Google Pixel XL Review

Positives

Google Assistant is fantastic
Excellent camera with HDR+ and ES
Lighting fast experience
Above average battery life
Above average speaker performance
Great display
Pixel Launcher is one of the best interfaces

Negatives

Generic, understated design
Easily chipped and dented
Lack of OIS can affect videos
High price tag

Rating

Battery

8.5

Display

9.1

Camera

9.0

Performance

9.5

Software

9.2

Design

8.0

Bottom Line

8.9

Pixel XL

by Google

The Pixel and Pixel XL represent a new approach to hardware for Google, and while they're not perfect, what they do, they do extremely well. An excellent camera, intuitive Google Assistant, lightning fast experience, the latest hardware and good battery life result in arguably two of the best Android smartphones ever made.

Offering a Pure Android experience coupled with the new AI-based Google Assistant, does the Pixel XL have enough to stand out against a plethora of smartphones, both running Android and not? Will the generic design deter users away from Google’s flagship or should you look past it to any goodies that may lie within?

With the Galaxy Note 7 now consigned to an early death, are the Pixel and Pixel XL the perfect replacement? Let’s find out in this, our Google Pixel and Pixel XL review.

Fans of the Nexus range, you can now wince as Google’s iconic Nexus range is dead. However, if you’re interested in the Pure Android experience as Google imagines it, you need not worry as the Google Pixel and Pixel XL bring with them many of the same characteristics.