While it’s almost official that Google will unveil the Pixel and Pixel XL next month on October 4th, there is still much that isn’t known about either device in any official capacity, such as the specifications and hardware, and what the actual costs will be. There are plenty of rumors surrounding these details, though, and a new rumor has just surfaced which suggests that one more piece of the puzzle may have been uncovered in regards to Google’s upcoming devices. According to the recent rumor, the Pixel and the Pixel XL will both come with an IP53 rating only, which is technically water and dust resistant, but not by much.
While there was nothing to really suggest that the Pixel and the Pixel XL would come with a water-resistant build, it was likely expected or hoped for by plenty of consumers as many phones these days, especially top-end flagships, are built to withstand water to a certain degree. This is likely unfortunate news for those who were hoping to pick up either of Google’s new smartphones this year and not have to worry so much about potential water damage, especially considering the rumored cost of $649 for the base model of the Pixel, the smaller of the two phones.
With such a high price tag, it definitely could come across as a little bit of a shock that neither device would come with a feature that can be found on equally expensive devices. While this is still just a rumor, the possibility of it being completely true certainly can’t be ruled out, and all that it means if it is true is that users will simply need to be a little bit more careful with their devices in particular situations. Having said that, it would still take away some of the peace of mind that users would have if the phones came with an IP68 rating. Using a device in the rain is completely avoidable, dropping it in water is also completely avoidable, but what people can’t really account for is the accidents that could be caused by other people. You can’t control spills from another individual, be it adult or child. It’s also important to remember that if both the Pixel and Pixel XL do have an IP53 rating, that is still better than not having any water resistance at all.