Google Pixel

Google Pixel is a brand of portable consumer electronic devices developed by Google that run either ChromeOS or the Pixel version of the Android operating system. The main line of Pixel products consists of Android-powered smartphones, which have been produced since October 2016 as the replacement for the older Nexus, and of which the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are the current models. The Pixel brand also includes laptop and tablet computers, as well as several accessories, and was originally introduced in February 2013 with the Chromebook Pixel.
Google announced the first generation Pixel smartphones, the Pixel and the Pixel XL, on October 4, 2016 during the #MadeByGoogle event. Google emphasized the camera on the two phones, which ranked as the best smartphone camera on DxOMarkMobile with 90 points until HTC released the U11, which also scored 90 points. This is largely due to software optimizations such as HDR+. The Pixel phones also include unlimited cloud storage for pictures on Google Photos and, for devices purchased directly from Google, an unlockable bootloader. In 2019, a class action lawsuit over faulty microphones in some devices enabled Pixel owners to claim up to $500 in compensation.
Google announced the Pixel 2 series, consisting of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, on October 4, 2017.
Google announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at an event on October 9, 2018, alongside several other products.
On May 7, at I/O 2019, Google announced the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, budget alternatives to the original two Pixel 3 devices.
Google announced the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL at an event on October 15, 2019, alongside several other products.
In 2019, Google offered a bug bounty program of up to $1.5 million for the Titan M security chip built into Pixel 3, Pixel 3a and Pixel 4.
Google announced the Pixel 4a on August 3, 2020 and the Pixel 4a (5G) on September 30, 2020, as budget alternatives to the original two Pixel 4 devices.
Google announced the Pixel 5 on September 30, 2020.
Google announced the Pixel 5a on August 17, 2021.
Google announced the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on October 19, 2021.
Google announced the Pixel 6a on May 11, 2022.
Google announced the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro on October 6, 2022.
Google announced the Pixel 7a at its annual Google I/O on May 10, 2023.
Google announced the Pixel Fold at its annual Google I/O on May 10, 2023.
Google announced the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro at a #MadeByGoogle event on Oct 4, 2023. They were released 8 days later on Oct 12, 2023.
The Pixel 8a is a midrange addition to the Pixel 8 series. It was announced on the Made by Google blog on May 7, 2024.
Google announced the Pixel 9 at the Made by Google event, along with the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold on August 13, 2024.
Google announced the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL at the Made by Google event, alongside the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold on August 13, 2024.
Google announced the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at the Made by Google event, alongside the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro on August 13, 2024.
The Pixel C was announced by Google at an event on September 29, 2015, alongside the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P phones (among other products). The Pixel C includes a USB-C port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The device shipped with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and later received Android 7.x Nougat and Android 8.x Oreo. Google stopped selling the Pixel C in December 2017.
The Pixel Slate, a 12.3 in (31 cm) 2-in-1 tablet and laptop, was announced by Google in New York City on October 9, 2018, alongside the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. The Pixel Slate includes two USB-C ports but omits the headphone jack. The device runs ChromeOS on Intel Kaby Lake processors, with options ranging from a Celeron on the low end to an i7 on the high end. In June 2019, Google announced it will not further develop the product line, and cancelled two models that were under development.
The Pixel Tablet was announced by Google at I/O 2022. It comes with a stand, similar to that of a Home Hub; however, it is detachable. It was released on June 20, 2023.
Google announced the first-generation Chromebook Pixel in a blog post on February 21, 2013. The laptop includes an SD/multi-card reader, Mini DisplayPort, combination headphone/microphone jack, and two USB 2.0 ports. Some of the device's other features include a backlit keyboard, a "fully clickable etched glass touchpad," integrated stereo speakers, and two built-in microphones.
On March 11, 2015, Google announced the second generation of the Chromebook Pixel in a blog post. The laptop includes two USB-C ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, and a combination headphone/microphone jack. The device also has a backlit keyboard, a "multi-touch, clickable glass touchpad," built-in stereo speakers, and two built-in microphones, among other features.
Google discontinued the 2015 Chromebook Pixel on August 29, 2016.
On October 4, 2017, Google launched the first generation of the Pixelbook at its Made by Google 2017 event.
On October 15, 2019, Google announced a mid-range version of the Pixelbook, named the Pixelbook Go, at its Made by Google 2019 event.
The Google Pixel Watch is a first-generation wearable made by Google that released in October 2022. It features a circular display. Multiple wristbands for the watch are available on the Google Store for purchase.
The Pixel Watch 2 is a second-generation wearable made by Google that released in October 2023. It features a similar design to the first-generation Pixel Watch's circular display. Multiple wristbands for the watch are available on the Google Store for purchase.
The Pixel Watch 3 is a third-generation wearable made by Google that released in August 2024.
At Google's October 2017 hardware event, a set of wireless earbuds were unveiled alongside the Pixel 2 smartphones. The earbuds are designed for phones running Android Marshmallow or higher, and work with Google Assistant. In addition to audio playback and answering calls, the earbuds support translation in 40 languages through Google Translate. The earbuds are able to auto pair with the Pixel 2 with the help of the Google Assistant and "Nearby". The Pixel Buds are available in the colors Just Black, Clearly White and Kinda Blue. The earbuds have a battery capacity of 120 mAh while the charging case that comes with the Pixel Buds have a battery capacity of 620 mAh. The earbuds are priced at $159.
A second generation of Pixel Buds were released in 2020, omitting the cord between the two earbuds. In June 2021, a mid-range variant of the second-generation earbuds were released as the Pixel Buds A-Series.
At the 2022 Google I/O event, an enhanced version of the second-generation earbuds was announced and later released in May 2022, as the Pixel Buds Pro, which featured Active Noise Cancellation mode, transparency mode, and spatial audio (added in a subsequent software update). The "Pro" earbuds are priced at $199.
Alongside the launch of the Pixelbook in October 2017, Google announced the Pixelbook Pen, a stylus to be used with the Pixelbook. It has pressure sensitivity as well as support for Google Assistant. The Pen is powered by a replaceable AAAA battery and is priced at US$99.
In October 2018, Google announced the Pixel Stand alongside the Pixel 3 smartphones. In addition to standard 5 watt Qi wireless charging, the Pixel Stand has wireless 10 watt charging using a proprietary technology from Google. It also enables a software mode on the Pixel 3 that allows it to act as a smart display similar to the Google Home Hub. In October 2021, alongside the release of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones, a second-generation Pixel Stand was made to support the phones' new wireless charging speeds of 23 watts.
Google Pixel UI is an Android skin used for the Pixel phones and the Pixel Tablet, and developed by Google. Starting from first generation of Google Pixel phones, Google had replaced the launcher for their smartphone with Pixel Launcher instead of Google Now Launcher which is the default launcher for Nexus series.
Unlike the Nexus phones, which Google shipped with "stock" Android (AOSP), the Pixel UI that came with the first generation Pixel phones were slightly modified compared to "stock" Android. Currently, Pixel UI and its home launcher are available on Pixel family devices only. (However, third-party modifications allow non-Pixel smartphones to install the Pixel Launcher with Google Now feed integration).
During the launch of Android 4.x "Ice Cream Sandwich", Google had started to replace some of the stock Android apps with Google apps, including the stock Android music apps with Google Play Music, and Android browser with Google Chrome. By the launch of Android 4.4.x "KitKat", most of the stock Android apps had been replaced with Google apps, such as the stock Android gallery being replaced with Google Photos, etc. This also includes the Android home launcher being replaced with the Google Now Launcher, allowing users to access to their Google Now feed more conveniently. However, the rest of the UI was still similar to stock Android, including the settings menu and toggles buttons colors.
Google officially launched the Pixel Launcher and Pixel UI together the Pixel phones; unlike the Google Now Launcher which allowed non Nexus phones to install, the Pixel Launcher was only available on the Pixel phones. Most Android smartphones including Nexus phones are not compatible with the launcher. Some of the modifications Google had done to differentiate Pixel UI with stock Android included the setting toggle's buttons colors, and 24/7 online support which allowed the user to get direct support from Google's customer support.
Pixel Camera (formerly known as Google Camera) is the camera software shipped with Pixel devices. The app features a basic camera interface as well as many features such as Night Vision, Super Res Zoom, and Motion Photos initially released April 16th 2014 as Google Camera and could be used by every phone until October of 2023 where it was renamed to Pixel Camera and delisted from the google play store, multiple unofficial ports have been created over the years for non google branded devices as well as to bring premium features to older models, many of these ports work around hardware limitations but also tend to have app breaking issues.