Google’s Pixel phone lineup is special. It always has been and it always will be. Pixel phones never sell anywhere near as well as Samsung’s Galaxy flagships or Apple’s iPhone lineup, but they also don’t launch behind multi-billion dollar marketing campaigns. What makes Pixel phones special is the fact that they’re the Android equivalent of the iPhone, with a single company responsible for designing both the hardware and software experiences. They’re the only Android phones that are truly complete, cohesive products. Even more important, perhaps, is the fact that they’re the only Android phones that get big software updates as soon as they’re released. While the majority of Android devices out there are running versions of Android that are two or even three years old, Pixel phone owners always have access to the latest and greatest features. But access to a cohesive product that runs the latest Android build comes at a price, and that price has always been accepting the fact that your smartphone has an outdated design and outdated specs.
Yup, it’s the same basic design as the iPhone X from 2017 and the iPhone XS from 2018, but the camera on the back has been reoriented and centered. In fact, if this leak pans out, it’ll be the third time Apple has used the same basic smartphone design for three consecutive years instead of two, which had always been the case in the past.
Big notches like the one seen on this iPhone 11 mockup are on their way out, just like big bezels were two years ago. People want as much display as possible on the front of their phones, and newer designs like the teardrop notch, hole-punch camera, and pop-up selfie camera result in much better screen-to-body ratios. In other words, 2019 might mark the first year that Google’s new Pixel phones feature a better and more modern design than Apple’s new iPhones.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9ZnAbX9uLQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9rd4NLXCo
https://bgr.com/2019/03/27/pixel-4-xl-release-date-soon-vs-iphone-11-design-comparison/