The rumor mill surrounding the Google Pixel and Pixel XL keeps churning out juicy details, but this time around, the news might not sit that well with fans of the anticipated smartphones.
Right off the bat, the handsets in question are said to not sport a waterproof build. In short, that means users are advised against getting it too wet in the rain, hosing it down for whatever purpose and dipping it in water for kicks.
The Source Of The Rumor
Android Police caught wind of this particular bit, and according to the Android-dedicated website's David Ruddock, the Pixel and Pixel XL are going to have an IP53 dust- and water-resistant rating.
"IPX3 is essentially saying the device will not experience water ingress (i.e., water won't get inside) when held at a relatively upward angle in your hand during use in very heavy rain or when lightly splashed," he says.
Spelling Out The Bad News
It might come across as a bit of a surprise for some if the Pixel and Pixel XL hit the shelves without a waterproof design. To explain, most flagships nowadays have some impressive measures against water, including the Samsung Galaxy S7, the Galaxy S7 edge and the Note 7's IP68 rating and the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus' IP67 certification. The fact that the Google-branded handsets won't have the same qualities just seems unexpected.
What's more, the base model of the 5-inch Pixel is rumored to hold customers back by $649. If the alleged price and lack of waterproofing turn out to be true, then is the upcoming smartphone lineup really worth the buy? Perhaps that might still be the case for some, as they are expected to get the timeliest software updates.
However, since the Galaxy S7 costs $679.99 at T-Mobile and Best Buy and the iPhone 7 is priced at $649.99 at T-Mobile and AT&T, putting the Pixel's purported $649 price tag against those just makes it a little unappealing.
The Bottom Line
Of course, until Google gives an official word, it's advised to take this news with the usual grain of salt. In other words, there's more or less a chance that the Pixel and Pixel XL will be waterproof, and the price of the former could start at a lower point — fingers crossed on that one.
At any rate, if they go official with an IP53 rating, they at least have dust- and water-resistance up to a certain degree, serving as a consolation prize of sorts.
It's also worth mentioning that the Mountain View company could finally unveil the two on Oct. 4 at a hardware event in San Francisco, but it's still unclear whether or not the handsets that are going to make an appearance there will be the Pixel lineup.
With all said and done, if the Pixel and Pixel XL do indeed come without a waterproof feature, will you still grab one? Let us know in the comments section below.
