The Google Pixel XL arrived in October 2016 as the larger of the two devices that launched Google’s self-branded Pixel line, stepping away from the Nexus era and positioning itself as a flagship built entirely under Google’s direction. With a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED panel, a Snapdragon 821 chipset, and a camera that earned critical acclaim at the time, it aimed squarely at the Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone crowd rather than the value-focused Nexus audience that came before it.
Today the Pixel XL is a discontinued device that no longer receives Android version or security updates, so this article treats it as a piece of smartphone history and a reference point for how far Google’s hardware has come. If you are researching an older Pixel for a collection, a secondary handset, or simply to understand the roots of the modern Pixel 9 series, here is a structured look at what the Pixel XL offered and how it holds up.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps or LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps |
| GPRS | Yes |
| EDGE | Yes |
Launch
| Announced | 2016, October 04. Released 2016, October 20 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions | 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm (6.09 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum/glass back, aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Water-repellent coating |
Display
| Type | AMOLED |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
Platform
| OS | Android 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) |
| CPU | Quad-core (2×2.15 GHz Kryo & 2×1.6 GHz Kryo) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 |
Memory
| Card slot | No |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| UFS 2.0 |
Main Camera
| Single | 12.3 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.3", 1.55µm, PDAF |
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@240fps |
Selfie camera
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2", 1.4µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
Comms
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0 |
Features
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Battery
| Type | Li-Ion 3450 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 18W wired, PD |
| Stand-by | Up to 552 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 32 h (3G) |
| Music play | Up to 130 h |
Misc
| Colors | Quite Black, Very Silver, Really Blue |
| SAR | 0.89 W/kg (head) 0.56 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.25 W/kg (head) 0.44 W/kg (body) |
| Price | About 400 EUR |
Our Tests
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2281Basemark X: 30861 |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.164 (sunlight) |
| Camera | Photo / Video |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 78h |
Price and Availability
The Google Pixel XL offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €400, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Google Pixel XL converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of July 9, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $457
- Japan: ¥74,206
- United Kingdom: £341
- Australia: A$659
- Canada: C$647
- Taiwan: NT$14,650
- Denmark: kr2.986
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼1,712
- South Korea: ₩688,297
- Germany: €400
- Brazil: R$2.353
- Vietnam: ₫11.970.152
- Kenya: KSh 59,007
- India: ₹43,603
- Indonesia: Rp 8.219.026
- Nigeria: ₦622,997
- Pakistan: ₨127,127
- Philippines: ₱28,096
- Bangladesh: ৳৫৬,৩১০
Value and Positioning in 2016
At launch the Pixel XL was priced around 400 EUR in some markets and considerably higher elsewhere, marking Google’s first serious push into premium pricing. That was a notable jump from the aggressively affordable Nexus phones, and it signaled that Google wanted to compete on experience and camera quality rather than undercut rivals. As a used or collector device today, its appeal lies in its clean software heritage and its historically strong camera, though the lack of ongoing updates limits its practicality as a daily driver.
Design and Build Quality
Measuring 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm and weighing a manageable 168 g, the Pixel XL feels compact by modern large-phone standards. Its signature two-tone back combined an aluminum frame with a glass shade across the upper portion, giving it a distinctive look at a time when uniform metal unibodies were the norm. Gorilla Glass 4 protects the front, and a water-repellent coating offered light splash resistance, although it stopped short of a formal IP rating. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor sat naturally under the index finger and remains one of the more comfortable placements the industry has used.
Display Experience
The 5.5-inch AMOLED display carries a 1440 x 2560 resolution at roughly 534 ppi, delivering crisp text and the deep blacks AMOLED is known for. With an infinite nominal contrast ratio and a 16:9 aspect, it was well suited to video and reading, though sunlight legibility was merely adequate rather than class-leading. The 71.2% screen-to-body ratio reflects the sizeable top and bottom bezels typical of that generation, a clear contrast with today’s near edge-to-edge panels.
Performance and Software
Under the hood sits the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 with a quad-core Kryo CPU and Adreno 530 GPU, paired with 4GB of RAM and either 32GB or 128GB of UFS 2.0 storage. There is no microSD slot, so buyers had to choose capacity carefully. In its day this hardware handled everything smoothly, and the phone shipped with a clean build of Android 7.1 Nougat that was upgradable to Android 10. Google no longer provides Android version or security updates for the Pixel XL, an important consideration for anyone weighing it as a primary phone. Enthusiasts can still reference official factory images through Android Developers for firmware history.
Camera Capabilities
The Pixel XL’s 12.3 MP single rear camera was its headline feature, combining an f/2.0 lens, large 1.55µm pixels, laser and phase-detection autofocus, and a dual-LED flash. It captured detailed, well-balanced stills and could record 4K video at 30fps as well as slow-motion 720p at 240fps. The 8 MP f/2.4 front camera handled selfies and 1080p video. Google’s computational photography approach, even in this early form, helped the Pixel XL punch above its single-lens setup and set the template for the camera-first reputation later Pixels would build on.
Battery and Charging
A 3450 mAh non-removable battery kept the Pixel XL running through a full day for most users, supported by an endurance rating of around 78 hours in period testing. It featured 18W wired charging with USB Power Delivery over its USB Type-C 3.0 port, which was reasonably quick for 2016. Quoted figures include up to 552 hours of 3G standby and up to 130 hours of music playback, giving a sense of its stamina in lighter use.
Connectivity and Extras
Connectivity was comprehensive for its time: dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX, NFC, GPS with GLONASS, and broad LTE band support reaching Cat9 or Cat11 speeds depending on region. A 3.5mm headphone jack remained on board, a feature many rivals were already dropping. Sensors covered the essentials plus a barometer, and there was no FM radio. Buyers could choose from Quite Black, Very Silver, and Really Blue finishes.
Who Should Consider It Today
The Pixel XL suits collectors, developers who want a clean reference device, or anyone seeking an inexpensive secondary handset for offline or light tasks. Because it no longer receives security patches, it is not recommended as a main phone for banking or sensitive accounts. Shoppers wanting a supported Google device should look to a current Pixel instead, while budget buyers may prefer a newer mid-ranger with active updates.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel XL remains a landmark device: the phone that established the Pixel identity, championed computational photography, and paired a sharp AMOLED screen with clean, responsive software. Its build, display, and camera still command respect, but its discontinued status and end of software support are decisive drawbacks for everyday use. We recommend the Pixel XL primarily to collectors and enthusiasts who value its place in Google’s history; anyone needing a reliable daily phone should choose a currently supported Pixel or a newer mid-range Android instead.
References
- Google Store / Made by Google Pixel and Pixel XL product page (store.google.com) – Primary manufacturer source for Pixel XL launch specifications such as display, dimensions, storage variants, colors, battery, camera, and included features; use a verified archived copy if the live page is retired.
- Google Pixel Phone Help – Pixel phone hardware tech specs – Official Google Pixel hardware specifications hub, useful for manufacturer terminology and cross-checking Pixel hardware details where legacy entries are available.
- Google Pixel Phone Help – Pixel software updates – Official Google source for Pixel update support status, including confirmation that Pixel 1 and Pixel 1 XL no longer receive Android version or security updates.
- Android Developers – Factory Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices – Official Google firmware reference for Pixel devices, useful for verifying Pixel XL software builds, Android version history, and device codename context.
- FCC Equipment Authorization System (fcc.gov) – Official regulatory database for checking Pixel XL model numbers, radio certifications, supported bands, and SAR-related filings; search Google device models such as G-2PW2100 and G-2PW2200.
