There’s a distinct advantage to having full control over both the hardware and software when it comes to making a truly premium phone. Apple has this kind of advantage in iOS, and the Pixel XL shows that Google’s gone down this path as well. In pure benchmark terms, here’s how the Pixel XL compares with a range of contemporary flagships using Geekbench 4’s CPU test:
Handset | Geekbench 4 CPU Single Core (higher is better) | Geekbench 4 CPU Multi Core (higher is better) |
---|
Apple iPhone 7 Plus | 3374 | 5649 |
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge | 1359 | 5333 |
Samsung Galaxy S7 | 1378 | 4718 |
Apple iPhone SE | 2449 | 4171 |
Apple iPhone 6s | 2465 | 4052 |
Google Pixel XL | 1629 | 4051 |
Sony Xperia XZ | 1636 | 3604 |
Google Nexus 6P | 1293 | 3594 |
Motorola Moto X Force | 1352 | 3581 |
Sony Xperia X | 1122 | 2626 |
Motorola Moto G Play | 522 | 1334 |
Here’s how it compares using 3DMark’s Ice Storm Unlimited test:
Handset | 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Result |
---|
Apple iPhone 7 Plus | 37956 |
LG G5 | 29597 |
Apple iPhone SE | 29276 |
Samsung Galaxy S7 | 28903 |
Samsung Note7 | 28646 |
Google Pixel XL | 28458 |
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge | 28402 |
Apple iPhone 6s | 28171 |
HTC 10 | 27392 |
Sony Xperia XZ | 26279 |
Sony Xperia X Performance | 26125 |
That might suggest mid-range performance out of the Pixel XL’s Snapdragon 821 processor, but the reality of using it is that it’s as fast, and often faster than comparable premium handsets.
That’s possibly a quirk of testing Geekbench on Nougat, but the day to day reality of the Pixel XL is that it’s a nicely powerful handset with a clean UI, as Google’s own inhouse phones have tended to be. We've pushed it hard, and it's always come back quickly at us, as you might expect of a highly optimised handset.
The Pixel XL was the first phone available in Australia with Google’s Nougat pre-installed. Nougat added features like split-screen app multi-tasking and a very clean interface. This means you can configure the Pixel XL to your precise needs without having to worry about pre-installed apps that you can’t uninstall. Our test unit came with Telstra's 24/7 app installed, but had no problems with us quickly uninstalling it.
Google Assistant first made its debut on the Pixel and Pixel XL. The pumped up version of Google Now is even smarter, with plenty of contextual smarts around conversations you have with it, and suggestions based on your location, search history and calendar as you use it. This extends to limited app control as well. Voice assistant technology is still something of a love or loathe proposition, but what Google’s done with Assistant is exceptionally smart. It's meant to learn as you go, becoming ever more useful for your daily needs, whether that's commuting information, setting calendar appointments or sending out quick messages.
Google Assistant can be a great tool for finding out all sorts of information, but it’s very much a two-way trade. To make the most of it, you’re leaving an Internet-connected microphone running 24/7, just waiting for you to say "OK Google" and kick it into gear. Google is still a company that trades in information, including yours, and the Pixel XL continues its goals of knowing everything possible about you for ad serving purposes. Some won’t be fussed in the least by this, but it’s at least worth knowing that this is happening at an accelerated rate with the Pixel XL
In performance terms we couldn't overlook the fact that the Pixel phones have never supported expandable memory via microSD card.
Look, we get it Google. Really, we do.
You’re all about the online services, so why would anyone need onboard storage? While you could opt for the more pricey 128GB Pixel XL if your budget can stretch to it, there aren’t that many sealed storage Android devices, and we did miss the easy ability to flick a microSD card’s worth of content into the Pixel XL. It’s all well and good to offer app, photo and document storage in the cloud if you run out of space, but that involves upstream mobile data, which is a potentially pricey proposition.
One of the key differentiators for 2016 flagships has been the inclusion of water resistance in some form. The Pixel XL is as sealed down as anything else, but it’s not specifically rated for water ingress, which is a disappointing miss.
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