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Pixel, Pixel XL Aren't More Water Resistant Because Google Supposedly 'Ran Out of Time'

Pixel, Pixel XL Aren't More Water Resistant Because Google Supposedly 'Ran Out of Time'

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 25 October 2016 15:55 IST

Highlights

Pixel, Pixel XL went from the drawing board to launch in just 9 months
It had initial plans to make Pixel phones more water resistant
Google "ran out of time" in making Pixel more water resistant

Google's Pixel phones ever since launch have been in headline for whether they can justify their premium pricing. At their prices, they are in direct competition with the likes of iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 series, and omissions like optical image stabilisation (OIS) functionality and proper dust and water resistance were remarked upon. The latest buzz around the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones is why these devices don't come with expanded water resistance, especially after a video surfaced on the Internet showing Pixel phones barely surviving underwater for 30 minutes.

(Also see: Google Pixel vs iPhone 7, Galaxy S7 Edge: Price, Specifications Compared)

Well, if a report citing a Google representative is to be believed, then the company "ran out of time." Wired's David Pierce in a recent podcast shared some insights about the Pixel phones. When asked about waterproofing, Google representatives told Pierce that they were unable to add it because of the time crunch to bring the product to market.

(Also see: Google Pixel and Pixel XL First Impressions)

Pierce adds that Google had plans to make the phones more water resistant for a long time but by the end of 2015, the company chucked the plans. "There apparently had been this plan for a long time, and then at the end of 2015, they blew it all up and started over," said Pierce in Wired's Gadget Lab Podcast. According to Pierce, Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones went from the company's drawing board to official launch in roughly 9 months.

For those unaware, Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are IP53 rated which means they have minor dust and water resistance. This doesn't mean that the devices can survive when fully submerged in water. The '5' in 'IP53' signifies the devices' innards are unlikely to be damaged by dust. The '3' in the rating signifies the devices will not suffer damage from water ingress if they are held at an angle not more than 60 degrees from the vertical while being sprayed by low-pressure water - similar to rain. They will not withstand immersion in water.

The missing water-resistance feature definitely hurts the overall package for Pixel smartphones when compared to Apple's first highly water-resistant iPhones which were recently unveiled, while Samsung added the feature on its premium-end phones previously. To recall, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are IP67 certified while the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are IP68 certified. Both sets of phones can stand immersion in different depths of water for up to 30 minutes - 1 metre for the iPhone models, and 1.5 metres for the Galaxy S7 series.

Google Pixel

KEY SPECS
NEWS
Variants

Display 5.00-inch

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 821

Front Camera 8-megapixel

Rear Camera 12.3-megapixel

RAM 4GB

Storage 32GB

Battery Capacity 2770mAh

OS Android 7.1

Resolution 1080x1920 pixels

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Choose a variant

Google Pixel XL

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Variants

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Brilliant low-light photography
Fast modern processor
Great battery life
Google Assistant with localisations for India

Bad
Not very stylish or eye-catching
Expensive
No storage expansion

Read detailed Google Pixel XL review

Display 5.50-inch

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 821

Front Camera 8-megapixel

Rear Camera 12.3-megapixel

RAM 4GB

Storage 32GB

Battery Capacity 3450mAh

OS Android 7.1

Resolution 1440x2560 pixels

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Choose a variant

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Further reading: Pixel, Pixel XL, Smartphones, Google, Mobiles, Android, Waterproof, iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7

Ketan Pratap

Email Ketan

Ketan Pratap is the editor at Gadgets 360 - with over 12 years of experience covering the technology domain. With a breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, he's done extensive work across news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. But what's truly inspiring about Ketan is how he spends his free time. He's often found gazing at snow-capped mountains from over 20,000 feet while sitting on the hood of his car, taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature. His passion for the great ...More