Good news folks. Google's new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones boast IP53 certification, which offer protection against water and dust to an extent.
So the rumors were spot on after all. Though Google didn’t mention it during the launch, its new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are resistant to water and dust. Both smartphones come with IP53 certification that should keep them safe from water and dust to an extent. The rating tells you exactly how Google’s new smartphones will be able to survive the elements. The number ’5′ indicates that the smartphone is partially protected against ‘harmful dust’. The ’3′, on the other hand, indicates that the smartphone is capable of surviving exposure to water at very low pressure (between 7-20PSI) and that too only if the device is held at a vertical angle (not exceeding 60 degrees). In simpler terms, as long as you are holding the devices vertically, you will be able to take them out during light rains to check who is calling or send a quick text. As long as the device is not exposed to water for more than five minutes, there is every chance that the water droplets will just slide down the surface of the phone.
Water and dust resistance is a nifty feature for any smartphone, and a must for the premium ones. Earlier it was speculated that the Google Pixel and Pixel XL don’t have such capabilities, meaning they are vulnerable to moisture and dust. Considering that the Pixel series is aimed at the premium segment, lack of water and dust resistance feature could have turned off many. It is worth pointing out here that HTC, which is said to have manufactured the Pixel smartphones, has also opted for IP53 certification on its flagship HTC 10 smartphone.
That said, the IP53 certification is still disappointing as rival premium smartphones like the Apple iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 come with superior protection. The iPhone 7 features IP67 certification, while the Galaxy S7 features IP68 certification. What this means is that the both the smartphones are fully protected from dust. The iPhone 7 can also be submerged safely in up to one meter of static water for 30 minutes, while the Galaxy S7 can be submerged safely in up to 1.5 meter of water for 30 minutes.
Google Pixel, Pixel XL specifications
The Google Pixel sports a 5-inch full HD (1080p) display, while the Google Pixel XL sports a slightly larger 5.5-inch QHD (1440x2560pixels) display. Apart from the display size the only other difference is in the size of the battery — the Pixel comes with a 2,770mAh unit, while the Pixel XL comes with 3,450mAh unit. The rest of the specifications remain the same. ALSO READ: Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL hands-on: The real Google phone is here!
So you get devices featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB and 128GB storage options. On the photography front, the smartphones are equipped with a 12.3-megapixel rear snapper and 8-megapixel selfie snapper. Connectivity options include USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and NFC. On the software front, both smartphones run on Android Nougat 7.1 out-of-the-box. There’s a fingerprint scanner placed at the back. RELATED: 6 features that make Google Pixel, Pixel XL special
Google Pixel, Pixel XL price and availability
Google’s Pixel smartphones will soon be going on sale in India, and pre-orders are set to kick off on October 13. The Pixel is priced at Rs 57,000 (32GB) and Rs 66,000 (128GB). The Pixel XL, on the other hand, is priced at Rs 67,000 (32GB) and Rs 76,000 (128GB). They will be available via Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Croma and Vijay Sales.