The much-touted Google Pixel is finally official, and it has a slew of cool tricks to bring to the table, but how does it stack up to rivals?
We've pitted the new Google Pixel against the iPhone 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 for a brief specs comparison to give you a better idea of what's in store, but specs are not everything.
In today's highly competitive smartphone market, specifications are essential but it's the special features and uniqueness of each device that sets it apart from the crowd.
In this department, the Google Pixel is pretty well-positioned. The smartphone rocks deep software integration to Google's services, including Daydream, Google Photos and more. Google Pixel is also the first smartphone to come with Google Assistant built in, allowing users to ask questions or give tasks. The smartphone also comes with the latest Android Nougat OS right out of the box and will keep receiving the latest OS and security updates before other devices.
Leaving the special tricks aside, the Google Pixel comes with good specifications comparable to those of the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7 and other current flagships. Let's take a closer look.
Display
The Google Pixel features a 5-inch display with a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch (ppi). The iPhone 7 has a smaller 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixels at a pixel density of 326 ppi. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has the most advanced display of the bunch, rocking a 5.1-inch QHD screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution at 576 ppi.
Processor, RAM And Storage
The Google Pixel has a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor paired with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB or 128 GB of native storage space. The iPhone 7 packs an Apple A10 64-bit processor with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB of internal storage. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 processor (depending on region) paired with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage (depending on region). Of the three smartphones, only the Galaxy S7 supports expandable storage up to 200 GB.
Cameras
The Google Pixel has a 12.3-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front shooter, the iPhone 7 has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7-megapixel front one, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front shooter. All three smartphones support 4K video capture.
The Pixel comes on top in this round, at least on paper, and Google even touts that it has the "highest rated smartphone camera" ever.
"With a DxOMark Mobile score of 89, the best ever for a phone, Pixel's camera lets you take stunning photos in low light bright light - any light," says Google.
Battery
The Google Pixel has a 2,770 mAh battery, the Galaxy S7 has a 3,000 mAh battery, while Apple has yet to specify the battery capacity of its new iPhone 7. Nevertheless, the company says the iPhone 7 should last for up to 14 hours of 3G talk time, 12 hours of LTE internet use and 10 days of standby.
Special Features
As previously mentioned, the highest-end specs may not cut it without some special features to stand out from the crowd. The Google Pixel has the built-in Google Assistant, unlimited cloud storage for all photos and videos, and it's Daydream VR-ready. The iPhone 7 is water-resistant and has a taptic Home button, while the Galaxy S7 is water-resistant, has wireless charging and an always-on display.
Other
All three smartphones have fingerprint sensors - the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 have it embedded into the Home button, while the Google Pixel has a rear-mounted fingerprint reader. In terms of connectors, the Google Pixel comes with USB Type-C, the Galaxy S7 has micro-USB and the iPhone 7 has a Lightning connector. It's worth pointing out here that the iPhone 7 has no headphone jack, which has stirred quite some controversy. Some people even drilled holes into their iPhones thinking there might be a "hidden" headphone jack somewhere - there's not, don't try it.
Pricing
Lastly, pricing also plays a very important role and can make or break a device. We'll list the off-contract prices of each of the three smartphones, but not the contract offers or carrier deals.
That said, the Google Pixel costs $649 for the 32 GB version and $749 for the 128 GB model. The iPhone 7 starts at $649 for the 32 GB model, goes up to $749 for the 128 GB version and tops out at $849 for the 256 GB variant. The Samsung Galaxy S7 costs $695 at AT&T, $672 at Verizon, $670 at T-Mobile, $650 at Sprint and $672 at U.S. Cellular - all off-contract.
Conclusion
All three smartphones come with high-end specs, similar prices and top-notch features. Ultimately it comes down to consumer preference and which unique features appeal most to each consumer.
