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Google Pixel XL · Google official Pixel and Pixel XL shared launch photograph; depicted size/configuration is unspecified where the shared image does not distinguish it. Complete supplied framing and background retained.

Google Pixel XL
Photo 1 of 2

Google Pixel XL · Google official Pixel and Pixel XL shared launch photograph; depicted size/configuration is unspecified where the shared image does not distinguish it. Complete supplied framing and background retained.

Google · Pixel

Pixel XL

Released October 2016

Google's first larger Pixel pairs a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display and 3450 mAh battery with Snapdragon 821 and a headphone jack.

Screen
5.5″
Display
OLED
Chip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
Memory
4 GB
Storage
32 GB – 128 GB
Main camera
12.3 MP
Zoom
–
Battery
3,450 mAh
Weight
168 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews liked the camera and responsive everyday performance, but questioned the high price and fixed storage. Both found battery endurance weaker than major rivals despite lasting a normal day. Notebookcheck found only a small low-light camera advantage, while Expert Reviews preferred it more strongly to Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge.

From notebookcheck.net and expertreviews.co.uk

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Screen size
5.5″
Resolution
2560 × 1440
Sharpness
534 pixels per inch
Panel
OLED
Display type
AMOLED QHD
Pixel density
534 ppi
Brightness detail
Up to 518 cd/m² in Notebookcheck's APL50 test; no automatic brightness boost in its test
Screen protection
Corning Gorilla Glass 4; oleophobic coating

Performance

Chip
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
Memory
4 GB
Storage
32 GB, 128 GB
CPU
64-bit quad-core CPU; 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz
GPU
Adreno 530
Storage type
4 GB LPDDR4 RAM; no microSD slot

Cameras

Main camera
12.3 MP
Ultra wide camera
None
Telephoto camera
None
Optical zoom
None
Front camera
8 MP
Main camera
f/2.0; 1.55 μm pixels; phase-detection and laser-detection autofocus; CRI-90 dual-LED flash
Front camera
f/2.4; 1.4 μm pixels
Video recording
Rear 4K at 30 fps; 720p slow motion at 240 fps and 1080p slow motion at 120 fps
Front video
Google lists HD at 30 fps; Notebookcheck reports Full HD recording
Camera features
HDR+; Smartburst; Lens Blur; video stabilisation; double-twist gesture switches between cameras

Battery and charging

Battery
3,450 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)
Up to 14 hours
Wireless charging
None
Battery life detail
Non-removable; maker claims up to 23 days standby, 32 hours talk, 14 hours Wi-Fi or LTE browsing, 14 hours video and 130 hours audio; actual results vary
Wired charging
Supplied USB-C 18 W charger; maker claims up to seven hours of mixed use from 15 minutes of charging; actual results vary

Design

Type
Standard
Weight
168 g
Thickness
8.58 mm
Height × width
154.72 × 75.74 mm
Materials
Anodised aluminium and Gorilla Glass 4; tapered body measures 7.31 mm at the bottom and 8.58 mm at the top
Colours
Very Silver, Quite Black and Really Blue; Really Blue was US-only at launch
Buttons
Power button and volume controls
Biometrics
Pixel Imprint rear fingerprint reader
Sensors
Accelerometer; gyroscope; magnetometer; barometer; proximity and ambient light; Hall sensor; Android Sensor Hub
Speakers
Bottom-firing speaker; adaptive audio amplifier
Microphones
Three microphones; two front and one rear

Software

Operating system
Android
Software at launch
Android 7.1 Nougat
Software updates
No longer receives Android version or security updates according to Google's current support policy
AI features
Google Assistant introduced at launch
In the box
USB-C to USB-C cable rated USB 2.0; USB-C 18 W 9 V/2 A charger; SIM tool; Quick Switch adaptor; USB-A to USB-C cable rated USB 3.0; quick-start packet; earbuds included in India and Australia

Connectivity

Mobile network
4G LTE with three-carrier aggregation; UK/rest-of-world variant has FDD LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/21/26/28/32 and TDD LTE 38/39/40/41; no 5G
SIM
One nano-SIM slot
Wi-Fi
Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.2
NFC
NFC
USB
USB-C 3.1; 3.5 mm headphone jack
Positioning
GPS and GLONASS; digital compass

Storage options

Storage
32 GB
128 GB

Pros and cons

Pros

  • QHD AMOLED display
  • Headphone jack and rear fingerprint reader
  • 32 GB and 128 GB storage options

Cons

  • No microSD slot or optical telephoto camera
  • Single bottom-firing speaker
  • Android and security updates have ended

Closest rivals

Model
ScreenDisplayChipMemoryStorageMain cameraZoomBatteryWeightReleased
MotorolaMoto G4 Plus
5.5″LCDQualcomm Snapdragon 6172 GB – 4 GB16 GB – 64 GB16 MP–3,000 mAh155 g2016
SamsungGalaxy S7 edge
5.5″OLED, 60 HzExynos 88904 GB32 GB – 128 GB12 MP–3,600 mAh157 gMar 2016
SamsungGalaxy Note7
5.7″OLEDExynos 88904 GB64 GB12 MP–3,500 mAh169 gAug 2016

Newer model: Pixel 2 XL.

Sources

  1. support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/16043605
  2. support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15738422
  3. blog.google/products-and-platforms/devices/pixel/introducing-pixel-our-new-phon…
  4. support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705
  5. support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7158537
  6. newsroom.ee.co.uk/ee-exclusive-direct-network-partner-for-googles-pixel-pixel-x…
  7. newsroom.ee.co.uk/ee-pinpoints-launch-of-googles-first-pixel-handsets
  8. qualcomm.com/news/onq/2016/10/pixel-phones-made-google-powered-snapdragon-821
  9. expertreviews.co.uk/technology/phones/google-pixel-phone-and-pixel-xl-review-sm…
  10. notebookcheck.net/Google-Pixel-XL-Smartphone-Review.180804.0.html

Photo: Google official Pixel and Pixel XL shared launch photograph; depicted size/configuration is unspecified where the shared image does not distinguish it. Complete supplied framing and background retained.

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