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Google Pixel: Quite, really and very good-looking

With Google designing both the hardware and software, the Pixel promises to shake up the smartphone market. Take a closer look at the Pixel.

Patrick Holland
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Patrick Holland
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The Google Pixel is a top-shelf smartphone inside and out

Google designed two smartphones: the 5-inch Pixel (shown above) and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL.

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The Pixel and Pixel XL are the first phones to have Google Assistant built in.

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The back is defined by glass on the top and aluminum on the bottom.

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The Pixel has a 441-pixel-per-inch AMOLED display.

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To much hoopla, Google said the 12-megapixel camera on the Pixel is the best camera ever on a smartphone (to test that claim, we compared the Pixel with the iPhone 7).

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The camera received a DxOMark score of 89 -- the highest score for any smartphone.

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There is a back-facing fingerprint sensor called a Pixel Imprint.

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The phone comes in three colors: Very Silver, Quite Black and a limited-edition Really Blue.

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The G on the back stands for Google.

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The bottom is only 7.3 millimeters (0.2 inch) thick.

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The Pixel has a barely noticeable wedge shape.

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The right side of the phone has a volume rocker and power button.

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The Pixel is sold unlocked and can be used on any major US carrier by swapping SIM cards.

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Yes, that is a headphone jack.

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A view of the Pixel's USB-C port, speaker and microphone.

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Notice the absence of a camera bump. This is due to the Pixel's wedge-shaped design.

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The power button, on the side, can be pressed twice for quick access to the camera.

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The Pixel comes with unlimited storage for photos and videos (even 4K) on Google Photos.

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What is this phone missing? The Pixel is not dust- or water-resistant.

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The camera does not have optical image stabilization, though there is digital stabilization for shooting video.

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The Pixel and Pixel XL share the same good looks.

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Spec-wise, both phones are very similar.

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The major differences between the two are display size, battery size and price.

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Here we see the Pixel in Very Silver underneath the Pixel XL in Quite Black.

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These phones will go head-to-head with offerings from Samsung, Apple and LG.

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Both Pixels are wedge-shaped, thinner at the bottom edge.

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Which one should you get -- the Pixel or Pixel XL? Be sure to check out our reviews of the Pixel and the Pixel XL phones.

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For all the good, bad and everything in between, check out our full Google Pixel review.

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