RedGage

A brand new Android is hitting the shelves, and it’s unlike any you’ve seen before. The Pixel and Pixel XL are the first Androids made entirely by Google, signalling a shift in the tech company’s priorities. Though they’ve collaborated on the successful Nexus in the past, Google now wants to be completely responsible for their smartphones, from its internal Google UI all the way to its external hardware. Critics have already called it a success, and anyone learning the ins and outs of their new droid will say the same. 

Like the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge before it, the Pixel XL is making serious waves with its mobile tech. While it comes with the standard Android specs you’d expect from a high-end phone, Google’s managed to enhance each feature. The brand new XL comes with:

• 5.5 inch AMOLED display
• 12 megapixel rear-facing camera and 8 megapixel front-facing camera
• 4GB of RAM, 128 GB of onboard storage, and unlimited access to the cloud
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
• Android 7.1 Nougat

Put together under one smartphone and you’ve got a high-performing, fully capable droid. As a result, you’ll be expecting to pay more for the XL than any of Google’s previous smartphones from the Nexus line. One thing is for certain: critics have said its price tag is worthy of the features you get. From the updated Google Now (a better version of Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri) to its crystal clear camera, you won’t be wondering where your money went. Google’s managed to streamline their user interface in a package made from premium materials.

For these reasons, it’s surely to score out a place at the top of most year end’s best of lists. The only thing stopping the XL from being a perfect smartphone is its physical security — or lack thereof. Like every other iPhone and Android, the XL lacks reliable defence against typical daily wear and tear. The fragile aluminum needs some added protection, like what’s offered with the skins made by dbrand. The latest skins and wraps from dbrand are made from a high-quality 3M vinyl that’s impervious to scratches, spills, and grime, and the engineers at the company cut it with precision in order to ensure the entire phone (save for the touchscreen) gets appropriate coverage.

Unlike Google’s droid, Pixel XL skins are affordable and come in a variety of different colors and textures. The makers at dbrand let you choose which finish you want in your Pixel XL skin, allowing you the chance to personalize the outside of your Android as much as you’ve customized the UI. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of the best phones of the year, remember a skin is an easy way to improve its already amazing design.