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Nexus-N/Pixel XL ( 2016 )
- Thread starter Tig Bitties
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No idea yet. Might be other goodies in the box. But if they do, whatever. Same price as the S7. Same or better specs. Way better OS.
The problem with comparing it to the S7 or any of the mainstream Android devices is that carriers offer monthly payment programs to offset paying full price.
Google phones tend to avoid carriers. I do agree better OS, just pointing out that the regular joe can make monthly payments instead of paying full price which goes into the buying decision. And yes, I know Google offers a monthly payment system with their own network. The regular joe might not be aware since it's not under their current carrier.
Hmm, the s7 has higher resolution. Yeah I know this may not be important to some, but with Googles push for VR I'm surprised they cheaped out on this. Also form factor is worse, and I consider that a spec. Look at those bezels, even the side bezels are obnoxious. Plus you're talking about a phone released almost 8 months ago, we might as well look ahead and compare it to the s8. I do agree with you on the OS, to be free of the carriers meddling will be priceless.
But it's not priced terribly, that price just isn't going to entice anyone unless they specifically want that phone. Google needs a loss leader here. I still am baffled why they would care about hardware profit margins versus having more eyeballs on their advertising.
Yep until Google address this the pixel/nexus are always going to remain incredibly niche and have a restricted audience reach.
Good point. I guarantee if the iPhone or Galaxy phones were full price $700 phones only, and without the monthly payment options, no way would they be selling nearly as many units.
Google has been all over the board in this, so inconsistent. Some years the Nexus phones is sold through carriers like T-Mobile or Sprint, other years not at all, or one time Verizon only.
And then the pricing overall each year is just randomly different. Some years it's a friendly $399 to $499 other years it's the full $649.
I recall launch pricing somewhat like this;
Nexus-One $599
Nexus-S $579
Galaxy Nexus $649 ( six months later $399 )
Nexus 4 $400
Nexus 5 $399
Nexus 6 $649
Nexus 6P $499
Pixel XL $729
You are so correct. Carrier subsidizing helps Apple and Samsung sell a ton more phones than they would without it.
T-Mobile used to carry the Nexus line but stopped because they said they didn't sell enough to warrant the space.
Some BestBuys still have a Google Nexus display up.
Personally I feel if they are going to go to the flagship price level....they need to have more carrier involvement to guarantee better distribution.
I really hope the new Pixels are not a Verizon exclusive. I agree they need carrier involvement but not exclusivity.
That will never happen. Project Fi and the Google store will have them sure.
Tmobile would be great, but perhaps they have demands that are hard to meet vs Verizon. Take the Moto for example. Plus I think Google and the Tmobile CEO likely butt heads a bit on Net Neutrality. So I don't see that happening. AT&T... I am not sure if being on AT&T matters anymore.
Only carriers I have heard about with these new Pixel phones is Verizon only, which scares me, sounds just like the Galaxy Nexus launch, where you could buy it full price through Google, or get it subsidized through Verizon only, but no other carriers offered it.
I sure hope Google brings the Pixel phones to ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and actually in stores on display, offers them with contract / subsidized pricing, etc... But we'll see, Google hasn't really done this before.
And another issue going back to the annual pricing of the Nexus phones, being all over the board. Why was the whale Motorola Nexus 6 $650, and then the much better designed and higher quality build Nexus 6P only $499 ? I thought the Motorola Nexus 6 was overpriced for what it was, and the Nexus 6P at $499 was a great value. I'm not talking hardware of course, I know a year later better hardware obviously goes in the new phone, but the build materials, and design, and overall quality was far nicer on the 6P over the 6, and the 6P was approx. 25% cheaper.
The 6p cheaped out a bit in relation to the n6. Screen quality was worse IMO, much dimmer as well. The 6p lost OIS. Arguably the aluminum design of the 6p was nicer, I say arguably because that's subjective, but that did make it lose wireless charging as well. Of course the 6p had a slightly smaller screen as well. The n6 was a beast of a phone, and still is. I'm not saying it was $150 more phone than the 6p, no probably not and you make good points. But I think Google at $649, they are not thinking straight and will make no inroads to any desired goal, whether it's hardware profits or having more eyeballs on their advertising. Honestly I'm baffled and I would love to be a fly on the wall in their meetings for this strategy.
Also in terms of carriers I actually hope they do NOT bring it to more carriers. F the carriers and their meddling and slow updates. Google needs to offer a product carrier free, unlocked, but works on all the carriers. If they offer a payment plan then they might stand a chance at selling some of these. But once the carriers have them they will bloat them up and subject upgrades to their own testing and release schedule. Google needs to truly become the Apple of Android and have an unadulterated product, or they might as well stay selling cheap phones to a lot of people. Yeah the carriers means more exposure, but Google has tons of money and can afford (and NEEDS to) to sink a lot of money into marketing.
step 1: provide a compelling product. Hardware: meh, free from carriers: check, instant OS updates: check
step 2: provide a payment plan with built in insurance: we don't know yet
step 3: market the crap out of it: TBD
step 4: provide stellar customer service: TBD but their customer service is great, although they don't have physical presence.
Excellent points.
I had both the Motorola Nexus 6 and currently the Nexus 6P, I recall the Motorola Nexus having the worst camera in modern history, just horrible, and blurry and crap. I actually had two different Motorola Nexus 6's one for me and one for the Wife, and both had terrible cameras.
The screen on the Motorola 6 wasn't that great from what I remember, and neither is the 6P's. They both seem mediocre.
I am not saying the 6P is a way better phone that the Motorola 6, they actually seem pretty equal overall. But why is one $650 and the other $499 ? Again goes back to that strange inconsistent pricing Google puts on the Nexus phones each year, almost seems like they roll the dice to decide randomly on pricing.
As far as carriers goes, if they don't put these Pixel phones in stores, have them for sale with subsidized payment pricing, and advertise the crap out of them, it will go nowhere sales wise. If it's to be just a Google Play Store online sale only, then it will remain a niche product for the hardcore nerds only.
Google's MO seems to be inconsistency. Inconsistency caused Microsoft to completely lose the mobile market and Google should take note of their mistakes. They need to focus instead of just throwing money around and not realizing the consequences.
The Google "armchair quarterbacking" is getting ridiculous prior to this Pixel announcement.
Cant wait to see that sweet Verizon logo on the phone and all the apps they put on it....
Here is the Pixel XL!
Here are both side by side. 5" and 5.5".
Here are both side by side. 5" and 5.5".
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It's more to emphasise that the new app drawer swipes up directly from there.
Does seem though that iOS and Stock Android are starting to move towards a very similar end destination aesthetically. Whether that's for the good or bad is dependent on subjective personal preferences.
From another [H]ard member Brett;
Unbelievably, this is looking more likely to be the case, based on yesterday's leaks.
This promo shot shows an uglified navigation bar, in addition to the Pixel Launcher and its inexplicable forced circular icons.
I wasn't interested in picking up a Pixel myself anyway, but this has me seriously worried about the future of Android in general. Stock Lollipop and Marshmallow felt like the OS had reached a state of maturity and near-perfection, and the least couple years' Nexus devices were excellent, if you didn't mind the handful of hardware compromises. Things have been looking up, other than dumb OEM skins. Now Google kills Nexus in favor of overpriced HTC junk with a custom UI?
I see absolutely nothing to look forward to on the horizon, at this point, other than for some third player to come onto the scene as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the 6P may remain *the* flagship for another year if you're a purist.
Unbelievably, this is looking more likely to be the case, based on yesterday's leaks.
This promo shot shows an uglified navigation bar, in addition to the Pixel Launcher and its inexplicable forced circular icons.
I wasn't interested in picking up a Pixel myself anyway, but this has me seriously worried about the future of Android in general. Stock Lollipop and Marshmallow felt like the OS had reached a state of maturity and near-perfection, and the least couple years' Nexus devices were excellent, if you didn't mind the handful of hardware compromises. Things have been looking up, other than dumb OEM skins. Now Google kills Nexus in favor of overpriced HTC junk with a custom UI?
I see absolutely nothing to look forward to on the horizon, at this point, other than for some third player to come onto the scene as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the 6P may remain *the* flagship for another year if you're a purist.