Difference between Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Key difference: Google Pixel and Pixel XL are two phones that have been launched by Google in its new Pixel line of smartphones. The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are essentially the same phones; they have the same hardware, the same software, and everything else. The only difference between them is the fact that the Pixel XL is an XL version of Pixel, i.e. it is just bigger.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL are two phones that have been launched by Google in its new Pixel line of smartphones. They are similar in nature to Google’s previous range, the Nexus line of phones. However, one significant difference between the previous drives and these devices is the fact that while the Nexus line of products had been created by Google in collaboration with another company, the Pixel is completely by Google. Both devices feature the pure Android operating software, while Google hired HTC to actually manufacture the devices.

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are essentially the same phones; they have the same hardware, the same software, and everything else. The only difference between them is the fact that the Pixel XL is an XL version of Pixel, i.e. it is just bigger. Google Pixel XL has a larger screen with a higher resolution. The larger screen also translates into a larger size and slightly more weight for the Pixel XL.

Google Pixel features a 5 inch AMOLED Full HD (1920 x 1080) 441-ppi display with Gorilla Glass 4.  Google Pixel XL in turn features a 5.5” AMOLED QHD (2560 x 1440) 534-ppi display with Gorilla Glass 4.  Due to the larger screen, the Pixel XL has the dimensions of 6.09 in (154.72 mm) by 2.98 in (75.74 mm) and weights 5.92 oz (168 g), while the Pixel has the dimensions of 5.66 in (143.84 mm) by 2.74 in (69.54 mm) and weights 5.04 oz (143 g). 

The Pixel XL also comes with a larger battery, a 3,450 mAh fast charging Li-Ion battery, as compared to the 2,770 mAh fast charging Li-Ion battery in the Pixel. The larger battery is presumably to compensate for the larger display which is bound to use more power.  

Other than these superficial differences, the two phones are essentially the same. They both launched with the latest version of Android at the time, Android 7.1 Nougat, and as a Google device the phones will continue to receive updates as and when Android launches them.

Additionally, the two devices have the same inner hardware. They both incorporate 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz, 64-Bit Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and an Adreno 530 GPU. Both come with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, and in two different memory variants: one with 32 GB internal memory, and another with 128 GB of internal memory.

Both the device feature an 12.3 MP primary camera and f/2.0 aperture with 1.55 μm large pixels, with Phase Detection Auto-Focus (PDAF) and Laser Detection Auto-Focus (LDAF) for crisp quality. The front facing camera is an 8 MP camera with f/2.4 aperture and 1.4 µm pixels.

In addition to these, all the other hardware specifications are the name. Basically, the Pixel XL is just a slightly larger sized version of the Pixel. Google decided to launch two versions of the same phone in order to address the two different market segments: one that prefers larger screens and the other that does not.

Comparison between Google Pixel and Pixel XL:

 

Google Pixel

Google Pixel XL

Launch Date

October 2016

Company

Google

Size

Length: 5.66 in (143.84 mm)

Width: 2.74 in (69.54 mm)

Height: 0.29 in (7.31 mm) at bottom to 0.34 in (8.58 mm) at top

Length: 6.09 in (154.72 mm)

Width: 2.98 in (75.74 mm)

Height: 0.29 in (7.31 mm) at bottom to 0.34 in (8.58 mm) at top

Display

Immersive 5.0" AMOLED

Cinematic widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio

Immersive 5.5” AMOLED

Cinematic widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio

Screen

Full HD (1920 x 1080) 441-ppi display

QHD (2560 x 1440) 534-ppi display

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for durability

Fingerprint- and smudge-resistant oleophobic coating

Weight

5.04 oz (143 g)

5.92 oz (168 g)

2G Network

GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

CDMA 800 / 1900 - USA, North America

3G Network

HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 – USA

HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 – Global

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - USA, North America

HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - North America

4G Network

LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 21(1500), 26(850), 28(700), 32(1500), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500) – Global

LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 28(700), 29(700), 30(2300), 41(2500) - USA, North America

GUI

Android

CPU speed

Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)

GPU

Adreno 530

OS

Android 7.1 Nougat

Chipset

Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821

RAM

4GB LPDDR4

SIM Size

Nano-SIM

Internal Memory

32/128 GB

Expandable Memory

No

Sensors

  • Pixel Imprint, a fast fingerprint sensor
  • Accelerometer/Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
  • Barometer
  • Proximity sensor/Ambient light sensor
  • Hall sensor

Android Sensor Hub

Connectivity

GPRS, EDGE, WLAN (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth v4.2, USB v2.0

Data

GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC

Speed

HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps or LTE-A (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps

WLAN

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Bluetooth

v4.2, A2DP, LE

USB

v3.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector

Primary Camera

  • 12.3 MP camera produces exceptional image clarity
  • f/2.0 aperture with 1.55 μm large pixels for clear low-light pictures
  • Fast auto-focus in any light condition with Phase Detection Auto-Focus (PDAF) and Laser Detection Auto-Focus (LDAF)

Natural, broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual-LED flash

Secondary Camera

  • 8 MP camera produces exceptional image clarity
  • Light-sensitive 1.4 µm pixels for clearer photos in low light
  • Bright photos and sharp focus with f/2.4 aperture

 

Video

  • 4K (30 fps) video capture to bring cinematic film quality to videos
  • Capture every detail with HD 240 fps (8x) and Full HD 120 fps (4x) slow motion video
  • Crisp filming through Full HD video capture (30 fps)

Camera Features

1/2.3" sensor size, 1.55µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama

Sound Enhancement

  • Crisp sound quality with single bottom-firing speaker
  • Adaptive audio amplifier to maximize speaker performance and durability

3 microphones (2 front, 1 rear) with noise cancellation

Battery Capacity

Non-removable Li-Ion 2770 mAh battery

Non-removable Li-Ion 3450 mAh battery

Stand-by

Up to 456 hours

Up to 552 hours

Talk time

Up to 26 hours

Up to 32 hours

Internet use

Wi-Fi: Up to 13 hours

 LTE: Up to 13 hours

Wi-Fi: Up to 14 hours

 LTE: Up to 14 hours

Video playback

Up to 13 hours

Up to 14 hours

Audio playback

Up to 110 hours

Up to 130 hours

Fast Charging

Up to 7 hours of use from only 15 minutes of charging

Available Colors

Silver, Black, Blue (Some Markets)

Messaging

SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM

Browser

HTML5

Radio

No

GPS

Location tracking by satellite with GPS and GLONASS

Java

No

Additional Features

RGB LED notification light for optional alerts

Digital compass for superior navigation

Fast battery charging

MP4/H.264 player

MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player

Photo/video editor

Document editor

Reference: Google, GSMArena, Wikipedia, Trusted Reviews, Forbes, Android Central
Image Courtesy: droid-life.com, techtimes.com

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