A visible journey down reminiscence lane

Google Pixel smartphones have solely been round since 2016, and in that point they’ve made their mark as a number of the best phones on the earth.

Pixel changed the Nexus lineup made up of a sequence of handsets created by Google in collaboration with different producers to run a pure type of the Android working system. Nexus was aimed largely at builders and early adopters and wasn’t significantly in style amongst basic shoppers. So it made whole sense for Google to ditch the Nexus method and focus by itself premium line of units that might compete in opposition to trade giants like Samsung and Apple.

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Over time, it grew to become clear that Google made a sensible transfer in leaving the Nexus behind as a result of it supposed to make use of the Pixel model to spearhead smartphone innovation for itself and the trade. Pixel instruments just like the Magic Eraser, Dwell Translate, and Picture Unblur have paved the way in which for the smartphone AI options we see at the moment within the likes of the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series.

You’ll be able to’t neglect in regards to the Pixel’s design. It definitely stands out in opposition to a rising sea of Android units. The street to the most recent handsets was an extended one, however price taking a visit down reminiscence lane, so we have summarized the Pixel’s journey — right here is the complete Google Pixel timeline from its humble beginnings to the current day.

1 Pixel / Pixel XL

Google hit the bottom working with the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones — the primary ever ‘Made by Google’ units. The common Pixel got here alongside an XL mannequin which did what it mentioned on the tin, providing an even bigger display and higher battery life than its sibling. Proper from the beginning, Pixel’s spectacular digicam was at its core, standing alongside speedy efficiency and a stand-out design.

2 Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL

Launched in 2017, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL launched with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. They had been the primary Google units that removed the headphone jack. The digicam noticed some adjustments too, with the addition of optical picture stabilization and Pixel Visible Core which sped up Google’s HDR+ mode.

3 Pixel 3 / Pixel 3 XL

In 2018, Google lastly diminished the scale of the bezels on its telephones, and in doing so, boosted the scale of the display from 5 inches to five.5 inches on the Pixel 3 and from 6 inches to six.3 inches on the Pixel 3 XL. Extra design adjustments included a brand new glass again and a recent Not Pink colorway. The Google Pixel 3 additionally added options like wi-fi charging and display calling to search out out who is asking you. Google Lens was constructed into the digicam system for the primary time too, permitting you to establish real-world objects together with your cellphone’s digicam.

4 Pixel 3a

In 2019, we noticed the primary of Google’s ‘a’ fashions — a extra stripped-back various to its flagship units. The principle profit was to supply a extra reasonably priced choice to these on a tighter finances. At launch, the Google Pixel 3a value solely $399 compared to the Pixel 3 which began at $799.

5 Pixel 4 / Pixel 4 XL

The Google Pixel 4 and the Google Pixel 4 XL had a brand new sq. digicam notch on the again of the handset, and it additionally began making waves when it got here to sensible options. Facial recognition secured the handset, astrophotography was added to the digicam app, Dwell Transcription was debuted, and the cellphone might acknowledge while you had been close by with Movement Sense. Maybe most significantly, the revamped Google Assistant made its debut.

6 Pixel 4a

One other mid-range Pixel hit the market in 2020, providing an reasonably priced smartphone with top-notch digicam capabilities. There have been some sacrifices to be made to the final efficiency and show high quality, however this cellphone managed to pack in quite a lot of the identical modern sensible options as its flagship counterpart.

7 Pixel 5

Google’s fifth Pixel was the primary to sport a hole-punch selfie digicam, permitting for extra display actual property to play with. You bought a six-inch display for the primary time too, as a result of there was no XL mannequin to quench that thirst. One other distinction between the Google Pixel 5 and its predecessor was the battery — the two,800mAh cell was switched out for a a lot larger 4,080mAh cell.

8 Pixel 5a

The Pixel 5a saved issues easy when it comes to its design and {hardware}, however there was no skimping on the digicam lenses or its software program, and the battery might additionally last as long as two days. You bought quite a lot of bang in your buck with the Pixel 5a.

9 Pixel 6 / Pixel 6 Professional

Google Pixels had been reinvented in 2021 and the newly subtle smartphones lastly began competing in opposition to prime gamers, together with the iPhone. For the primary time, Pixels had been powered by Google’s own Tensor chip, which allowed for a number of the greatest AI options in any smartphone thus far. To call only a few: the Magic Eraser deletes photobombers from pictures, Voice Typing takes away the necessity for the keyboard, and Dwell Translate makes international languages accessible throughout internet content material and messages.

10 Pixel 6a

As a result of the Pixel 6 lineup was so targeted on software program and the brand new Google Tensor chipset, the Google Pixel 6a did not miss out on any of the perfect sensible options or the boosted efficiency. To economize, the 6a had a smaller display with a 60Hz refresh charge (as an alternative of 90Hz), the primary digicam was solely 12.2MP (compared to 50MP) and the charging velocity was restricted to 18W (down from 25W).

11 Pixel 7 / Pixel 7 Professional

Constructing on the strides made by the Pixel 6, the Pixel 7 sequence refined the design, sharpening the digicam strip and including curved edges to the handset. The battery was made larger, new colours had been launched, and the Tensor chipset was upgraded. Extra sensible options got here with that, particularly for the digicam, including Picture Unblur to sharpen shaky pictures and a brand new Evening Sight to brighten photographs taken in low mild.

12 Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a is not wildly completely different from the Pixel 7 — it is a bit of smaller and a bit of cheaper, nevertheless it appears to be like very related and also you get the identical AI options. You make some sacrifices for the cheaper price, like the general efficiency and the standard of the digicam system. However the Pixel 7a is without doubt one of the greatest worth Pixels but.

13 Pixel Fold

With the Pixel Fold, Google dipped its toe into the world of foldable telephones for the primary time in 2023. It options an enormous 7.6-inch foldable display on the within and a 5.8-inch cowl show on the surface. Simply as you’d discover on Google’s flagship smartphones, it has a really succesful digicam system, up-to-date AI options, and Google’s Tensor G2 processor.

14 Pixel 8 / Pixel 8 Professional

Most just lately, in late 2023, Google launched the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. It is probably the most convincing Pixel thus far because of the most recent Google Tensor G3 chipset, its light-weight design, and longer battery life. In traditional Google trend, there are some new options to mess around with too, just like the assistant’s means to summarize internet pages, the digicam’s Greatest Take function to change folks’s facial expressions between pictures, and the Magic Editor to resize and transfer objects in your photographs.