April 27, 2022

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Tutorials

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8 min read

Google Pixel Phone Explained

A pixel phone is a great value smartphone from Google with built-in security features, strong device management and an all-day lasting battery.

Ross K.

Security Expert

There are probably hundreds if not thousands of unique smartphones in today's market. Out of the many, only a handful stand out. Google Pixel phone is one of them. This high-end smartphone was first released in October 2016 with new models coming out almost annually. It has a number of features that make it a great choice for those who are looking for a top-of-the-line device. Even in a very saturated market, the Pixel has its edge and advantages over most other flagships.

Google Pixel origins and history

The Pixel is a direct result of Google's in-house development of hardware. The company behind the Android operating system has been working on its own Nexus devices since 2010 but Pixel is the first series that fully belongs to Google.

Nexus was more like a way for Google to showcase what Android can do whereas Pixel is all about giving users the best Android experience possible.

The Pixel name was actually first used on Chromebooks that were launched in 2013. However, when Google decided to get into the smartphone business, they ditched the Nexus brand in favor of the Pixel.

Most recent Pixel phones are made by Foxconn, the same Taiwanese mega-giant that is responsible for making iPhones. Despite outsourcing production, Google is very much involved in the design and development process. Their phones truly look and seem unique, even in the very diverse Android market.

High-end specs

One of the main Pixel selling points is its top-of-the-line specs. It's a bang-on flagship. Google makes sure that their phones are always up to date with the latest processors, screen resolutions, and features.

The Pixel 6 for example, comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and has 8GB of RAM or 12GB in the case of Pixel 6 Pro. It's the first phone to have a security core built into the main chip (more on security, later on).

The camera is another big Pixel selling point. Google's Pixel phones have always had some of the best cameras on any smartphone. The Pixel 6 is no different. It has a dual-camera system with a 50MP wide sensor and a 12MP ultrawide sensor.

Google just knows how to make a good phone

Google's software experience is yet another big advantage that Pixel phones have over the competition. Since Google owns Android, it can optimize the operating system specifically for Pixel devices.

This results in a clean, bloat-free, and very responsive UI. Google also doesn't shy away from packing its phones with exclusive and genuinely unique features, apps, and other items. Whether they're gimmicks or really useful is up for debate, but you can't blame them for not trying to be unique.

A great example is Pixel's Active Edge feature, used on a previous generation. It lets you squeeze the phone to launch Google Assistant. Weird, but might be useful to some, right?

The Titan chips - most security on any Android device

Pixel phones are probably best known for their great security. Stock Google's Pixel phones, undoubtedly have the most security features of any Android device. This is backed up not only by marketing claims but by thorough research as well.

Facts don't lie - Google Pixel is the world's most secure smartphone

You can read this research by Omdia. They compared Google's very own Pixel 6 against other leading flagships and found that it outperforms every single rival, in terms of security, by at least 15-20%.

The same research showed that a lot of consumers genuinely care about the security of their mobile devices. Take a look at the chart below to see the results of 1520 respondents.

This is why genuinely privacy and security-focused apps like Kraden only run on Pixel devices and also take it a step further and require GrapheneOS, yet another layer of protection.

Titan chips - the primary hardware solution, responsible for the great results

The Titan chip is a custom security chip that's been used in Pixel devices since the Pixel 2 which was launched back in 2017. It stores cryptographic keys and ensures that the boot process is secure. In other words, it's there to make sure that your Pixel phone hasn't been tampered with and that the software you're using is genuine.

The Pixel 6 also has an updated version of the Titan chip, called the Titan M2. It is even more secure than the previous one and does a lot of things in front of and behind the scenes, so to speak.

So, what does all of this mean for you?

Well, it means that Pixel phones are among the most secure smartphones in the world. If security is a priority for you, then Pixel should definitely be your go-to choice.

Most common threats for Android users and how Pixel phones tackle them

Now that we know all about Pixel's security advantages on paper, it should be beneficial to see how they translate to the real world. Let's take a look at some of the most common threats for Android users and see how Pixel phones deal with them.

Vulnerability to malware

Malware is a big problem for Android users. In fact, it's one of the most common ways for people to get their devices compromised.

Pixel phones, as almost any other Android device, have access to Google Play Protect, which is a malware scanner for Android. It will scan any new app you install for signs of malicious behavior.

In other words, it's yet another layer of security that Pixel phones have that other Android devices don't.

Legacy apps and OS exploitation

Android is a very fragmented platform. This means that there are a lot of different versions of Android out there, all with different security features and levels of protection. This also means that there are a lot of devices running older or outdated versions of Android, which makes them much more vulnerable to attacks.

Pixel phones, on the other hand, always run the latest version of Android and they always get security updates in a timely manner. Pixel offers seamless updates, more user-friendly and easier to install, rather than what you get with some other devices.

Phishing attacks

Phishing is a type of attack where the attacker tries to trick the victim into giving them sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. They do this by sending them an email or a message that looks like it's from a legitimate source, but it's actually not.

Pixel phones have Google Safe Browsing built-in, which is a service that protects you from phishing attacks. It will warn you if you try to visit a site that's known to be malicious. It's an additional layer of protection.

Compromised OS

Thanks to Google Pixel verified boot, Pixel phones are much less likely to be compromised by a malicious actor. This is because the boot process is verified and signed by Google, checking the info against the records stored on the secure Titan chip, so if anything has been tampered with, the phone won't boot and your data won't face the risk of getting compromised.

This is a big advantage that Pixel phones have over other Android devices.

Have a more secure user experience on your Google Pixel with GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS is a privacy and security-focused mobile operating system for Pixel phones. Just Pixel phones!

It's the most secure mobile OS available today and provides a variety of features not found in other versions of Android. What's cool about GrapheneOS is that it is developed independently and you have a user-first approach. Read more about GrapheneOS in one of our posted blogs (Click here).

The base of GrapheneOS is the Android Open Source Project, so it's actually a modified version of Android, but with tweaks and improvements, aimed at making the device itself more secure and more robust.

One of the main features of GrapheneOS is that it's a Hardened OS. This means that the system has been designed to be more resistant to security exploits and vulnerabilities.

In addition, GrapheneOS also offers a number of other features such as:

A built-in password manager
A secure file sharing system
A VPN client

For a full list of features, you can check out our article and full in-depth guide on GrapheneOS (read more here). Furthermore, we have a very user-friendly install helper to aid in setting up this OS on your device. The GrapheneOS installer can be found here.

Conclusion

Google Pixel phones are among the most secure smartphones in the world. They have a lot of features that others can't offer, including security-oriented hardware and Google's very own software solutions for much more security.

Pixel phones offer a better overall user experience than other Android devices in this regard. If you're looking for a phone that will keep your data safe and secure, then Pixel is the way to go. Combine it with GrapheneOS and apps like Kraden, and you should have a better time and be much less exposed wherever you go online!