First comparison: Google Pixel XL vs. Galaxy Note 7

Google’s going big in both size and price with the Pixel XL, and that means it lines up right next to the Note 7.

No longer can we compare the latest phones from Google and Samsung on an uneven scale — at $769, the Pixel XL goes toe-to-toe with the Galaxy Note 7’s price. And for that money, you’re looking to get a top-end phone in either case. Both have big screens, solid hardware, all the specs you want and a few interesting points to differentiate from the pack.

With the Note 7 returning from its recall and the Pixel already up for pre-order, it’s a great time to see which one is the best choice at the top-end of the Android world. Read on.

On the inside

Two high-end phones, two packed spec sheets. Processor, RAM, screen resolution, battery size, connectivity and just about every other spec lines up pretty evenly when you look at the numbers. The Galaxy Note 7 has a slight advantage with its S Pen stylus, OIS on the camera, wireless charging and notably more robust IP68 water-resistant rating. That final point will probably be a big one — while water resistance certainly isn’t standard at this point, more phones are offering it and it’s turning into a “must have” for a lot of people.

The Pixel XL’s newer-generation processor technically gives it an advantage in terms of future-proofing, and its optional 128GB of internal storage is great, negating the need for an SD card for many people out there. It’s a minor point on the camera side, but it’s worth noting that the Pixel XL has laser auto focus on its camera as well, which has a theoretical advantage in low-light focusing abilities over just phase-detect auto focus.

The Note 7 wins on raw specs, but the Pixel XL’s software wins that battle.

When it comes to what’s really running the show inside, the big differentiation between the two is software. Samsung’s experience and features are a pretty well-known quantity at this point. You can’t really hate on Samsung’s interface at this point: it’s consistent, slick, powerful and downright fast. The issue with Samsung’s current software suite is the sheer number of features that can be overwhelming, and that’s at its peak on a Note. With lots overlapping apps and services on the phone from both Samsung and Google, things can get confusing — and that’s before you add in all of the bloatware from carriers and Samsung’s built-in apps that you can’t disable or uninstall.

While the Pixel XL adds a few new features above and beyond what we’ve come to expect from a history of Nexus phones, the name of the game (especially compared to the Note 7) is still simplicity. There are no duplicate apps pre-installed, and so long as you’re okay with Google’s services you’re getting a top-class experience for everything built into your single Google Account. You can duplicate some of the experience on other phones by swapping apps or changing the launcher, but when it comes to simplicity, Google’s software still does things best. You’re also getting access to brand new features like Google Assistant first, and also have the knowledge that you’re getting two years of software updates, guaranteed.

On the outside

Externally, things are quite interesting. Most of us know the Galaxy Note 7 by now — it’s built incredibly well, makes liberal use of curved glass and is striking to look at from just about any angle. With small bezels and a curved screen it’s incredibly small for the screen size as well. The Pixel XL comes in with a different approach: not only is it a touch taller and wider than the Note 7, it offers a smaller screen at 5.5 inches diagonally at the same time.

The Note 7 is sleek and compact for its size; the Pixel XL is just average in this regard.

Though the Pixel XL isn’t svelte, it sure does feel nice and have plenty of interesting visual flourishes. The primarily metal body isn’t just a bland slab — the large beveled edge connecting the back to the sides, together with the chamfered edge that transitions to the screen, give glimmers of light and extra surfaces to grip when using the phone. The big pane of glass that makes up about one-third of the back of the phone is an interesting way to handle the issue of RF transparency and turn it into a design element. The phones really don’t look similar, even when compared black on black — the Note 7 is certainly more flashy, while the Pixel XL is a bit more subtle and strong looking.

But when you turn the phones around to the front, it’s all about the screen. The Note 7 gives you more screen to look at, and Samsung’s screens really are best in the business. The Pixel XL’s 5.5-inch display is also AMOLED and has the same resolution, technically giving it a higher pixel density but at this level it doesn’t really matter. The Pixel XL’s display is nice, but it shouldn’t make any Note 7 owners (or potential owners) jealous.

Google’s new Pixel XL and the still-fresh Note 7 will appeal to different buyers, but one thing that remains constant is the large outlay of cash that will be required to buy either one.

Which phone has the specs, features, design and software that you’re looking for? Let us know in the comments!

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

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• In pictures: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
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Go Time! Episode 12: The perpetually flashing light

Episode 12 of Go Time is here!

Jen, Erin and Russell are back for another week of Pokemon shenanigans. Russell managed to get his hands on a Pokemon Go Plus after a pretty epic hunt, so we have the details on this awesome new accessory. This includes how it works, and whether it’s worth it to find one for your Pokehunts. We also talk about Halloween Team Rocket costumes, and some new information about Pokemon IV.

There’s still more to come, and we hope you’ll join us next week!

• Google Play
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• iTunes
• Or add us to your podcatcher of choice!

You can also join our Facebook page to keep up on all things Pokémon Go. See you in the world!

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• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
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ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe up for pre-order in U.S., shipping later in October

Flagship ZenFone 3 Deluxe ranges from $399 to $799 — with the top model boasting 6GB RAM and 256GB storage.

The ASUS ZenFone 3 series will go on sale in the United States later this month, as the manufacturer has listed three flavors of the ZenFone 3 Deluxe, as well as the laser-focusing ZenFone 3 Laser.

Three flavors of Deluxe, the Deluxiest of which will set you back almost $800.

The more affordable Laser goes on sale today for $199 — an entry-level phone powered by a Snapdragon 430 chip, with 2GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch screen. But chances are it’s the speccy ZenFone 3 Deluxe you’re more interested in. The base model 5.5-inch Deluxe, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, starts at $399. Step up to a 5.7-inch screen, a Snapdragon 820 and 6GB of RAM for $499. And the top level ZenFone Deluxe Special Edition packs a Snapdragon 821 chip and 256GB of storage.

The two regular ZenFone 3 Deluxe models ship October 12, while you’ll need to wait a week longer, October 19, for the Deluxe Special Edition.

These models are somewhat different to what we first saw back at Computex, where the ZenFone 3 debuted in May. Nevertheless, the top-end model remains the same, with the lower-end Deluxe apparently inheriting some of the internals of the regular ZenFone 3. More details await at the link below.

MORE: ASUS ZenFone 3 preview

See at ASUS

Windows Central reviews the next awesome Android 2-in-1!

A beautiful, ambitious 2-in-1 from Lenovo.

OK, OK, that title isn’t entirely true, but it’s half true. See, our friends at Windows Central have one of the first reviews out for what we thought was one of the more interesting announcements at IFA — the Lenovo Yoga Book. While, naturally, they are reviewing the Windows 10 version, we’re excited about the form factor, safe in the knowledge that it will soon be released running a modified version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Here’s what we said about the Yoga Book back in August:

The Yoga Book is perhaps the most visually appealing and interesting convertible Android tablet we’ve seen, and we have to applaud Lenovo for trying something entirely new rather than trotting out a simple detachable keyboard 2-in-1.

Now that we’ve gotten our hands on the Windows version, Mobile Nations’ Zac Bowden has reinforced our first impressions of the hardware:

The Lenovo Yoga Book is an interesting device. It’s a beautiful, premium-feeling 2-in-1, with tablet-class specifications. It’s rocking a futuristic Halo Keyboard and Create Pad that’s excellent for note-takers and artists alike, but not great for those who need to get real-work done such as typing an article/report or editing a video.

In other words, there’s a lot to like here, but just as much to chalk up to early-adopter bugs, many of which will likely be resolved through software updates. The hardware keyboard (or lack thereof, really) may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s the package as a whole — and the prospect of it eventually running Android 7.0 Nougat — that makes our heart flutter a little. That particular model is set to be released at the end of October.

Check out Windows Central’s review of the Lenovo Yoga Book

See at Lenovo

Oculus is making a non-tethered standalone VR headset, see it here

Facebook-owned Oculus VR is holding a keynote address, where Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has introduced a VR headset that works without cables.

When it comes to virtual reality headsets, there are two categories: mobile VR headsets, such as the Samsung Gear VR, and tethered VR headsets with external tracking, like the Oculus Rift. Zuckerberg said, “We believe there is a sweet spot between these. A standalone virtual reality product category…”

This category would be high quality and affordable, and you can bring it with you out into the world. “We’re working on this now,” Zuckerberg added. “It’s still early.” While on stage, he played a video demo of the prototype product, which looks like a consumer version of the Oculus Rift, but it’s wireless. 

On the back of the headset is a circular hub that could house electronics. We don’t know much more, as the demo was short, and Zuckerberg didn’t expand too much, but he did mention: “I think we all know where VR is going to be in 20 years… It’s going to be the next major computing platform.”

This new hardware project will sit between the existing Oculus Rift headset and Samsung’s Gear VR headset, which is one of Oculus’ platform partners. The project hasn’t been named and seems to work without cables, external PCs, and mobile phones. And it uses something called inside-out tracking.

It’s worth noting that VR headsets like Gear VR lack positional tracking, so when you move around, the virtual world stays in one place around you. And that experience can be kind of jarring.

Watch the Oculus Connect 3 keynote live stream for more live updates.

iOS 10.1 Reinstates 32-Bit App Alert, Warns Older Apps May Slow iPhone

During the iOS 10 beta testing period, Apple added an alert message to notify users who downloaded an older 32-bit app that it could affect system performance, but the warning message does not appear to have made it into the final version of iOS 10 that was released to the public.

Starting in iOS 10.1, Apple is reinstating the warning message, with a more dire alert that will likely steer customers away from apps that have not complied with Apple’s 2015 mandate stating all apps must be 64-bit. As can be seen in the alert below, the message now warns that an app “may slow down your iPhone.” It goes on to say “The developer of this app needs to update it to improve its compatibility.”

During the iOS 10 beta testing period, the alert instead warned 32-bit apps were “not optimized for iOS 10” and usage “may affect overall system performance.”

Starting in late 2013, Apple began asking developers to submit 64-bit apps for the iPhone 5s, the first iPhone with a 64-bit processor. On February 1, 2015, Apple made 64-bit support mandatory for all new app submissions, and on June 1, 2015, all app updates submitted were required to include 64-bit support.

Apps that are popping up warnings in the iOS 10.1 beta are apps that have not been updated since that time.

Apple has likely reinstated the 32-bit alert message as part of its crackdown on older, outdated apps to clean up the App Store. In early September, Apple notified developers about an upcoming plan to remove apps that have not received compatibility updates, do not comply with current review guidelines, or that no longer function as intended.

Notices started going out on September 7, with developers given a 30 day period to fix problematic apps. After that period, Apple will be removing outdated apps from the App Store.

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