Verizon has announced that the Google Pixel phones would be carrier unlocked and will receive prompt updates as soon as Microsoft makes them available. Google confirmed this by saying "system updates will be managed by Verizon for Verizon models, and Google for unlocked models bought from Google Store." Microsoft will take care of the monthly security updates.
"Verizon will not stand in the way of any major updates and users will get all updates at the same time as Google," a Verizon spokesperson told Ars Technica. Verizon Pixel smartphones will also come with preloaded apps such as Go90, My Verizon, and Verizon Messages which can all be uninstalled. The device will only have a locked bootloader.
The Google Pixel XL has a price tag in the United States, and the 32 GB Verizon variant is already on sale at Best Buy for $744. Both Google online store and Verizon website are selling the smartphone for $770, which means that those who buy the smartphone from Best Buy would save $26. The device is already up for pre-order. The 32 GB Pixel is available for $27.08 per month for two years while the 128 GB variant is priced at $31.24 a month. The 32 GB Pixel XL is priced at $32.08 per month while the 128 GB model costs $36.24 a month.
The Google Pixel XL is the bigger variant of the new "Made by Google" phone line. HTC manufactured the phones, but Google says that it developed the phone from design to its final finishes. The Pixel XL comes with a glass and aluminum build which looks like the HTC A9. The Pixel also has an intelligent personal assistant which functions just like the Apple iPhone's Siri. Other specs include a 5-inch and 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB or 128 GB of internal storage options. It houses a 12 megapixels rear camera with an 8 megapixels selfie snapper and also comes with a 3540 mAh battery unit with USB Type-C charging.
The Google Pixel features a 5.5-inch AMOLED screen with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels resolution. It comes with the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out of the box and is capable of split-screen windows and a battery-saving Doze mode. The phone is compatible with the Daydream View VR headset and comes with a 3,450 mAh battery source. It is also dust and water-resistant but will be damaged when submerged in water. The Pixel XL is set to hit the shelves on Oct. 20.