Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL phones have been rumored and leaked for months now, and today’s announcements pretty much mirrored what we already knew about the device. Everything from the price to the specs, the look of the device and the functions of its software, were leaked and rumored, but now we have all the official info to set the record straight. Once thing that wasn’t quite as abundantly clear throughout the past few weeks was the release date of Google’s new phones, which now appears to be in late October, possibly around the 20th. But in order to get yours in time for Halloween you’ll need to first order the thing, and Google’s got your back on that one.
Google is making the Pixel and Pixel XL available exclusively through Verizon here in the US, so if you were looking to get one in store that’s going to be your only option. Thankfully the exclusivity ends at the store level, and Google is now selling the Pixel and Pixel XL through its Google Store as a pre-order, along with other “Made by Google” products launched at today’s event. These phones are now able to be ordered on the Google Store and start at $649. Ordering from the Google Store is much more like ordering through Motorola’s store has been for years, and appears to be a piecemeal affair so that you can mix and match colors, screen sizes and storage depending on what you want.
Folks looking for a smaller device will be happy to note that Google’s Pixel is actually a 5-inch device, with the Pixel XL being reserved for the larger 5.5-inch screen. Many customers have been clamoring for multiple sized devices with the same specs for years, and it looks like Google is the one to finally bring everything to the table with the same specs and zero compromises. As a bonus folks who pre-order through the Google Store will receive a free Daydream View VR headset, which is Google’s own in-house headset and standards package, designed to deliver a truly excellent VR experience via your smartphone, unlike the more budget-minded Google Cardboard that’s been around for years. Hit up that Google Store link below and get pre-ordering if you’re interested!