The Pixel phone cameras shouldn’t be as good in low light as the iPhone or Galaxy S7 because they only have a f/2.0 lens (for comparison, the iPhone 7 has a f/1.8 and the Galaxy S7 has a f/1.7).
The specs haven’t prevented Google from touting the camera’s abilities. The Pixel phones have apparently earned an 89 DXO Mark Mobile rating, the highest of any mobile phone ever. Google claims it’s the best camera phone ever made, but we’ll believe it when we see it.
One of the last things you’ll notice about the Pixel phones is that they both use USB-C ports for chargers, something that’s still quite rare. Although dozens of products already rely on USB-C for charging purposes, two of the most popular smartphones—the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7—do not. The fact that these new phones use USB-C will definitely help cement the new standard and get more people to start using it.
In a huge bummer, the phones will be exclusive to Verizon, which means they’ll probably fall short of the kind of mainstream appeal Google is hoping for. The sliver lining is that Google will offer the Pixel unlocked in the Google Store. The Pixel phones come with a hefty new price tag, which is also a departure for Google. The phones start at $650, and they’re available for pre-order today.