On October 4, 2016, Google released its very first Pixel phones.
A relative newcomer, the search engine tech giants were making a play for a market that was and to this day dominated by Apple and Samsung (in 2023, Apple sold 234.6 million units and Samsung, 226.6 million, according to figures from the International Data Corporation (IDC)).
The Pixel and Pixel XL marked the first time that Google created its own smartphone and tablet - in terms of both software and hardware. Its former Nexus line was the result of partnerships with other brands like HTC, LG and Samsung.
Its freshman phones revealed two very notable features that have formed the foundation of the modern-day handset - virtual assistant and the highest-ever rating for a smartphone camera.
The emphasis on camera performance has set the Pixels apart. From the very first to the most recent, Google has prioritised its phone's ability to create high-resolution, quality photographs - and this has earned them a cult following.
And its picture-taking abilities have only got more sophisticated - from the addition of blur-preventing image stabilisation that came with the sophomore Pixel 2 to the AI upgrades (but more on that later).
While many criticise Apple for minimal upgrades year to year, each new Google phone comes with a plethora of new functions and improved applications, many of which inform its competitors. This includes Motion Sense where the screen illuminates when you're near that came care of the Pixel 4.
With the Pixel 3 launch in 2019, Google initiated what would be an annual occurrence for the tech giant, releasing an 'a' model - a cheaper handset typically with a less powerful processor than its contemporary without the letter addition.
From the Google Pixel 6 to the most recent release, the phones have been lauded for their impressively long battery life with users noting more than a day of use on a single charge as well as the ability to juice up in record time. This also marked the first time that the phones were powered by the Google Tensor processing chip - its own custom system-on-chip.
Over the years, the brand has been constantly innovating – as demonstrated by the Fold in 2023 and the inclusion of artificial intelligence. The latter marked some of the most major software enhancements, in terms of photo editing with the 8 and taking it to the next level with the 9 with the Gemini chatbot, camera upgrades and new features like Add Me to pictures.
But many Android enthusiasts were surprised by the latest 9 phones that seemed to resemble the iPhone more than any Pixel model in all its curvature. There has also been a move in the last couple of releases by Google from its typical staggered and three-handset release (classic and XL, and the cheaper a) to the Apple way of thinking with a base Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Max.
We have dived into each of the still operational Pixel handsets below. Find out more about the best Google Pixel phones.
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Google Pixel 9 Pro Smartphone
The Google Pixel 9 series has seen the introduction of AI into our handsets. The four phones in the collection (the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold) have entered their ‘Gemini Era’ as the brand explains with the ability to ask a range of commands not dissimilar from voice assistant - like what the weather will be like today - but with the added benefit of distilling complex information, learning something new and solving problems such as settling a debate or drafting a resignation letter.
As is always the case with Google phones, the camera has the biggest upgrade with new features like ‘Add Me’, which changes the photo-taking game. This allows you to incorporate the photographer into the shot. There are also improvements to panoramic shots with Night Vision and Action for moving snaps and the editing process is more advanced with the ability to use prompts to add elements into the shot like a tree or autumn leaves.
The Pixel Pro 9 has a 24-hour battery life, comes in four chic colours and is waterproof. The only grip? Google Pixel phones used to be a cost-friendly alternative to iPhones but now come at around the same RRP. That being said, it’s a lot of phone for the price.
Buy now £1099.00, John Lewis
Google Pixel 9
Moving from iPhone to Pixel, the first thing you will remark about the 9 is just how sleek, thin and lightweight it is. This is, of course, before you slip it into a case.
The Pixel 9 has the majority of the features of its Pro alternative; including the Gemini AI chatbot and photo editing functions like Add Me, Magic Erase and Best Take. Where it falls short is in resolution, refresh rate and brightness, factors that may not be too important or noticable to the average smartphone user. There is, however, a polished glass back (rather than matte of the higher-powered models) and you don’t get the extra telephoto camera or five time optical zoom of the Pro and Pro XL.
It has the same screen size and battery size as the Pixel 9 Pro.
Buy now £799.00, Amazon
Google Pixel Pro 9 Fold
The 8-inch screen of the Pixel Pro 9 is ready to transform the smartphone experience. No matter the task, big or small, the ease of opening, operating and displaying is improved exponentially by the sheer real estate that it has to work with - be it scrolling TikTok, composing an email or streaming Netflix. You can even pop it into tabletop mode if watching YouTube, on the go or working out for handy hands-free viewing.
Building on its first foray into the folding phone space, the new iteration is lighter with a bigger screen and a better battery life. It also includes Google’s Gemini AI with endless functions including summarising emails, searching screenshots and getting dinner inspiration.
Buy now £1749.00, Amazon
Google Pixel Fold
This is Google’s very first foldable phone, the Google Pixel Fold. Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, the phone morphs into small tablet proportions with a 7.6-inch OLED main display to watch, connect and take pictures.
Closed, the 5.8-inch screen is about the same size as a standard phone. It’s packed to the hilt with features including the much-lauded Pixel camera for superior snaps, night or day. There’s also a foreign language translator, which will be useful on trips away and astrophotography for stunning photos of the cosmos.
This is all backed on a superior battery that promises to last for longer than a day. No more lugging portable chargers around, yippee!
Read our deep dive on the handset here.
Buy now £1399.00, Currys
Google Pixel 8 Pro
While older models were designed to appeal to budget buyers, the Pixel 8 is punching into higher price brackets - with sharpened tech and features to justify it. The fanciest of the 8th iteration is the Pro handset with a 6.7-inch screen under which lies a custom Tensor G3 processor to keep content rolling glitch- and flicker-free.
It comes with 12GB of RAM and four incredible cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto, and a 10.5MP front camera for sharp selfies. The pixels aren’t the only draw; there are AI-powered features like Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser that offer unrivalled editing without needing to download extra apps.
Another clever feature is Live Translate, which gives instant translation from 49 languages - indispensable for frequent fliers.
Battery life is another boon, with the Pixel 8 Pro going past the 24-hour mark on a single charge, meaning you won’t be plunged into digital oblivion if you forget your charger or battery pack.
Read our Shopping Editor’s in-depth review here.
Buy now £749.00, Amazon
Google Pixel 8
Compared with the Pixel 8 Pro, you are getting a smaller screen and one less camera with just two versus the Pro’s triple system. Visually the two phones are very similiar with their metal trims but in feel, they are different once again with a polished glass versus the Pro’s matte finish. Refresh rates and brightness are unsurprisingly more advanced on the Pro, but there is the same 50MP main camera.
There are a lot of features to love about the Google Pixel 8, however, such as its adaptive battery that provides juice for over 24 hours and camera editing functions like Magic Eraser to automatically remove photo bombers in pictures or disruptive noises in videos as wel as Best Take so the whole group is happy with the final shot.
Buy now £549.00, Amazon
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Best for: Sub-£1000 submersible
If you’re in the market for something akin to the Motorola Edge 40, but want a bit more physical size and a lot more optional internal storage, may I suggest the Google Pixel 7 Pro?
First up, it looks and feels stunning available in ‘Hazel’, ‘Snow’ or ‘Obsidian’ coloured polished, 100 per cent recycled aluminium. Secondly, it features a nicely sized 6.7-inch QHD+ display, coated in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, with a 120Hz refresh rate for images and video that’s simply dazzling. Thirdly, it comes running on Google’s own custom-built Tensor G2 chip complete with Google AI for an experience that is ultra fast and super smooth.
Running on the Android 13 OS, the Pixel 7 Pro comes packing a 50-megapixel main lens, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens to take care of any and all photo needs, a 10.8-megapixel front lens for snapping selfies, and an absolute embarrassment of wealth when it comes to photo features and image options. Storage options, meanwhile, run from 128GB to 512GB, so up to double that of the Motorola, so plenty of space to stick your stuff in.
The Pixel 7 Pro is IP68 rated, and also as all other models here save for the freakish deep-diving iPhone 14 Pro, can take on up to 30 minutes underwater at down to 1.5 metres, so you can have plenty of Aquaman/woman style fun sous-marin/marine (as they say in that France) without worrying about water damage.
With stereo speakers adding to your annoying-everyone-around-you experience, plus Google’s certified Titan M2 chip providing security tighter than a duck’s derrière, the Pixel 7 Pro is the complete package and comes in considerably cheaper than all other than the Motorola.
- OS: Android 13
- Display: 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED
- Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
- Chipset: Google Tensor G2
- Memory: 128GB to 512GB
- RAM: 12GB
- Camera: 50MP (main) and 12MP (front)
- Protection rating: IP68
- Weight: 212g
Buy now £410.75, Amazon
Google Pixel 7
The Pixel 7 is a smartphone without the overwhelmingly hefty price tag. In fact, this phone is relatively cheaper than phones from the leading brands, but with comparable features and fittings.
Take, for example, the adaptive battery which can run for up to 72 hours when used with the Extreme Battery Saver, plus the impressive cameras which capture crisp and clear content, ready to make waves on your newsfeed. It launches quickly and runs like a dream on Google Tensor G2. It also comes equipped with the Titan M2 security chip, which has a built-in VPN to protect your personal data.
The phone offers up to 128GB of storage, and super-fast 5G capability, and buying outright means it comes SIM-free. Pair with a cheap SIM-only deal and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Buy now £448.04, Amazon
Google Pixel 7 - Refurbished
Best for: pin-sharp photography
- Battery size: 4355mAh
- Display size and resolution: 6.3in, 1080 x 2400 resolution FHD+ display
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Operating System: Android 13
Don’t be put off by a refurbished phone. Given an MOT by experts, these devices are as good as new for a snip of the price.
Take Google’s Pixel 7 handset, for instance. The device is powered by Google Tensor G2 and offers an astounding 72 hours of battery life. What it really excels in is picture-taking, so if it’s stunning images you long to capture, the Pixel 7 will get you there. That’s not all the Tensor chip does: it helps apps launch and run quickly, images load instantly and everything runs incredibly smoothly.
The phone comes with a basic 128GB of storage but if you need more 256GB is available at a slightly higher cost. It also boasts a dual rear camera system - 50MP and 12MP - plus an 8 MP front camera. With its water and dust-proof capabilities, it can be taken practically anywhere without getting damaged.
Buy now £262.92, Amazon
GOOGLE Pixel 7a - 128 GB, Charcoal
The 64MP camera system of the Pixel 7a provides impressive photo-taking power for such an affordable handset. High quality is the priority with this model and you get Pixel functions like Magic Eraser and Face Unblur as part and parcel of the editing suite.
The 7a has an all-day battery life, the ability to record 4k videos and fear not about accidental splashes as it’s IP67 certified.
Buy now £349.00, Currys
Google Pixel 6a
Google, the creator of the Android operating system, also makes its own smartphones, and the Pixel 6a is currently its cheapest model in the family.
For the modest price (sub-£300 depending on how lucky you get with sales), you get a 6.1-inch 1080 x 2400 display, an octa-core processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of onboard storage, stereo speakers, 5G connectivity and water resistance.
When it comes to photography, you get a 12.2-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. But the best thing? Battery life. Google claims that the Pixel 6a can last for more than 24 hours or 72 hours if you switch on the Extreme Battery Saver feature.
You can get the phone in three colour choices: Charcoal, Chalk and Sage.
Buy now £259.08, Amazon
