Google have rebranded their line of smartphones and it is bye-bye Nexus and hello Pixel

Good build quality; Android N; Google Allo on tap

I write about gadgets, which means everyone asks me what laptop or dishwasher or whatever to buy. I struggle with this, because the answer often starts with, "It depends." Unless you ask about a phone. In that case, I usually say get an iPhone. Don't get me wrong. I love Android.

Google Assistant is the first voice assistant that really works; You can't take a bad picture with the Pixel; So what if it looks like the iPhone? The iPhone looks great, and so does the Pixel

Every phone should be waterproof, and this one isn't; Good as it is, Assistant's hardly flawless

Google's Pixel is exactly what the Android ecosystem needs to compete with the iPhone in the high-end smartphone space in terms of quality, performance and reliability.

Sleek looking and feels high-end; Google Assistant is great; Circular skin adds a level of polish to Android; Reliable melding of hardware and software

Expensive; especially in Canada; Not water resistant; Design may be too simple for some

I like this smartphone a lot, the software is great, and the hardware has a certain odd charm to it. The camera is also very good, which we're really pleased about. The biggest downside is that it lacks any sort of water resistance, something that even the iPhone now has.

Great specs; Fast charging; Excellent camera

More expensive than Nexus; Not water resistant; Design a little uninspired

Not the slam dunk we'd hoped for, but Google's Pixel still delivers some standout features

Fantastic camera; First dibs on Android Nougat; Decent screen

Weak design; Buggy OS

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL deliver what we've always wanted from a Google Android experience: an attractive design, lightning-fast performance and unique Google features you won't find on any other phone.

Speedy performance; Latest Android; with fast updates and thoughtful software additions; Excellent build quality; Great; fast camera that excels in video

No water resistance; Eye-watering SIM-free price; Google Assistant is still learning; Back glass prone to scratching

There are two Pixel phones in the family – the Pixel with a 5-inch display and the Pixel XL with a 5.5-inch screen. Tech Guide had the latter for this review and, apart from the screen size, the smartphones are basically the same in terms of features and camera quality.

Build quality; fast; slick Android operating system; excellent camera; long battery life

Not waterproof; no microSD card slot; expensive

While it doesn't seem like the first phone Google has ever made, the Pixel actually comes across as a bit of a revolutionary idea for the search giant. Google has generally sat behind the lines and quietly watched as the market uses their mobile operating system to perpetuate Google's ecosystem...

"Ok Google. What's the best way to cut a watermelon?" "Ok Google, how do I boil an egg?" "Ok Google, what is the status of my flight." "Ok Google, are there any bookstores around me?" "Ok Google, take a selfie.

The Google Pixel phone introduces Android Nougat 7, and gives you a phone that's very fast and has a great camera. But design-wise it's an ugly duckling. It's available in a choice of 32GB or 128GB versions, but misses out on a microSD card.