Nexus 6P vs Google Pixel XL: What’s the difference between Google’s new and old phablet?

The Pixel XL is the successor to 2015's Nexus 6P. The names may be different, as is the design, but there's a lot which stays the same. Here we outline the differences between the two phablets. It's Pixel XL vs Nexus 6P

PRICE WHEN REVIEWED

Google Nexus 6P: From £449 inc VAT
Google Pixel XL: £719 (32GB) £819 (128GB)

NEXUS 6P VS GOOGLE PIXEL XL

Last year, the Nexus 6P was launched alongside the smaller alternative of the Nexus 5X. In 2016, we’ve got two more Googlephones, but this time they’re ‘made by Google’ and the smaller Pixel doesn’t have cut-down features. However, while you can check out our Pixel vs Pixel XL comparison, here it’s Nexus 6P vs Pixel XL where we highlight how the two phablets differ.

See also: Pixel XL release date

NEXUS 6P VS GOOGLE PIXEL XL: PRICE

The Pixel XL is a far cry from the days of the early Nexus phones which offered great specs at a surprisingly low price. At £719, the Pixel is one of the most expensive phones you can buy. The same price as the 32GB iPhone 7 Plus in fact. It also matches the 128GB version of that iPhone at £819. You can buy the Pixel XL from Currys, plus many other retailers, including Google's online store.

You can still buy a new Nexus 6P, although the 128GB capacity is less common. Expect to pay around £370 for the 32GB and £430 for the 64GB. Ultimately, it's almost half the price of the Pixel XL. 

NEXUS 6P VS GOOGLE PIXEL XL: DESIGN

The Pixel XL (manufactured not by Google but by HTC) is less fussy in terms of design than the Huawei-made Nexus 6P. However, the rear of the phone is still controversial. With the 6P, it was the ugly camera strip which caused offence. The Pixel XL has a weird glass panel covering the top third of the back and surrounding the fingerprint scanner, camera, mic and LED flash.

Here’s how the two phones stack up for size and weight.

• Pixel XL: 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6mm, 168g
• Nexus 6P: 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g

So the Pixel is a bit smaller and thicker, and weighs a little less than the 6P. On paper (well, on screen presuming you haven’t printed this out) it’s impossible to tell whether those measurements make much of a difference, but believe us when we say the Pixel is a much nicer phone to live with.

Where the 6P was just that bit too wide for comfort, the Pixel XL carefully balances screen size with the overall dimensions and doesn’t feel any thicker than the 6P. The chamfered edges still feel a little sharp, but the phone is beautifully weighted and feels very much the premium device.

Where the 6P had great front-facing stereo speakers, the Pixel XL’s front panel is very plain with only the earpiece, camera and light sensor breaking up the otherwise featureless landscape.

Although it appears to have two speakers on the bottom edge (like an iPhone) the Pixel XL has only one speaker. There’s the same USB-C connector for synching and charging and the headphone port on the top edge, just like the 6P. Power and volume are on the right, with a single nano-SIM slot on the left. There’s no two-SIM option, nor a microSD slot. Again, just like the 6P.

Plenty had hoped the switch to Pixel branding might mean the addition of expandable storage, but no such luck. Like iPhones, the new Google Phone gives you two fixed options: 32GB or 128GB. The only consolation is that you get free, unlimited online storage at original quality for photos and video – even if you shoot in 4K. And that benefit is certainly worth something.

NEXUS 6P VS GOOGLE PIXEL XL: SPECS

Here’s how the phones compare for key specifications:

Pixel XL

• Screen: 5.5in, 2560x1440, 534ppi, AMOLED
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 32 / 128GB
• Battery: 3450mAh

Nexus 6P

• Screen: 5.7in, 2560x1440, 518ppi, AMOLED
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
• RAM: 3GB
• Storage: 32 / 64 / 128GB
• Battery: 3450mAh

The most obvious difference between the phones is that the Pixel XL gets a newer, faster Snapdragon processor. Hardly a surprise, though. No-one would expect a new flagship phone to stick with last year’s chip. Google has also increased RAM by 50 percent from 2- to 3GB.

Screen size drops by 0.2in but remains the same resolution and technology, and both panels are protected by the same Gorilla Glass 4.

 We've yet to finish running our battery tests on the Pixel XL, so can't yet say for sure if it lasts longer than the 6P, but it certainly does last. Both phones support rapid charging, and the Pixel claims to offer 7 hours' use from 15 minutes' charging.

NEXUS 6P VS GOOGLE PIXEL XL: CAMERAS

There’s little difference in facts and figures when it comes to cameras. At the rear, both phones have a 12.3Mp camera with an f/2.0 lens and 1.55um pixels.

At the front of both sits an 8Mp selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture.

So what’s new? The Pixel XL additionally gets phase-detection autofocus alongside laser, and it also adds stabilisation for video. Not optical stabilisation, sadly, only software-based.

And that, in a nutshell, are the photographic differences.

NEXUS 6P VS GOOGLE PIXEL XL: SOFTWARE

Usually with Android phones there’s plenty to say about software, but when it comes to the Pixel XL and Nexus 6P, both run the un-doctored version. The Nexus shipped with Marshmallow (Android 6), but has now been updated to 7, which is what the XL ships with.

Now that Android 7.1 is available, the interface has been tweaked slightly, but the 6P will get this too, so the experience of using both phones is essentially the same.

There's one difference, though: the Pixel comes with the new Google Assistant which pops up when you long-press the home button. It's not yet downloadable as an app on the 6P, but it won't be long before it is. And if you're happy to get your hands dirty, it is possible to hack the assistant to work right now.

SPECS

OUR VERDICT

It’s hard to get too excited about the Pixel XL given that it’s such a marginal upgrade over the 6P. Sure, it has a new design a couple of extra camera features, more RAM and a faster processor, but it’s also a lot more expensive. It isn’t water-resistant, lacks the 6P’s stereo speakers and still doesn’t offer a microSD slot, while taking away the 64GB storage option. If you've already got a 6P, it doesn't make sense to upgrade and if you're toying with buying one of the pair, the 6P's much lower price makes it the better deal

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HOW TO ROOT AND UNROOT REDMI NOTE 2 WITHOUT PC

This is easiest and safest way to install TWRP (custom recovery) then root and unroot Redmi Note 2 without PC.  Guide with pictures!

For your information, since MIUI 7 has been pushed out and coming to Redmi Note 2, users basically can gain root effortlessly and giving permission to selected apps to have root access. But however that requires you to grant access to specific app each time you installed root-only app before being able to running it on your phone.

So this tutorial will show you how to root Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 running either MIUI 6 or MIUI 7 so you can “really” have root access on your phone. The Redmi Note 2 is really a cool smartphone with a bunch of awesomeness like the Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 chipset plus the Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU implemented and placed under the hood giving the phone enough horse power to run Android 5.0 Lollipop on its 5.5 inches IPS LCD. Gaining root access on Redmi Note 2 will unleash its true performance and max out its true ability.

ROOT REDMI NOTE 2 WITHOUT PC

Preparation :

– Make sure your phone has at least 80% battery power remaining
– Make sure your phone is connected to Internet
– A cup of coffee
– About 20 minutes of your time

Steps to root :

Step 1 – Grab your phone, open its web browser app (or Firefox mobile, Opera, Chrome, etc).

Step 2 – Download custom recovery image, TWRP v2.8.7 for Redmi Note 2 by visiting this url on your browser:

http://xiaomitips.com/download/twrp-v2-8-7-0-redmi-note-2/

then click the Download button.

the download progress will start automatically.

Step 3 – Once done downloading the TWRP file, open up any File Manager app (or use the one installed by default). Now locate the file you’ve just downloaded. Found it? Move that file to phone’s internal storage and make sure it’s not inside any folder (see pic). Once moved to the right location, rename the file from note2twrp287.zip to update.zip (make sure there is no typo)

Step 4 – You must now enter Recovery Mode. Please note that Xiaomi has managed to include their stock recovery inside Redmi Note 2. Don’t get me wrong, the Xiaomi’s stock recovery (namely Mi Recovery) is cool but TWRP is much more cool. Why? Easiest answer for that is the fact that TWRP  is touchscreen-friendly while stock recovery is not.

Now you have to firstly enter Recovery Mode by pressing Volume Up (+) button and Power button together at once for few seconds until your phone is shaking (little vibration you feel) and then release the buttons. Feel difficult? There is still another way of course: on your phone, go to Tools> tap the Updater tool > tap on Options which is the one with … symbol in the top right corner > then choose Reboot to Recovery mode.

Step 5 – As I said, the Mi Recovery is not using touchscreen interface which means you have to use Volume +/- to navigate from one option to another, and use Power button to choose your option.

Choose English > then Install Update.zip to system > then when it asks you “Confirm install update.zip?” simple choose Yes.

Step 6 – Sit tight and wait till the process complete. Do not forget to drink the coffee you’ve prepared previously. Once the update.zip flashing process is complete, choose Back then Power off.

Your phone is now turned off.

Step 7 – Again, now enter Recovery Mode by pressing Volume + and Power buttons at once together for few seconds until you feel it vibrates a bit then release the buttons. Your phone will now booting into Recovery Mode but this time is TWRP and not Mi Recovery. You’ll notice the difference as TWRP has different user interface.

Step 8 – Once you are in TWRP Recovery, you’ll see some kind of warning message asking you to confirm that you are really aware about what you gonna do using TWRP. Simply swipe the slider to the right.

Do not forget one thing, you can now use your finger to tap or swipe. You don’t have to use Volume keys and Power button again.

Step 9 – Once you are in the main page of TWRP, you’ll see several menus like Install, Wipe, Backup, Restore, Mount, File Manager, Advanced and Reboot. Tap on Reboot > System. In the next page TWRP will ask you to install SuperSU which will root your device. Simply swipe the slider to the right to confirm SuperSU installation which means rooting your device.

Step 10 – Your phone will now reboot and once its ready, it will be rooted. Go to your App drawer and look for the SuperSU icon there. Congratulation your Redmi Note 2 is now rooted. You can verify it by installing root-only apps like Titanium Backup or simply by installing Root Checker app.

UNROOT REDMI NOTE 2 WITHOUT PC

Unrooting your Redmi Note 2 is really a piece of cake. It is not as difficult as rooting it. Simply open up the SuperSU app again > choose Settings > choose Full Unroot > then tap one Continue. Finally reboot your phone and once it’s on again, you’ll notice that SuperSU app is no longer installed and your phone is now back unrooted. Simple isn’t it?

That’s all.

CONCLUSION

Rooting Redmi Note 2 can be done easily and safely without having to connect your phone to PC / laptop. While MIUI 7 gives root access for certain apps you want, gaining full root access is more preferred. The steps above can be implemented to root Redmi Note 2 running MIUI 6 or MIUI 7.

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Dubious report says Google will release

Given the number of tips we've now received, it no longer seemed prudent to ignore a rather questionable rumor published by The Telegraph yesterday, claiming that Google plans to build a phone that is not a Nexus and release it by the end of the year. And yes: the report acknowledges that there are rumors HTC will build 2016's Nexus phones. The Telegraph claims this is something else. But the moment they started discussing reasoning, I became suspicious.

Although Android runs on the majority of smartphones sold globally, Apple still dominates the lucrative high-end of the market. The proliferation of Android device makers, many of which apply the software differently, means Google has struggled to ensure consistency, with some smartphone owners waiting months for updates, and some manufacturers relegating Google’s own internet services which are included in Android.

Its own phone would allow Google to control the software, securing the future of services such as the Google search engine and Google Play app store that run on it.

I'll be frank: there is literally no reason a "Google" phone would reduce ecosystem fragmentation any more than a Nexus. This is actual nonsense - I can't even with this logic. Nexus phones run exactly the software Google wants, ship with all the apps Google wants, are updated by Google, are sold by Google, can even get cellular service from Google, and receive support from Google. A "Google-branded" phone would be no less fragmented than a Nexus phone. Not to mention Google would not feasibly have anything to gain by releasing a third non-Nexus device that would literally compete with Nexus. Unless it wanted to do so just as some kind of one-off experiment. But even then, it basically makes no sense.

The Telegraph also points to Google's hiring of Rick Osterloh back in April... a hire which could not feasibly result in a new product release - let alone one as complex as a brand-new smartphone - in under a year. The Telegraph's actual rumor boils down to almost nothing of substance, merely an assertion that Google is in discussions with mobile operators (carriers) about releasing a "Google-branded" phone this year.

The story flies directly in the face of a recode headline from just a few weeks ago, which reads: "Sundar Pichai says Google is not planning to do its own smartphone (well, except the Ara modular phone)." Pichai even said during the interview "Our plan is still to work with hardware partners." Given there is no chance the Ara phone is coming out in 2016, what does The Telegraph have here? Were they duped? A fibbing source is a tempting explanation, but there's probably a middle ground.

Here is what I think has happened - at least, what I think is likely. The Telegraph or its sources don't have the full picture, but a partial one. When this source heard "Google phone," an assumption was made. Namely, that this would not be a Nexus device, but something different. And herein I believe is where we can find a much more plausible explanation - it's still just a Nexus phone (and likely, phones), it just doesn't have any manufacturer partner branding on it.

There has been substantial scuttlebutt around this topic for months now. And when Sundar Pichai suggested Google would be more more "opinionated" in regard to the design of its Nexus smartphones, many took that to mean the rumors were true: no more manufacturer co-branded Nexus handsets. By asserting itself as the one and only brand behind the product, Google would, for the first time, enter the smartphone market as a player in its own right, instead of under the pretense of being a "showcase" for a given Android vendor. I believe there is a very real chance that the upcoming Sailfish and Marlin devices being built by HTC may actually have no HTC branding whatsoever - though we are confident these devices are being built by HTC. And this may be The Telegraph's elusive "Google phone."

There is also the possibility, however faint, that Sailfish and Marlin are not Nexus siblings, but divergent product lines. A smaller, cheaper device for the Nexus brand, with a larger, more premium handset bearing the Pixel moniker. This fits with the narrative fantasy that many in the Nexus and Google community have crafted, but again, we have no reason to believe that's the case. It's literally just a guess.

We'll be watching and waiting for further news of Google's phone endeavors, and keeping our collective ears to the ground for what information we can gather.

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Evleaks publishes press renders of the Galaxy Note7

Want an up-close and personal look at the upcoming Galaxy Note7? Evan Blass has given us just that - no more prototypes or cover glass to extrapolate from. This is the real deal. The Note7, spacing correct there, looks very, well, Note-like. With a hint of Galaxy S7. Which makes sense. As to the name? You can explain that however you want: a preemptive strike against the iPhone 7 (a moniker that lately has been dubbed unlikely by some), a lining up with the Galaxy S series - whatever. Note7 definitely does seem to be what we'll be calling it.

What else do we see? Frankly, not a lot - a stylus and a curved edge display, the sort of features we'd been expecting. These images don't tell us much about the device otherwise. The Note7 maintains the squared-off corners that have been something of a trademark of the Note lineup, giving it a decidedly more angular look than the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge.

View image on Twitter

 Follow

Evan Blass 

✔@evleaks

Samsung Galaxy Note7 in (from l to r) Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Blue Coral

5:55 AM - 2 Jul 2016

 
•  1,1481,148 Retweets
 
•  1,9961,996 likes

According to Blass, the phone will have a 5.7" QHD Super AMOLED display, 64GB of storage (+microSD), 12MP rear camera, 5MP front, be IP68 certified, and come in three colors: black, silver, and blue. Which, perhaps by no coincidence, are the colors he's leaked today.

Rumors have the Galaxy Note7's launch pegged for August 2nd.

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Samsung India is offering Galaxy Note7 pre-orderers

While carriers in the United States and other countries have been dealing with returns and refunds of the now-discontinued Galaxy Note7, customers in India haven't had much to deal with, largely because their Note7 pre-orders hadn't even shipped. Now, to thank customers for waiting all this time for their pre-ordered Note7s, Samsung India has churned up a pretty sweet offer to customers who choose to grab a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge instead.

Originally, Samsung intended for the Note7 to go on sale on September 2nd in India, but supply shortages caused that date to be moved back significantly - so significantly, in fact, that those who waited for the Note7 still didn't have their phones before the phone's complete cancellation.

In an attempt to appease these customers (who are probably pretty furious that they waited several weeks for nothing), Samsung India is offering pre-orderers who buy a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge the new Gear VR, an Oculus Gear VR voucher (apparently worth 3,300 INR or $50 USD), a Samsung Level U wireless headset, and a one-time screen replacement (redeemable within the first year) free of charge.

If you're in India and you pre-ordered the Note7, you can take advantage of the offer by visiting the retailer you pre-ordered from. If you'd just like a refund, you can still get one.

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Upcoming HTC Bolt leaked with 5.5-inch screen and no headphone jack

HTC might be responsible for building the new Pixel phones, but its name won't be on them. HTC is still working on its own HTC-branded devices, including the unannounced HTC Bolt. Noted leaker of things, Evan Blass has some images of this phone, and guess what it doesn't have... a headphone jack. What a time to be alive.

The Nougat-powered HTC Bolt (known internally as Acadia) will be a mid-range phone with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 3GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It charges over USB Type-C, but that's also probably where you'll get audio. There's no headphone jack, despite the device being more than large enough to accommodate one. It does support BoomSound, but only via headphones (presumably via an adapter).

The Bolt keeps the same basic aesthetic as the HTC 10 with the metal frame and chamfered back. Although, the chamfer doesn't look quite as extreme on this phone. The camera back there is 18MP with an f/2.0 lens and 4K video capture. The front camera is 8MP. It's unclear when the device will be announced, but it should be available worldwide, including in the US on Sprint.

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Xiaomi Redmi 3S review

Introduction

Xiaomi Redmi 3S is the last of the third generation Redmis, soon to be overshadowed by the expected Redmi 4 premiere. Some may say the Redmi 3S is an obsolete addition to the series, but yet Xiaomi managed to position it as one of the best offers on the market right now.

The Redmi 3S follows the footsteps of its predecessors - a premium metal shell jam-packed with features for a bargain price. Just like the Redmi 3 Pro, the 3S has a 5" screen on top of an aluminum unibody, there is a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a 13MP main camera. The 4,100 mAh battery is a real treat and the Redmi 3S is among the first phones to offer the latest MIUI 8.

What's different though? Basically, Xiaomi opted for a different chipset -the Snapdragon 430. It has a true octa-core processor instead of two CPU clusters by four cores, and a new Adreno 505 GPU which supports all the latest graphic standards and should offer slightly improved performance.

The Redmi 2 was chosen by GSMA for the best smartphone under $100 and Xiaomi obviously is running for a similar recognition next year with the Redmi 3 series. So, let's see what the Redmi 3S is made of.

Xiaomi Redmi 3S key features:

• Hybrid DualSIM/microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
• 5" IPS display of 720p resolution; 294ppi
• Snapdragon 430 chipset; octa-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 processor; Adreno 505 GPU;
• 13MP main camera with hybrid phase-detect autofocus; 1080p video capture at 30fps
• 5MP front-facing camera; 1080p at 30fps video recording
• MIUI v.8 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 16GB of built-in storage, 2GB of RAM
• 4G LTE Cat.4 (150Mbps); Wi-Fi b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.1; GPS, GLONASS and Beidou; FM radio
• IR port
• Dual-microphone active noise canceling
• 4,100 mAh non-removable battery, fast charging
• Rear-mounted fingerprint reader

Cons:

• No scratch resistant front glass
• No NFC
• Battery not removable

The omissions are hardly a surprise - they have been there since the first ever Redmi 3. The phones that have spawned in the months to follow - the Pro, the S, and the Prime may have brought some new features and improvements, but the lack of NFC, the non-removable battery and the cheap screen glass are common across all models.

But then again we are looking at a €120 smartphone, so our expectations have been exceeded by a mile already. If you want to know what got better, or worse, please follow us after the jump.

Special thanks to HonorBuy.com for providing the review unit.

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