Google telephones: A historical past of the Nexus and Pixel lineup thus far

Google unveiled Android to the world in 2007, two years after buying the working system for $50 million. Whereas many anticipated the search big to announce its personal telephone as Apple did with the iPhone, Google’s resolution to make Android freely out there to any producer was an excellent greater occasion. After all, we now know that the corporate finally entered the {hardware} {industry} and has even discovered success in recent times with the Pixel sequence.

To know how Google managed to carve out a distinct segment for itself within the aggressive smartphone market, let’s go over the corporate’s smartphone journey over the previous 15 years. From the Nexus One to the newest Google Pixel, they’re all right here.

The Android Dev Telephone 1 wasn’t destined for retail cabinets or end-user pockets, nevertheless it was the primary smartphone you could possibly purchase instantly from Google. It was primarily based on the HTC Dream, the first-ever smartphone to run the Android working system. When you may solely purchase the HTC Dream in choose North American and European markets, Google made the Android Dev Telephone 1 extra broadly out there to builders in 19 worldwide markets.

Google eliminated all restrictions from Android 1.0 on the Dev Telephone 1, which means it shipped with an unlocked bootloader. Put merely, a developer (or handset producer) may flash their very own modified construct of Android. It additionally didn’t embrace copy safety, which meant that sure apps didn’t seem on the machine’s Android Market. Google has since rebranded Android Market to the Play Store.

You possibly can purchase the Android Dev Telephone 1 in early 2009 for simply $399. Nonetheless, Google strongly emphasised that it wasn’t meant for use by common prospects and didn’t market the telephone as such. It was finally succeeded by the Android Dev Telephone 2, which was primarily based on the HTC Magic.

Developer {hardware} apart, the Nexus One was Google’s first-ever smartphone designed for normal, on a regular basis use. As with earlier {hardware} releases, Google partnered with HTC to fabricate the Nexus One.

The Nexus One ran stock Android and never HTC’s modded Sense UI. This additionally meant that the machine lacked multi-touch, which producers added to their very own Android skins within the working system’s early days. The Nexus One finally obtained a firmware replace that enabled software-based multi-touch performance.

As for the Nexus One’s inside {hardware}, it used a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 1GHz. This allowed the telephone to increase a efficiency lead over the competitors on the time, not less than on paper. Nonetheless, the 512MB inside storage didn’t depart a lot room for app downloads and even audio tracks for offline playback. Lastly, the 480×800 decision AMOLED show was one other benefit the Nexus One had on the time.

Google Nexus One quick information:

• The unlocked model of the Nexus One retailed at $529 in 2010.
• Google initially bought the Nexus One by means of its personal net retailer. Nonetheless, it will definitely deserted that effort and commenced partnering with third-party storefronts internationally.
• The Nexus One obtained simply two main Android software program updates, making it the least supported Google smartphone in that facet.
• The primary-ever Nexus smartphone shipped with Android 2.1 and solely made its approach to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.

For the Nexus S, Google moved to Samsung for manufacturing. Introduced in December 2010, the telephone launched lower than a 12 months after the Nexus One went on sale.

The Nexus S ditched the trackball however gained a number of recent {hardware} options. Most notably, it shipped with a 4.0-inch Samsung-made Super AMOLED show — the identical because the one discovered on the unique Galaxy S. Nonetheless, some variants of the Nexus S shipped with an LCD show in areas exterior the US, Canada, and the EU. Samsung additionally used its in-house 1GHz Exynos 3310 SoC within the Nexus S.

Total, the Nexus S obtained favorable critiques however the lack of distinctive options made it tough to face out within the more and more crowded Android market.

Google Nexus S quick information:

• The Nexus S was the primary Android smartphone to incorporate Close to Area Communication (NFC), which laid the groundwork for Android Beam and Google Pay within the coming years.
• Google up to date the Nexus S for practically two full years. The telephone shipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and obtained the Android 4.1.2 replace in 2012.
• The telephone shipped with 16GB of NAND flash storage, a giant step up over its predecessor. Nonetheless, it didn’t provide microSD growth.
• Google bought the Nexus S on the identical value because the Nexus One ($529), which undercut Apple’s $599 asking value for the iPhone 4.

A 12 months after the Nexus S debuted, we acquired the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. By 2011, Samsung had gained a major quantity of market share and a partnership with Google benefited each firms.

The Galaxy Nexus was the primary machine to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the field and launched core options that many people nonetheless use to this present day. Some examples embrace face unlock, Android Beam NFC file switch, software program navigation buttons, Google Pockets, and the Roboto system font.

Associated: How secure is facial recognition on smartphones?

For the Galaxy Nexus, Google opted for an SoC from Texas Devices moderately than one from Qualcomm or MediaTek. However whereas the OMAP 4460 chip supplied respectable compute efficiency on the time, Texas Devices would quickly announce its departure from the smartphone {industry}. This left Google with no alternative however to finish software program assist for the Galaxy Nexus two years after its launch.

Galaxy Nexus quick information:

• Google delayed the announcement of the Galaxy Nexus following the demise of Apple’s co-founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, in October 2011.
• The Galaxy Nexus’ face unlock didn’t at all times work as anticipated, even failing to work throughout Google’s launch occasion. Just a few customers additionally claimed that they might efficiently trick their telephones into unlocking with only a photograph. With the Android Jellybean replace, Google added an optionally available safety characteristic that required you to blink for face unlock.
• Whereas the unlocked Galaxy Nexus initially bought for $399, the worth shortly dropped to $350.
• In a lawsuit in opposition to Apple, Samsung’s attorneys revealed that the Galaxy Nexus didn’t promote significantly nicely. Particularly, it made the corporate simply $250 million in six months and captured 0.5% of market share.

After years of inconsistent branding, Google lastly returned to utilizing numbers with the Nexus 4. Google partnered with LG this time round, ending its two-year relationship with Samsung. The fourth-generation Nexus machine introduced some welcome enhancements in addition to a number of surprises.

The Nexus 4 shared many elements with the LG Optimus G, together with Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon S4 Professional SoC, 2GB of RAM, and a 4.7-inch IPS LCD show. It was additionally the primary Google smartphone to make use of premium supplies like a glass again and Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2 on the entrance.

With the Nexus 4, Google pivoted to competing on value and worth as nicely. You possibly can purchase the entry-level 8GB mannequin for simply $299, far cheaper than competing smartphones with related specs. This single-handedly allowed the Nexus 4 to change into one in every of Google’s hottest smartphones — the corporate reportedly bought upwards of three million units in beneath a 12 months.

Google Nexus 4 quick information:

• The Nexus 4 lacked 4G LTE connectivity, despite the fact that the radio {hardware} supported it to some extent. This omission might have helped Google attain its aggressive launch value.
• The Nexus 4’s glass sandwich building made it the primary Google telephone the place customers may not change the battery with out specialised instruments.
• Regardless of its affordability, the Nexus 4 gained assist for Qi wireless charging — a premium characteristic even on the time.

The success of the Nexus 4 prompted Google to maintain working with LG by means of 2013. The Nexus 5 caught to its predecessor’s strengths, providing flagship-grade specs at a lower cost level. It additionally bundled a higher-resolution 1080p 4.95-inch show, a bigger battery, and official assist for LTE. The 2 firms additionally returned to a extra conventional design this time, choosing a soft-touch plastic again as an alternative of glass.

The Nexus 5 additionally marked an inflection level for Google when it comes to software program focus. The telephone debuted with the Google Now launcher and Hangouts because the default textual content messaging app. However the greater improve got here within the type of HDR+, a brand new software-based digicam characteristic. In a nutshell, it allowed the Nexus 5 to take higher photos by capturing a burst of pictures at completely different exposures and mixing them for the next dynamic range.

In the end, the Nexus 5 held up extremely nicely in opposition to the competitors due to its aggressive value level, which undercut the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4 by a whole bunch of {dollars}.

Nexus 5 quick information:

• The Nexus 5 stays one in every of Google’s best-selling Nexus telephones of all time, thanks to higher world availability and its aggressive spec sheet.
• The Nexus 5 launched with Android 4.4 KitKat and obtained two main software program updates, ending with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
• Google bought the unlocked 16GB variant of the Nexus 5 for $349, simply $50 greater than the Nexus 4.
• Though it featured a bigger show and battery, the Nexus 5’s plastic building meant that it was lighter than its predecessor.

The Nexus 6’s title didn’t simply sign Google’s sixth-generation smartphone, it was additionally a nod to the show dimension. At 5.96-inches diagonal, its show appeared huge again in 2014 — most smartphone shows got here in beneath 5.5-inches. Google switched producers but once more this era, favoring Motorola despite the fact that it bought off the corporate to Lenovo earlier that 12 months. Google’s producer alternative was on full show because the telephone’s again featured Motorola’s distinguished brand and dimple. The software program had a delicate Motorola aptitude as nicely, with unique options like an ambient show.

The Nexus 6 packed a powerful spec sheet in comparison with the competitors, with a QHD-class show, Snapdragon 805 SoC, and 3GB of RAM. It was additionally the primary telephone to launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop and Google’s Materials Design UI. It was additionally the primary Nexus smartphone to have a metallic body, marking the sequence’ return to the premium market. The digicam {hardware} acquired a lift this era too, coupled with Google’s bettering computational photography efforts. In consequence, the Nexus 6 rivaled different 2014 top-end Android smartphones when it comes to imaging.

Nexus 6 quick information:

• The Nexus 6 launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop with Google promising two years of software program updates and an extra 12 months of safety patches. The telephone finally obtained Android 7.1 Nougat as its last replace.
• The Nexus 6 was primarily based on the Moto X (2nd era), which featured a smaller 5.2-inch show and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 chipset.
• Google charged a premium for the Nexus 6 in comparison with its direct predecessors. At $649, it was a noticeable step up from the Nexus 5’s aggressive $349 price ticket.
• The six-inch show dimension and enormous dimensions of the Nexus 6 had been so unusual on the time that the telephone was known as a “phablet”, a portmanteau of telephone and pill.

As their names counsel, Google’s 2015 Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P had been meant to succeed the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6. This additionally marked the primary time Google launched two smartphones in a single 12 months.

The Nexus 5X, made by LG, supplied an improve path to these searching for a smaller and cheaper Google telephone at $379. The Nexus 6P, alternatively, was made by Huawei and supplied higher-end specs and a bigger 5.7-inch show at a aggressive $499 price ticket. Given this dual-manufacturer method, it’s not shocking that the 2 smartphones didn’t actually resemble one another.

See additionally: The Nexus 6P was the blueprint for Google’s Pixel ambitions

Sadly, Nexus 5X and 6P customers discovered themselves plagued with a number of post-launch points, with the most important problem being Qualcomm’s overheating flagship silicon that 12 months. The Snapdragon 810 (and 808 to a lesser extent) turned notorious for reaching its thermal ceiling and throttling CPU efficiency beneath any significant load.

Nexus 5X and 6P quick information:

• The Nexus 5X and 6P had been the primary within the sequence to undertake USB Type-C ports.
• Each smartphones suffered from widespread bootloop points. It’s nonetheless unclear why this drawback manifested within the first place, however builders discovered that disabling sure CPU cores allowed the telephones in addition efficiently.
• Google and Huawei had been hit with a category motion lawsuit over the bootloop problem and agreed to pay out $9.75 million in settlements, or as much as $400 per telephone proprietor. Nonetheless, some affected customers obtained a more recent Pixel XL as a guaranty alternative and a smaller settlement quantity.
• LG additionally settled a bootloop-related class motion lawsuit in 2018, besides this one coated extra than simply the Nexus 5X. Different affected smartphones included the LG G4, V10, V20, and G5. Affected customers may declare as much as $425.
• The Nexus 5X and 6P didn’t provide Qi wi-fi charging, marking a pattern reversal for the sequence.
• Though Google stated that the P in Nexus 6P stood for Premium, the smartphone debuted at a lower cost than its direct predecessor. The unlocked mannequin was $150 cheaper than the Nexus 6 at launch.

After seven generations of Nexus smartphones, Google determined to shift gears and ditch the branding altogether. The corporate’s new smartphone model, dubbed Google Pixel, would have greater ambitions and never simply cater to Android fanatics and builders. This reboot was initially met with skepticism from the Nexus fan base. Nonetheless, sentiment shortly turned optimistic because the preliminary wave of critiques praised the Google Pixel for its glorious digicam efficiency and constant software program expertise.

The Pixel additionally marked a turning level in Google’s design language. Though the corporate partnered with HTC to create the Pixel and Pixel XL, it exercised better management over the smartphone’s design and {hardware} selections. This meant that, in contrast to the Nexus 5X and 6P, the common and XL Pixel fashions really appeared like they got here from the identical machine household. The telephones featured a steel physique with a premium-looking glass window on the rear.

The Pixel title was symbolic of Google’s efforts at attaining the most effective digicam efficiency with commodity smartphone {hardware}. On the launch occasion, the corporate highlighted that DxOMark ranked the Pixel because the best smartphone camera, due to Google’s improved HDR+ know-how. The brand new digicam app on the Google Pixel additionally captured a buffer of pictures as quickly because the consumer opened the digicam app to dramatically scale back shutter lag, one of many final remaining drawbacks of the HDR+ mode.

The Pixel sequence additionally debuted the Google Assistant, which remained an unique characteristic for a number of months. Nonetheless, customers may get a style of the Assistant by means of Google’s new chat app Allo, which additionally got here pre-installed on all Pixel smartphones. In a 2016 interview, Google’s {hardware} chief Rick Osterloh defined, “Fundamentally, we believe that a lot of the innovation that we want to do now ends up requiring controlling the end-to-end user experience.”

Google Pixel quick information:

• The Pixel launched a brand new Google-centric software program pores and skin that might finally evolve into the Pixel UI we all know at the moment.
• The Pixel supplied limitless cloud storage for pictures and movies through Google Photos.
• Google was hit with a class-action lawsuit over defective microphones on this era of telephones and needed to pay $7.25 million in a settlement.
• The Google Pixel launched with Android 7.1 Nougat and obtained three main software program updates, ending with Android 10.
• Google commanded a premium asking value for the Pixel line, ditching the affordability pattern of the Nexus sequence as soon as and for all. At $649 for the smaller mannequin, it went toe-to-toe with flagship smartphones just like the Samsung Galaxy S7 when it comes to pricing. The Pixel XL, in the meantime, launched at $769 — or the identical because the Galaxy S7 Edge.

The second-generation Pixel smartphones supplied refinement moderately than a whole overhaul, which helped the sequence set up its id. The Pixel 2 saved the dual-tone steel and glass design however featured smaller bezels and IP67 ingress protection — a premium characteristic that reviewers famous was sorely lacking within the earlier era.

2017’s Pixel smartphones additionally gained a much-improved digicam sensor, which was helped by a brand new Pixel Visible Core chip. Google additionally launched a variety of software program options with this era, with the most important highlights being Google Lens and Portrait Mode. In contrast to competing smartphones which relied on a second lens for the characteristic, the Pixel 2’s Portrait Mode used computational pictures and machine learning to create a blurred background with solely the first digicam. With these enhancements, the smartphone earned the very best DxOMark smartphone digicam rating but once more.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL quick information:

• The Pixel 2 sequence may detect if you squeezed the telephone. The motion activated Google Assistant.
• Whereas Google didn’t enhance the worth of the bottom mannequin, the Pixel 2 XL debuted at $849 — a full $80 greater than its predecessor.
• The Pixel 2 sequence launched with Android 8.0 Oreo and obtained Android 11 as its last main software program replace.
• With the second-generation Pixel, Google ditched the headphone jack forward of most different Android OEMs. For reference, Samsung would maintain the three.5mm audio port round for an extra two years.

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL marked the beginning of Google’s quick controversial period of smartphone releases. The telephones featured moderately lackluster spec sheets by 2018 requirements and Google’s whopping $150 value hike for the bottom mannequin didn’t go down nicely with followers of the sequence. The Pixel 3 featured massive bezels and the XL mannequin’s enormous notch didn’t look significantly better both. On the identical time, Android producers had been beginning to transfer to larger screen-to-body ratios with smaller notches and even pop-up cameras.

Nonetheless, the Pixel 3 sequence launched some welcome enhancements to the tried-and-tested Pixel formulation. The smartphones acquired an aspect ratio bump from 16:9 to 18:9, higher IP68 water resistance, and a bigger battery. Nonetheless, the Pixel 3’s greatest leap ahead got here when it comes to digicam software program. Google’s Night time Sight characteristic used machine studying to enhance low-light efficiency and provide even higher outcomes than the already-impressive HDR+ mode. This arguably kick-started the industry-wide computational pictures race of the late 2010s. The {hardware} acquired a modest improve this era too, with the Sony IMX363 sensor that might change into a mainstay of Google smartphones for the subsequent few generations.

Regardless of this era’s excessive value, Google reportedly bought extra items of the Pixel 3 than every other Pixel smartphone within the first six months.

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL quick information:

• The third-generation Google Pixel smartphones debuted with a slew of recent machine learning-enabled options like a sooner Google Assistant, Call Screening, and Google Duplex.
• The Pixel 3 featured a bigger 5.5-inch show alongside the taller facet ratio, a 0.5-inch bump over the Pixel 2.
• The Pixel 3 sequence dropped the Pixel Visible Core in favor of Google’s Titan M safety chip.
• Wi-fi charging, a characteristic lacking on Google smartphones for a number of generations, lastly made a comeback with the Pixel 3 sequence.

Maybe acknowledging the ever-increasing launch costs as a possible pitfall, Google introduced its price range entry within the sequence with the Pixel 3a. Priced at $399 for the common mannequin and $470 for the XL, the 2 smartphones supplied practically the identical software program expertise at a fraction of the price.

At these decrease costs, Google discovered loads of patrons prepared to miss lacking options and pared-down {hardware}. The Pixel 3a featured a plastic physique, slower SoC, bigger bezels, and no IP ranking by any means. Regardless of that, you continue to acquired an equivalent digicam expertise because the dearer Pixel 3.

Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL quick information:

• The Pixel 3a discovered nice industrial success, with estimates pegged at over six million items between the 2 fashions.
• Google didn’t withhold software program options like Night time Sight on the Pixel 3a. For context, Apple nonetheless doesn’t provide Night time mode on the iPhone SE sequence.
• The Pixel 3a was in a league of its personal when it comes to software program assist at its value level. No different producer supplied a three-year replace window for a mid-range Android smartphone on the time.

With the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, Google embraced many smartphone tendencies directly. Each fashions gained an extra rear digicam lens, sooner 90Hz shows, and face unlock. Regardless of these enhancements, nevertheless, the telephones had been nearly universally panned for having mediocre battery life and excessive value relative to their middling spec sheet. Google was additionally criticized for its odd design selections just like the lacking fingerprint reader and the choice to go for a 2x telephoto lens over an ultrawide digicam.

Nonetheless, the Pixel 4 launched a handful of modern new options in typical Google style. The headlining characteristic was the Soli radar array, which allowed you to manage the telephone utilizing gestures. Totally different hand waves allowed you to cease alarms, swap to the subsequent music observe, and reject telephone calls. Nonetheless, the characteristic ended up being perceived as a gimmick by most customers and reviewers. And the truth that the sensors demanded a large notch meant that the characteristic didn’t return on subsequent Pixel smartphones.

Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL quick information:

• The Pixel 4 was the primary Google smartphone to characteristic an astrophotography mode.
• Google didn’t bump the worth of the Pixel 4 sequence, sticking with $799 and $949 for the common and XL fashions respectively.
• The common Pixel 4 acquired a barely bigger 5.7-inch show, as in comparison with the Pixel 3’s 5.5-inch show.
• The Pixel 4 sequence launched with Android 10 and obtained its last Android 13 replace in 2022.
• The Soli radar array prevented Google from launching the Pixel 4 in markets like India the place the 60GHz wi-fi frequency isn’t licensed for civilian use.

Having discovered success within the mid-range market with the Pixel 3a, Google returned with an much more aggressive value level a 12 months later. The Pixel 4a was priced $50 decrease than its predecessor however featured huge upgrades on practically each entrance. The smartphone additionally adopted Google’s new easier design language from the common Pixel 4. Nonetheless, it didn’t get the Soli array or face unlock options from the full-fledged flagship.

12 months-over-year, the Pixel 4a’s listing of upgrades included a bigger show, sooner SoC, double the inner storage, and 50% extra RAM. And regardless of sporting a bigger show, the Pixel 4a was considerably smaller within the hand than the Pixel 3a attributable to its smaller bezels.

Google Pixel 4a quick information:

• Google didn’t launch an XL mannequin alongside the Pixel 4a. Whereas the Pixel 4a 5G later crammed that hole with a sooner processor and 5G connectivity, it additionally carried a a lot larger $499 price ticket.
• The cheaper Pixel 4a featured a noticeably larger screen-to-body ratio than the common Pixel 4 because of the lacking Soli array.
• The Pixel 4a launched with Android 10 and its software program replace window will finish in August 2023.

After the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4’s combined reception, Google started to rethink its premium pricing technique with the Pixel 5. In contrast to prior fashions, it solely featured a mid-range Snapdragon 765G processor (the identical because the Pixel 4a 5G). Nonetheless, this allowed Google to drop the worth to $699 as an alternative and concentrate on recapturing the sub-flagship market as an alternative.

Regardless of the lower-end SoC and cheaper price ticket, the Pixel 5 acquired fairly a number of issues proper. Google swapped out the telephoto lens for an ultra-wide digicam, supplied extra RAM, and elevated the battery capability to repair its predecessor’s greatest Achilles’ heel. It additionally regained the fingerprint sensor as Google did away with the Soli radar array for the next screen-to-body ratio.

Google Pixel 5 quick information:

• Google skipped the XL variant altogether this era, releasing the cheaper Pixel 4a 5G on the identical time as an alternative. The latter was barely bigger than the Pixel 5 however lacked premium options like a glass again and wi-fi charging.
• The Pixel 5 was the primary Google smartphone to characteristic Battery Share — or reverse wireless charging.
• Launched in 2020, the Pixel 5 debuted with Android 11 and can obtain three years of main software program updates.

Amid a worldwide chip scarcity, the Pixel 5a was delayed a number of occasions. Even when it did launch, it flew beneath the radar for most individuals because it was merely a barely improved model of the Pixel 4a 5G. And whereas it did begin at a barely decrease $449 value level, Google didn’t launch a successor to the cheaper, non-5G Pixel 4a.

The Pixel 5a didn’t have many main upgrades. Many of the enhancements had been delicate, like a brand new IP67 ingress ranking, a barely bigger show, and a 20% bigger battery.

Google Pixel 5a quick information:

• Google launched the Pixel 5a in simply two markets: USA and Japan. Google initially deliberate to broaden world availability however backed down because the chip scarcity continued to persist.
• The Pixel 5a launched with Android 11 and can obtain three years of main model updates.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro marked a return to kind for Google. With a brand-new design language, the in-house Tensor processor, and a slew of recent machine learning-based software program options, the Pixel 6 sequence represented maybe the most important year-over-year improve in Google’s smartphone historical past.

In contrast to its predecessor, the Pixel 6 delivered a premium smartphone expertise with flagship-level specs. Regardless of that, Google bought the bottom mannequin Pixel 6 at simply $599 — less expensive than rivals just like the Galaxy S21 and iPhone 13. The bigger Professional mannequin, in the meantime, began at $899 with minor upgrades like a curved display, telephoto lens, and a bigger show.

The cameras acquired an enormous improve with the Pixel 6 sequence as nicely. Google lastly ditched the Sony IMX363 sensor after three generations in favor of a bigger sensor. This single change modernized the Pixel’s digicam {hardware} and allowed the corporate to flex its computational pictures capabilities even additional. The Pixel 6 launched a number of recent camera-related options like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, and Actual Tone.

Whereas the Pixel 6 was universally praised for its worth and distinctive options, it suffered from network connectivity issues and software program bugs. Nonetheless, the telephones went on to promote extraordinarily nicely — Google finally acknowledged that the Pixel 6 telephones outsold the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 mixed.

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional quick information:

• At $1,099 for the top-end 512GB mannequin, the Pixel 6 Professional marked the primary time you could possibly spend over $1,000 on a Google smartphone.
• Because of the in-house SoC, Google promised to ship 5 years of safety patches to the Pixel 6 sequence. Nonetheless, the smartphones will nonetheless solely obtain three Android model updates, like earlier entries within the sequence.
• The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional had been the primary Google smartphones to characteristic Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. The Professional mannequin was additionally the primary to incorporate assist for Ultra Wideband (UWB).
• The Pixel 6 sequence launched with Android 12 and can obtain its last main replace in 2024.

The Pixel 6a was a major departure from earlier price range Google Pixel telephones. Moderately than choosing a mid-range SoC just like the Snapdragon 765G, Google introduced its high-end Tensor chip to the Pixel 6a. The value didn’t enhance both — the Pixel 6a began at $499, no completely different than the Pixel 5a. Google additionally carried over the design language of the Pixel 6 sequence to the price range smartphone with the distinctive digicam bar on the rear.

The inclusion of the Tensor SoC meant that the Pixel 6a acquired lots of the machine studying options Google debuted with the Pixel 6 sequence. The truth is, the one main downgrades in comparison with the Pixel 6 had been a smaller, decrease refresh price show (60Hz vs. 90Hz) and a last-gen digicam setup.

Learn extra: Our Google Pixel 6a review

Google Pixel 6a quick information:

• The Google Pixel 6a dropped the three.5mm headphone jack. The fingerprint reader additionally moved from the rear to beneath the show for the primary time within the sequence’ historical past.
• The Pixel 6a used the Sony IMX363 digicam sensor present in prior Pixel flagships, together with the Pixel 5.
• Because of bettering provide chains, Google managed to broaden world availability and went on to launch the Pixel 6a in 13 international locations.

Moderately than reinventing the wheel, Google determined to refine an already profitable formulation with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. And at first look, it’s evident that Google didn’t change a lot with these telephones. Each Pixel 7 appeared practically equivalent to their predecessors, save for the rear digicam bar being made out of aluminum as an alternative of glass.

Many of the enhancements can as an alternative be discovered beneath the hood within the type of the upgraded Tensor G2 processor and an improved modem for higher mobile connectivity. Google additionally tried to additional differentiate the common and Professional fashions this era, with the latter gaining autofocus on the ultrawide lens. This enables the Pixel 7 Professional for use for macro pictures. Different notable digicam enhancements included sooner Night time Sight processing, Cinematic Blur for video, and Picture Unblur.

Learn extra: Google Pixel 7 review | Google Pixel 7 Pro review

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional quick information:

• With the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional, Google regained the boldness to enter markets like Scandinavia and India. The latter missed out on flagship Pixel releases following the Pixel 3.
• Google revived facial recognition on the Pixel 7 sequence. Nonetheless, the characteristic depends on the front-facing digicam and isn’t thought of safe sufficient for authenticating funds.
• House owners of a Pixel 7 sequence smartphone get free entry to Google One VPN for the lifetime of the machine.
• The Pixel 7 launched with Android 13 and can obtain main software program updates until 2025.

And with that, you’re now up-to-date on the historical past of Google telephones. Do you could have a favourite? Tell us within the feedback beneath.