On October 4, 2016, Google unveiled its new phone at a press event in San Francisco. For years, Google has been the producer of Android software which is used on phones produced by Samsung, LG, HTC, and LG. This is the first time ever that Google has completely designed and produced a phone. In the past, Google would oversee and manage Nexus phones which were mainly produced and designed by third parties. The new phone, the Pixel, is mysteriously similar to its rival, the iPhone.
The Pixel will have two versions, just like the iPhone. The Pixel will have a five-inch display, while the larger Pixel XL will have a 5.5-inch display. The new iPhone 7 has a 4.7-inch display, and the iPhone 7 Plus has a 5.5-inch display. The phones are also listed at the same prices; $650 for the smaller versions, and $770 for the larger versions. On top of that, the phones look starkly similar. So what could be different?
The answer is, not much. In fact, it's really creepy how close in design these phones are. The only differences are minor. For example, the iPhone 7 weighs five grams less than its rival. The "selfie," camera in the iPhone 7 has seven megapixels while the Pixel has eight. The iPhone has a slightly higher water resistance rating than the Pixel. And lastly, the battery in the Pixel is slightly larger than that of the iPhone. Other than that, the only differences come with who makes the phone. For example, Siri is available on the iPhone while Google's Personal Assistant is available on the Pixel. They each have their own softwares, iOS and Android. The Pixel charges and connects using a USB-C, while the iPhone has its own lightning port. There really is no deciding factor here that makes one phone better than the other.
However, the Pixel does have some flaws in terms of color, carrier, and storage size. The Pixel is available in three colors: blue, silver, and black. The iPhone is available in five colors: jet black, black, silver, gold, and rose gold. On top of that, the Pixel is only available in 32 GB and 128 GB versions, while the iPhone is available in 32, 128, and 256 GB versions. Lastly, and probably the biggest flaw with the Pixel, is the carrier availability. The Pixel is only carried by Verizon, while the iPhone is carried by all carriers. For those who remember, the iPhone came out as an AT&T only phone and eventually made its way to all carriers. Either way, these phones are too similar.
