Google Pixel history: the evolution of "Google Phones"

Google Pixel phones have not always been around. It all started with the Nexus series of phones for Google way back in 2010, but after years of making merely good phones that were sold in very limited quantities, Google decided to start something new, the Pixel project. The idea was to build a truly great, premium phone that would bring a no-compromise camera and the clean Android experience that many were dreaming of.

This is the history of the evolution of the Google Pixel series of phones, starting with the very first Pixel launched in October of 2016 that surprised us with its amazing camera system and going to the latest models.

We describe concisely the most important moments in the history of the Pixel, the landmark events such as the arrival of the Night Sight mode that changed the way we capture images at night. So let's waste no time and get started with...

Read more:

Specs | Review

By 2018, Google had already built a reputation for leading smartphones in terms of camera performance and it doubled down on that with the launch of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL where the killer new camera feature was Night Sight. Using software and combining multiple images in low light, Night Sight allowed users to take photos in pitch black conditions without using the harsh looking LED flash, so you could easily snap a picture of a bar at night or your dinner plate in a dimly lit restaurant.

On the design front, the Pixel 3 series were behind the pack, however: the Pixel 3 came with big bezels while other phones had already switched to a nearly bezel-less screen experience, and the Pixel 3 XL featured a gigantic notch that was the subject of ridicule on the web.

On the software front, Google innovated with important features for the US market like call screening that would ward off telemarketers. The Pixel 3 series also were the first to bring a robust, IP68 water and dust protection rating, a useful feature.

Specs | Review

In May of 2019, Google surprised the world with the announcement of not just a new kind of Pixel phone, but a new kind of budget phone, full stop. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL were priced at just $400, less than half the price of flagship phones, yet offered a comparable or even better camera experience, basically identical to the Pixel 3 series.

There were to compromises made to achieve such a revolutionary budget phone: one was rather insignificant and that was that these phones were made of plastic instead of the more premium glass and metal designs seen amongst more expensive devices, and the second one was a slower processor than on flagships. The slower processor, however, was not a dealbreaker because of the optimizations that Google made to the interface so performance still felt smooth.

These phones got a clean Android experience, the promise for years of timely software updates and all of these factors combined so that many people pointed to the Pixel 3a series as the future for the Pixel series.

Specs | Review

In late 2019, Google launched the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, two flagship phones at premium prices that further improved the camera performance by introducing a secondary camera, a telephoto lens. Another important new feature was a new type of AMOLED screen that refreshed 90 times a second and contributed to a smoother, faster overall experience. Also, without advertizing it much, Google brought hugely improved speakers that were the best in the class by a noticeable margin.

However, Google made a couple of critical mistakes with the Pixel 4 series: the smaller Pixel 4 model had a surprisingly small battery that would not even last a full day, a decision that drew the ire of reviewers, and then, both phones focused on gimmicky features with little practical application like a radar system for gesture based navigation.

The high prices of the phones and the problems with battery life resulted in lukewarm reviews.

Pixel 6a specs | Pixel 6a review

The Pixel 6a takes things up a notch in the budget segment. While previous "a" series Pixel phones had a budget chip, the Pixel 6a is equipped with Google Tensor, the same processor used in the flagship Pixel 6 family.

The 6a also adopts the futuristic new design with the camera bar stretching across the back of the phone.

It's a smaller phone that the Pixel 6 series, with a 6.1" screen size. On the battery front, it comes with a 4,410mAh battery that on average lasted for 29 hours in Google testing.

The big compromise with it is the 60Hz refresh rate, which looks sluggish compared to other rivals, but on the other hand you get a nearly flagship-grade camera experience that you simply don't get on others in this price class. 

Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7 Pro specs | Pixel 7 Pro review

Google launched two flagship Pixel phones in late 2022, the smaller Pixel 7 and the bigger Pixel 7 Pro.

Google revealed a familiar yet more refined design styling, plus both phones featured the second-gen Tensor chip for faster performance.

The consensus is that these devices have a level of refinement that was previously lacking in the Pixel series, and that is exactly what we were hoping for. The cameras are among the best you can get and now they also snap photos faster at night. With lower prices than the competition and day one Android updates, there is little to fault the new Pixels for. Maybe the slightly sluggish fingerprint scanner is one thing to mention, if you insist though.

The next A series budget phone from Google is expected to be unveiled at the I/O conference in May and the name of the phone is projected to be the Google Pixel 7a.

The Pixel 7a might be a huge moment for the A series. It is rumored to get the same Tensor G2 chip as the flagship models, and for the first time on a budget Pixel, it will come with a fast screen refresh rate.

The latter was the biggest pain point of the Pixel A series, since the phones already had a decently fast performance and a great camera, so with a fast refresh rate, the Pixel 7a will practically offer a flagship grade experience just at a much lower price.

If all of this comes true, the Pixel 7a might just be the phone to get in 2023.

It's still early to know exactly what Google has in store for us with the flagship Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro models, but it's safe to assume that a new third generation Tensor chip will be introduced as well as further improvements to the camera system.

Hidden in the Google Photos app code, hints discovered by 9to5Google suggest the Pixel 8 could introduce a new Video Unblur tool to sharpen videos, much like the Photo Unblur tool that is currently available for pictures. Other new features found in the code are video overlays with filter effects like VHS, Super 8, and Polaroid.

We will be keeping an eye on the models and you can stay abreast with the latest news in our Pixel 8 series leaks and rumors round-up.