Google could again be exploring the option of developing its own Android smartphone which could pose a serious challenge to the best out there – read iPhone. Such a possibility has categorically been ruled out by CEO Sunder Pichai at the company’s Code Conference held last month but new reports on these points otherwise.
Google’s official stand on this has been that it will increase its control over the Nexus hardware to ensure those eventually turn out to be the type of showpiece Android devices as has been conceptualized by them. So far, the Mountain View company had left it to its OEM partners to deal with the manufacturing of the Nexus handsets so long as they adhere to certain minimum hardware specifications.
Not any more as Google has let it known they would be watching things closely so as to ensure the Nexus handsets offers the best possible Android experience to its users. Whether that amounts to adopting the Apple model is not known but that surely is the cornerstone. The iPhone is built to the exact specifications that its iOS platform allows for, which in turn allows for a superior user experience, better in many respects than its Android counterparts.
In contrast, Android, with all the open source goodness that it embodies, has often been left to deal with the ugly side of it. That’s fragmentation and Google is yet to come up with a firm policy on how best to tackle its menace. With so many manufacturers out there each offering their own ‘version’ of Android, while that allows for a rich variety and options for buyers, this makes it harder for updates to be pushed through.
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- Attention-grabbing design meets the latest evolution of the Google Pixel Camera on the new Google Pixel 11 Pro XL; Gemini Intelligence helps manage details so you can live in the moment[1]; and the phone is available in two sizes
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
- Magic Capture catches the moment as you live it: With just one tap, Pixel 11 Pro captures video and photos, and automatically edits, crops, and unblurs a curated collection, ready to share – and you get the memory of how it felt to be in the moment
- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
Couple to that the carriers’ tendency to put in their own bit – read bloatware – on the devices they support and the enormity of the issue becomes evident all the more. In the end, Google is left with just a miniscule percentage that upgrades to the latest Android version with the majority of them continuing with older versions.
Compare that to iOS where the overwhelming majority upgrade to the latest iOS version with just a small fraction of them continuing with the erstwhile versions.
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- Google Pixel 10a is a durable, everyday phone with more[1]; snap brilliant photography on a simple, powerful camera, get 30+ hours out of a full charge[2], and do more with helpful AI like Gemini[3]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Pixel 10a is sleek and durable, with a super smooth finish, scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display, and IP68 water and dust protection[4]
- The Actua display with 3,000-nit peak brightness shows up clear as day, even in direct sunlight[5]
- Plan, create, and get more done with help from Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[3]; have it screen spam calls while you focus[6]; chat with Gemini to brainstorm your meal plan[7], or bring your ideas to life with Nano Banana[8]
However, while details about the upcoming Google branded smartphone continue to be hazy, there are reports of it being readied for a launch around end-2016. Towards that, Google is even believed to have initiated dialogue with the carriers as all. Google’s hiring of the former president of Motorola, Rick Osterloh to head a hardware division can be further proof of something cooking on that front.
So while the above does sound encouraging from the end user’s point of view, there still are a few questions that demands a proper response. For instance, what would be the fate of the Nexus range in general in the years to come? Or more specifically, what fate awaits the two Nexus devices codenamed Sailfish and Marlin that is being put together by HTC? Further, will Google continue to hang on to its Nexus strategy by offering flagship levels of performance at a lower price point with its new smartphone offerings as well? We look forward to hearing more on this and will definitely be on the lookout for these answers.
Quick Recap
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- Google Pixel 10 is the everyday phone unlike anything else; it has Google Tensor G5, Pixel’s most powerful chip, an incredible camera, and advanced AI - Gemini built in[1]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works - Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- The upgraded triple rear camera system has a new 5x telephoto lens - up to 20x Super Res Zoom for stunning detail from far away; Night Sight takes crisp, clear photos in low-light settings; and Camera Coach helps you snap your best pics[3]
- Pixel 10 is designed - scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has an IP68 rating for water and dust protection[21]; plus, the Actua display - 3,000-nit peak brightness is easy on the eyes, even in direct sunlight[4]
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- Google Pixel 10 Pro is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI with Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, impeccable design in two sizes, and the next-gen Google Tensor G5 chip[1]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works - Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Get a head start on syncing your data before it even arrives: After you purchase your new Pixel, look for an email that explains how to transfer your photos, videos, passwords, and more in just a few quick steps[11]
- Pixel’s pro camera system makes everything look amazing, even in low light; capture more of the scene with advanced Google AI models, and bring out incredible details with 100x Pro Res Zoom, stunning 50 MP images, and super steady videos in 8K[10]
- Pixel 10 Pro is built with durable aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for scratch and drop resistance; the 6.3-inch Super Actua display with 3,300-nit peak brightness is easy on the eyes, even in direct sunlight[3,13,18]
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