Google unveiled its new smartphones the Pixel and Pixel XL along with a virtual reality headset and other accessories.
With a 5-inch and 5.5-inch displays the smaller phone has a 1,920 x 1,080 display, the larger handset a 2,560 x 1,440 display.
Made with a aluminium and glass backs the phones offer a fingerprint sensor below the rear camera. The smaller of the two phones will come in at £599 for 32GB with the larger one at £719 for 128gb, putting it in direct competition with the iPhone 7 from Apple and Samsung’s Galaxy models.
While it is clearly in direct competition with these two premium smartphones it doesn’t offer any kind of water-resistance, which has been added to both Samsung and Apple’s latest models.
One of the main features of the phone that Google has been focusing on is the 12.3MP camera, featuring an f/2.0 aperture and 1.55 micron pixels.
Google said: “Pixel’s camera lets you take stunning photos in low light, bright light or any light. Catch action shots as they happen with Smartburst, which takes a rapid-fire sequence of shots and automatically selects the best one.”
Running on the latest Android software, Nougat 7.1, the handset offers Google Assistant, which offers features such as predicting the next action the user may like to take next by scanning what the user is looking at on the screen.
The Google Assistant is built in and the company says that users can have a natural conversation with it in order to find answers or get things done.
“Your Assistant can also offer help with what’s on-screen in any app. So if your friend texts you to meet up at a new restaurant, you can just say “navigate there”,” the company said.
Alongside the handset, which features a headphone jack, is Daydream view, a virtual reality headset and motion-sensing controller. Coming in at £69 it will feature a Google Cardboard headset with strap and wave-and-click controller.
Google didn’t finish with its announcements there as it also revealed Home, a wi-fi smart speaker similar to the Amazon Echo.
UK customers will have to wait for Home as it won’t launch here until next year for around £100. The Pixel and Pixel XL will go on sale on 20th October.
