Google Pixel
DeveloperGoogle
ManufacturerVarious
Type
Release dateFebruary 21, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-02-21)
Operating system
Online services
Websitepixel.google.com

Google Pixel is a brand of portable consumer electronic devices developed by Google that run either ChromeOS or the Android operating system. The main line of Pixel products consist of Android-powered smartphones, which have been produced since October 2016 as the replacement of the older Nexus, and of which the Pixel 7 is the current model. 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.

Phones

See also: Comparison of Google Pixel smartphones

Legend
  Discontinued and unsupported
  Discontinued but still supported
  Current or still sold
Model Announced Released Discontinued Supported Lifespan
Date With OS Ended[1] Final OS
Pixel October 4, 2016 October 20, 2016 7.1 Nougat April 11, 2018 (2018-04-11) December 4, 2019 10 3 years, 1 month
Pixel 2 October 4, 2017 October 17, 2017 8.0 Oreo April 1, 2019 (2019-04-01) October 4, 2020 11 2 years, 11 months
Pixel 3 October 9, 2018 October 18, 2018 9 Pie March 31, 2020 (2020-03-31) February 2, 2022 12 3 years, 3 months
Pixel 3a May 7, 2019 May 15, 2019 9 Pie July 1, 2020 September 6, 2022 12.1 3 years, 3 months
Pixel 4 October 15, 2019 October 23, 2019 10 August 6, 2020 February 6, 2023 13 3 years, 3 months
Pixel 4a August 3, 2020 August 20, 2020 10 January 31, 2022 At least August 2023 13 3 years
Pixel 4a (5G) August 3, 2020 November 5, 2020 11 August 20, 2021 At least November 2023 2 years, 9 months
Pixel 5 September 30, 2020 October 15, 2020 At least October 2023 2 years, 10 months
Pixel 5a August 17, 2021 August 26, 2021 11 July 21, 2022 At least August 2024 2 years
Pixel 6 October 19, 2021 October 28, 2021 12 October 6, 2022 At least October 2026 1 year, 10 months
Pixel 6a May 11, 2022 July 21, 2022 12 At least July 2027 1 year, 1 month
Pixel 7 October 6, 2022 October 13, 2022 13 At least October 2027 10 months
Pixel 7a May 10, 2023 May 10, 2023 13 May 7, 2028 3 months
Pixel Fold May 10, 2023 June 20, 2023 13 At least June 2028 2 months

Pixel and Pixel XL

Main article: Pixel (1st generation)

Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones

Google announced the first generation Pixel smartphones, the Pixel and the Pixel XL, on October 4, 2016 during the #MadeByGoogle event.[2] 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.[3] This is largely due to software optimizations such as HDR+. The Pixel phones also include unlimited cloud storage for pictures on Google Photos[4] and, for devices purchased directly from Google, an unlockable bootloader.[5] In 2019, a class action lawsuit[6] over faulty microphones in some devices enabled Pixel owners to claim up to $500 in compensation.

Pixel 2 and 2 XL

Main article: Pixel 2

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones

Google announced the Pixel 2 series, consisting of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, on October 4, 2017.

Pixel 3 and 3 XL

Main article: Pixel 3

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL on retail display with Pixel Buds and wireless charging accessories

Google announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at an event on October 9, 2018, alongside several other products.

Pixel 3a and 3a XL

Main article: Pixel 3a

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.[13]

Pixel 4 and 4 XL

Main article: Pixel 4

Google announced the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL at an event on October 15, 2019, alongside several other products.[14]

In 2019, Google offered a bug bounty of up to $1.5 million for the Titan M security chip built into Pixel 3, Pixel 3a and Pixel 4.[15]

Pixel 4a and 4a (5G)

Main article: Pixel 4a

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.

Pixel 5

Main article: Pixel 5

Google announced the Pixel 5 on September 30, 2020.

Pixel 5a

Main article: Pixel 5a

Google announced the Pixel 5a on August 17, 2021.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

Main article: Pixel 6

Google announced the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on October 19, 2021.

Pixel 6a

Main article: Pixel 6a

Google announced the Pixel 6a on May 11, 2022.

Pixel 7 and 7 Pro

Main article: Pixel 7

Google announced the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro on October 6, 2022.

Pixel 7a

Main article: Pixel 7a

Google announced the Pixel 7a at its annual Google I/O on May 10, 2023.[25]

Tablets

Pixel C

Main article: Pixel C

The Pixel C was announced by Google at an event on September 29, 2015,[26] 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.[27] 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.[28]

Pixel Slate

Main article: Pixel Slate

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,[29] 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.[30]

Pixel Tablet

Main article: Pixel Tablet

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.[31] It was released on June 20, 2023.[32]

Laptops

Chromebook Pixel (2013)

Main article: Chromebook Pixel

Chromebook Pixel (2013)

Google announced the first generation Chromebook Pixel in a blog post on February 21, 2013.[33] 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.[34]

Chromebook Pixel (2015)

Main article: Chromebook Pixel

On March 11, 2015, Google announced the second generation of the Chromebook Pixel in a blog post.[35] 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.[36]

Google discontinued the 2015 Chromebook Pixel on August 29, 2016.[37][38]

Pixelbook

Main article: Pixelbook

On October 4, 2017, Google launched the first generation of the Pixelbook at its Made by Google 2017 event.[39]

Pixelbook Go

Main article: Pixelbook Go

On October 15, 2019, Google announced a mid-range version of the Pixelbook, named the Pixelbook Go, at its Made by Google 2019 event.[40]

Smartwatches

Pixel Watch

Main article: Pixel Watch

The Google Pixel Watch is a first-generation wearable made by Google. It features a circular display. Multiple wristbands for the watch are available on the Google Store for purchase.

Accessories

Pixel Buds

Main article: Pixel Buds

At Google's October 2017 hardware event, a set of wireless earbuds were unveiled alongside the Pixel 2 smartphones.[41] The earbuds are designed for phones running Android Marshmallow or higher, and work with Google Assistant.[42] In addition to audio playback and answering calls, the earbuds support translation in 40 languages through Google Translate.[43] The earbuds are able to auto pair with the Pixel 2 with the help of the Google Assistant and "Nearby".[44] 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.[45] The earbuds are priced at $159.[45]

Pixelbook Pen

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.[46]

Pixel Stand

In October 2018, Google announced the Pixel Stand alongside the Pixel 3 smartphones.[47] In addition to standard 5 watt Qi wireless charging, the Pixel Stand has wireless 10 watt charging using a proprietary technology from Google.[48] 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.[49]

Software

Pixel UI (Pixel Launcher)

Pixel Launcher
Android 13 home screen with Pixel Launcher
DeveloperGoogle
OS familyUnix-like (modified Linux kernel)
Working stateCurrent
Latest releaseAndroid 13 / August 15, 2022; 12 months ago (2022-08-15)
Marketing targetSmartphones and tablet computers
Official websitepixel.google.com
Articles in the series
Android version history

Google Pixel UI[50] 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,[51][52] 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).[53]

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.[54] 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.[55] However, the rest of the UI was still similar to stock Android, including the settings menu and toggles buttons colors.[56]

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.[57] 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.[58]

Launcher version list

See also

References

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