Newsletter 
Google released the new Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones earlier this month, see as the spiritual successors in some respects to the Nexus family of devices. Furthermore, Google has been promoting the Google Pixel devices via a series of television and online advertising commercials and reviews of the new devices have started appearing on websites across the world. The word’s out: the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL devices are worthy successors of the Nexus range of smartphones. Both devices are based around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset backed up by 4 GB of RAM, giving us one of Android’s most powerful devices yet. The Google Pixel has a 5.0-inch, 1080p AMOLED panel whereas the Pixel XL uses a 5.5-inch, QHD or 1440p AMOLED panel. Both use a 12MP rear camera, which has the highest rating of any smartphone camera yet tested. Both devices use Android 7.1 Nougat complete with some Pixel-only software tweaks. And each device has been designed and manufactured by HTC using an aluminum unibody chassis complete with some unusual detailing, such as the part-glass rear surround and the “G” logo rather than a “Google” logo. To some eyes, the Google Pixel devices look a little like the original iPhone.
And if you are reading this with a view to pick one up, now for the bad news: the device is starting to be difficult to get hold of. The North American Google Store is currently showing that both the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL smartphones are out of stock. Unfortunately, at the time of writing there is no word from Google about when the device store can expect new stock although it’s still possible to order one from the Project Fi website by signing up to Google’s MVNO carrier. We’ve also seen that Verizon still has a stock of 32 GB models but has sold out of the 128 GB variant. Best Buy are also reported to still have stock but are only selling the 32 GB model and not the more expensive 128 GB variants.
With the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL as new devices, it should be no surprise that the handsets are a little difficult to get hold of. It’s common for device manufacturers to deliberately contain the supply of new devices in order to keep demand and interest up – Apple have been successfully playing this game for years now. The fourth quarter is the most important one for smartphone manufacturers as it is traditionally when the most devices are sold, so although Google is keeping quiet as to when new stock might be arriving, we would expect this to be in a matter of days or a week or two at the most.