On October 4th Google introduced two new smartphones: the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. These phones pack the latest 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and large displays, along with the impressive AI systems that make these devices stand out from many of their peers.
You have to be a real phone aficionado to remember the Nexus One - Google's first smartphone (codeveloped with HTC) - which debuted in 2010. In 2017 terms the One's specs are almost laughable, with its single-core processor, half gigabyte of RAM, 5MP rear camera and whopping 3. 7" display. The Nexus One actually had two different displays. It initially shipped with a PenTile AMOLED display but later switched to a Super LCD that promised better power efficiency and color accuracy (though saturation and deep blacks got worse as a result). It also had a trackball reminiscent of Blackberry phones of that era.
The phone launched with Android 2. 1 (Eclair) preinstalled and supported voice-guided navigation and voice-to-text transcription. Not long after the One got upgraded to Android 2. 2 (Froyo), which added support for Adobe Flash (which was short-lived), a new home screen and Wi-Fi tethering. The final update the Nexus One received was to Android 4. 0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), as its hardware couldn't keep up with subsequent versions.
Were you one of the lucky few who owned a Google Nexus One? Let us know in the comments.
View our Google Pixel 2 launch coverage
Product mockup by Zach Vega.
. dpreview.com2017-10-5 16:00