Google announces Pixel smartphone

Google has announced its much-anticipated new smartphone, but the price point may scare buyers away.

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A look at Google Pixel

First, let’s go over some of the selling points of the newly announced Pixel and Pixel XL.

Both have a battery that will charge for seven hours of use in just 15 minutes. Both have the highest rated smartphone camera ever, featuring 12.3-megapixel resolution with large 1.55-micron pixels and an f/2.0 aperture.

They also offer unlimited storage for all your photos and videos. Plus, these phones are the first ever to have Google Assistant built right in. That means you’ll always have a friendly chatbot at the tip of your fingers to help you with everything from playing your favorite music, bringing up your favorite pictures or booking a reservation at your favorite restaurant.

In addition, the Pixels run a specialized version of Android so you’ll be ready to take advantage of Google’s Daydream virtual reality (VR) platform as that ramps up.

As for the price? These phones start at $649.

‘The sweet spot in the smartphone market is on $200 or under phones,’ Clark says. ‘Google is really putting out a flagship phone with the Pixel, but you won’t get a lot of buyers at this price point.’

As enticement to get you to preorder, Google is now offering a free VR headset.

Here’s a look at the specs on the Pixel