google's "Ambient Display," which is clearly inspired by Moto's similar feature but isn't as fully-featured as that version. The Ambient Display lights up gently when notifications arrive, and pulses now and then, but doesn't instantly wake up with a hand wave or movement like Moto.

 

[Sturm Rider]

How many screens can you set up on the Pixel launcher. I currently use 5 with widgets and things.

 

[jephanie]

I'm curious if Google got the color temperature right on their panel. Specifically on the XL? Are the whites actually white? Or are they pink or blue?

 

[monkeypimp]

(Be on the lookout for an upcoming Pixel XL vs Galaxy S7 edge camera comparison!)

I look forward to it!

What do the power saving options look like? Can you scale the display down to save power?

 

[Dadstar0410]

No headphones in the U.S. unlocked box. Perhaps Alex will be able to chime in at some point (he's traveling right now) about the ROW model.



Quite a bit different in terms of hardware. The Pixel XL is a bit easier to hold thanks to its more hand-friendly curves on the side, but is overall a bit bulkier than the Note 7 (think in terms of thickness). The Note 7 also has a more "striking" design while the Pixel XL is a bit more monolithic and simple.

In terms of software, both are extremely fast and responsive. Samsung's software is far more cluttered and has a lot more going on in terms of pre-installed apps and features, and I give the nod to the Pixel XL in that respect.

Camera-wise, I think it's about a tie between the two. Both are fast, and take great photos. The Pixel XL takes a bit more natural photos, while the Note 7 is a tad more punchy. (Be on the lookout for an upcoming Pixel XL vs Galaxy S7 edge camera comparison!)



The Pixels have Google's "Ambient Display," which is clearly inspired by Moto's similar feature but isn't as fully-featured as that version. The Ambient Display lights up gently when notifications arrive, and pulses now and then, but doesn't instantly wake up with a hand wave or movement like Moto.

You said that you give the nod to the Pixels for it's less features than the Note. The only thing I'm concerned about with this phone is I'm struggling justifying the premium price. It seems there aren't a lot of standout features for the flagship price. Can you help convince me that the Pixel is indeed the best phone to have on Android? Additionally, I'm coming from Windows phone and will be back in the Android ecosystem since 2010. Updates are a big thing for me, as I always want the latest and greatest. But nothing STANDS out about this phone. What are the features you think can get people looking, features that help justify the price? Thanks! Also, blue or silver?

 

[hoffy]

It's pretty scratch prone. I have one big gash, and several smaller lines, in my review unit after 6 days of usage. The phone is perfectly flat on the back, so the glass is bound to get beat up.

If the phone is so scratch prone should we be concerned the glass over the camera will scratch? That could screw up every picture from there on.

 

[Dean Liensdorf]

So other than the screen size, can you tell a difference in resolution? The XL is nice but I'm thinking the regular Pixel may be a good fit for me.
How fast is the charging? I only ask because there's no quick charger available.

 

[Ry]

With SMS/MMS and Allo separate, how cohesive is the experience?

(Or do you just forget Allo exists?)

 

[Ry]

Is the Pixel smart enough to know that I'm driving and offer to read my text message aloud to me?

(Without being triggered by say a Bluetooth connection?)

 

[TheJastrom]

Is there an option for the old fashioned Google Search Bar or is it gone forever?

 

[Richard Servello]

Is there an option for the old fashioned Google Search Bar or is it gone forever?

Install Google now launcher.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

How many screens can you set up on the Pixel launcher. I currently use 5 with widgets and things.

Honestly can't tell you what the upper limit is because the launcher automatically adds pages as you add more items (rather than letting you add empty pages manually). I was able to add 5 additional pages just fine.

I'm curious if Google got the color temperature right on their panel. Specifically on the XL? Are the whites actually white? Or are they pink or blue?

The screen is really good. I'm not ready to say it's better than what Samsung has on its 2016 phones, but it's pretty damn close. AMOLED isn't perfectly color accurate, and these phone screens are never calibrated to be "true to life" — because people don't generally want that, they want punchy colors. The Pixel XL does a good job splitting the difference.

What do the power saving options look like? Can you scale the display down to save power?

Same simple "Battery saver" available on Nexuses: when on, it reduces performance, limits vibration, limits location services, reduces background data and lowers screen brightness. It's not configurable.

You can either turn it on at your discretion, or let it come on automatically at 15 or 5% battery level.

You said that you give the nod to the Pixels for it's less features than the Note. The only thing I'm concerned about with this phone is I'm struggling justifying the premium price. It seems there aren't a lot of standout features for the flagship price. Can you help convince me that the Pixel is indeed the best phone to have on Android? Additionally, I'm coming from Windows phone and will be back in the Android ecosystem since 2010. Updates are a big thing for me, as I always want the latest and greatest. But nothing STANDS out about this phone. What are the features you think can get people looking, features that help justify the price? Thanks! Also, blue or silver?

I can't convince you of what you are willing to pay for a phone. As I said in my review, though, I explained it as "if any smartphone is worth $769 to you, the Pixel XL most definitely is." As I've explained there and elsewhere, the Pixel XL isn't all about huge specs and features, it's totally about the complete experience and maximizing the quality of the daily interactions you have with it. It nails that, while also doing all of the other "usual" smartphone stuff perfectly well also.

I like the black, but if you make me choose between blue and silver I personally choose silver.

If the phone is so scratch prone should we be concerned the glass over the camera will scratch? That could screw up every picture from there on.

That's one of the issues with having a perfectly flat phone ... it's a bit unintuitive, but in this design the camera lens is kind of exposed to be scratched by normal use of setting the phone on flat surfaces. So far, no scratches on my lens. Just the center of the glass near the fingerprint sensor.

So other than the screen size, can you tell a difference in resolution? The XL is nice but I'm thinking the regular Pixel may be a good fit for me.

I haven't used both side by side. You'd have to wait a few days until I have my standard Pixel here with me too.

How fast is the charging? I only ask because there's no quick charger available.

There's absolutely a quick charger available — it comes in the box with the Pixels. Just like the Nexus 6P and 5X, it's Google's standard "Rapid Charge" tech that charges very quickly at low battery %, and slows down a bit from there. The new charger is technically a bit smarter with its new USB-PD (or "Power Direct") standard, which can do a bit more of the things that Quick Charge 3.0 does.

General answer is "it charges damn fast" especially when it's at low battery %. At ~40% and higher, it charges at about 1 percentage point per hour, or a tad faster, from the included charger.

With SMS/MMS and Allo separate, how cohesive is the experience?

(Or do you just forget Allo exists?)

I've forgotten that Allo exists, tbh. Nobody I know is using it, and even the folks at AC aren't using it. That's going to take a long time to catch on, if at all.

Because I use Project Fi, I always text through Hangouts because I use so many different devices and want the experience to be consistent.

Is the Pixel smart enough to know that I'm driving and offer to read my text message aloud to me?

(Without being triggered by say a Bluetooth connection?)

This is a big Moto feature, right? I think the Pixels want you to just use Android Auto ... I'm not aware of such a feature being included. But I don't really drive that often, sorry! Maybe Daniel has used it.

Is there an option for the old fashioned Google Search Bar or is it gone forever?

You would need to just install another launcher, like Google Now Launcher. There's no real launcher configuration on the Pixels' launcher.

 

[Dadstar0410]

How does the Pixel XL compare to the HTC One M8 in terms of size, pocketability, comfort in the hand, ease of one-handed use, etc.? Afraid of the jump in screen size from 5" to 5.5".

Also, is the Google Assistant able to be disabled, like any other shortcut attached to the home button? And the Google tab?

 

[Ry]

This is a big Moto feature, right? I think the Pixels want you to just use Android Auto ... I'm not aware of such a feature being included. But I don't really drive that often, sorry! Maybe Daniel has used it.

Yep, Moto Voice is a big reason why my next phone is a Motorola.

That and I still feel like Moto Display is superior to Ambient display.