The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

It is not often that we think about the development of a brand. Sure, we compare phones from year to year, but we rarely take a step back and check for long-term growth. Google has taken a bare minimum approach to annually upgrading its phones, especially with the most recent launches. But how much has the Google Pixel series evolved since the beginning?

Before I get into the development of the Pixel series, I want to talk about Google's philosophy. The Pixel series was never meant to compete on max-out specs; It was supposed to be a phone made of the "Google way". Pixel phones integrate very closely with Google services and provide easy and fast access to Google's best software. Pixel phone means that you can make your life easier by doing less interaction with your phone and still do a lot.

Part of the Pixel philosophy was about doing the most with the lowest. This is why traditionally Pixel phones do not have tons of RAM or a handful of cameras. They did not get dual cameras for 4 years. Google was able to do a lot without everyone knowing, so they didn't. This is evident when you look deeply into all the changes Google has made in the Pixel series over the last four years. So let's do just that.

Pixel and Pixel XL

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

The original Google Pixel, also known as OG Pixel, was Google's first flagship smartphone. This phone had Google's new Google Assistant. This was Google's first real effort to get the camera into the game. At the time, it was the best camera. It had very basic specs for late 2016. Snapdragon 821, 4GB RAM, 32GB or 128GB storage, a 3450 mAh battery, a 12.3 MP rear camera and a 5.5-inch QHD display. This is, in every way, a very basic 2016 phone.

The average hardware of Google Pixel was easily forgotten due to Google's great software. The phone felt fast and clean. There were no additional bloatware or meaningless changes to the software. Google has required changes where there have not been excessive changes. The lack of changes with the new Google Assistant made the Pixel the best phone at the time.

The OG Google Pixel was also looking great. It came in three colors, quite black, very silver, and actually blue. These three colors were absolutely brilliant and the phone's colors were very accurate. This was the beginning of Google's infamous dual-tone design with a glass and aluminum combo. The OG Pixel was one of the best Pixel phones in the series because Google essentially came out of nowhere with game-changing software software

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were a huge step forward. Unlike the OG Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL looked very different. Pixel 2 had some chunky bezels placed above and below the phone while Pixel 2 XL had slimmer bezels. Both phones had stereo front-facing speakers, Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage options, a single 12.2MP rear camera, an OLED display. The smaller Pixel 2 had a 1080p display while the larger Pixel 2 XL had a 1440p display. These specs were, again, nothing crazy, but they were the minimum Google needed to get a great and simple device on the market.

They simplified the approach of interacting with the phone from Google while improving your life without the need to do anything to the phone. This has come through Google's new features, Now Playing and Active Edge. Now Playing recognizes the music playing around you without using much battery and taking into account all the processing on the device. Active Edge made it easy to use by requiring only a simple squeeze to activate Google Assistant

The design of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL was also very practical. Google has not really run out of designs or features. He kept only one rear camera at a time, where dual cameras were becoming popular. Google also put back its dual-tone aluminum and glass. It came in a total of four different colors between Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Pixel 2 XL came in Black and White, also known as Panda and Just Black. Pixel 2 came in Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White. The Pixel 2 XL was one of my favorite phones of all time.

However, Pixel 2 was not perfect. A few months after the phone was launched there were a lot of issues with performance and RAM management. Google tried to figure out some of these with software updates, and it helped for some. There was also a problem with the Pixel 2 XL display. Some units had crazy blue innings. If you want to get good or bad performance then it was a lottery. It was also the first pixel to drop the headphone jack, which was controversial at the time.

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were not many upgrades, with many believing that the Pixel line was needed. Google kept up with its bare minimum specs and the classic approach to life-improving software. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL had very few specs for the 2018 flagship. It comes with Snapdragon 845, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage option, dual front-facing camera, 12.2MP rear camera and full glass back. It was at the peak once again, but it worked.

Apart from the design, which I'll get to later, most of the new features from Pixel 2 to Pixel 3 came to the camera. Google added a bunch of new features including Top Shot, Motion Auto Focus, Night Sight, and Super Race Zoom. Although it did not reestablish the entire camera experience on the Pixel, it did make it much better. Night Sight, in particular, was another game-changing camera feature. It can exit the smartphone's camera in poor light conditions. Now, almost every flagship phone on the market has similar modes.

The Pixel 3 had a major hardware change and upgrade, all-glass back and wireless charging. It was all-glass back, wireless charging, and of course, for Google's own Pixel stand. This glass back was the first glass phone with a frosted glass finish. It was easy to scratch but felt absolutely amazing to hold. Pixel Stand also helped make wireless charging more useful in your life by essentially converting Pixel Stand to Pixel Stand in Google Home. This, once again, makes the Pixel phone more useful to you and helps to bring Google's services to your life.

This may sound great, but the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL had some problems. The Pixel 3XL was bombarded, which was more of a design flaw than an issue. The real issues come back with the display and black frosted glass. The black pixel will be permanently scratched. There will also be pink and white pixels, but you will not see it due to the color. The lack of RAM in Pixel led to performance issues. If I were to take a picture or even just send a picture through a chat app my Pixel 3 XL would stop playing music. Sometimes switching between two apps will shut down all background apps. This was a real issue with Pixel 3, but Google did its best to fix it. Over time Google was able to help with RAM management, but it is still not as good as a phone with more RAM.

Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

Pixel 3a and 3a XL are the first of their kind in the Pixel series. They were cheap and very good phones for the public. They launched $ 400 and $ 480 respectfully. The interesting thing about these devices was not the price or features you will get on the phone, but what you got compared to the Pixel 3.

Pixel 3a comes with Snapdragon 670, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, single front ultra-wide camera, single rear 12.2MP camera, and 5.6 inch and 6.0-inch FHD + OLED display. It is very similar to Pixel 3. In actual use, it ended up at about the same speed as the Pixel 3, although the processor was not as good.

The combination of price and features has made Pixel 3a so interesting. For half the price, the Pixel 3a had the same features as the Pixel 3. The hardware was not as good as the Pixel 3, sure, but it was also half the price. This was a big deal and actually became the best selling unlocked phone on Amazon for some time. Many reviewers actually consider the Pixel 3A to be superior to the Pixel 3, simply because of the price. Pixel 3a will be known as possibly the most successful Pixel.

Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL

The evolution of the Google Pixel series: from OG to Pixel 4

These are all the latest, latest and greatest in previous generations: Pixel 4. A few weeks ago, Google launched Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. These pixels are known as a flop in the tech community. The reason is, once again, they do not have large batteries or crazy specs. They are the bare minimum Google who thinks that you have to give them the features you need to make your life easier.

The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL come with Snapdragon 855, 6GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage options, a single wide front camera, two rear cameras, and a 90 Hz display. The Pixel 4 comes with a 5.8-inch FHD + display from LG, while the Pixel 4 XL comes with a 6.3-inch QHD + display from Samsung. Pixel 4 has a 2800 mAh battery while Pixel 4 XL has a 3700 mAh battery. These battery sizes are actually one of the main reasons for not getting the Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL. Battery life is actually not very good. The rest of the specs are not even close to what we are seeing in 2019. It was the first Google phone to feature the first Pixel phone with no fingerprint scanner and dual camera. None of these is necessarily impressive hardware-wise but improves the pixel experience.

There are actually only two features that Google has added that anyone will actually notice. They are Project Soli a.k.a. Motion Sense, Second Rear Camera, Fingerprint Scanner Reduction and 90 Hz Display. Project Soli is a small radar chip Google uses to make changing songs or unlock your phone faster. It will recognize when you are about to pick up the phone and start scanning your face for the new Face Unlock feature, making it faster than hitting a phone with 3D facial recognition. The 90 Hz display just makes things extra smooth.

Powerful software not powerful hardware

During the development of Pixel, Google has focused on software over hardware. Pixel's idea is to keep Google's software in your pocket and make it work for you. Pixel phones actually do this. He always had the first and best Google Assistant features, such as Google Duplex or Google Lens. They have the smartest and smartest cameras using the same camera sensor as a $ 300 budget phone.

Google has always been able to do more with less, and that's what Google Pixel is all about. On a spec sheet, you can see through pixel design or specs or even the development of features, and all you'll see is that Google has worked on bringing useful software features to the hardware. That's why Google has put a thick top bezel in the Pixel 4, they know that the trade-off in design is worth its functionality. Project Soli in Pixel 4 is working to make your experience better, faster and more natural, even though you are without knowing it.
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The original Pixel came out with average hardware but exceptional software in Google Assistant. The Pixel 2 once again surfaced with mediocre hardware, but the ease of access to Google Assistant with cameras and edge and ambient music recognition with Now Playing has made the Pixel 2 the smartest phone without you. With Pixel 3, Google kept up the trend with average hardware, but with the excellent camera and Pixel Stand, the ability to turn your phone into a home speaker. With Pixel 4, Google has gone even further than before. Pixel 4 will work to help you without working.

The development of the Google Pixel phone reflects the development of ambient computing. Google is at the leading edge of software and they do not require the extreme hardware that every other OEM is using. The Pixel series has always been about making your life better and easier than you know.

Pixel is not developed in hardware or software, the phone is also working in ways you can identify to help. In the first Made by Google on October 4, 2016, Google said that we would remember that day as an important day in history, as they were launching the products they were launching. After almost four years, I agree.