Pixel + Pixel XL versus Nexus 5X + 6P: Google's new phones compared, to scale

As reported yesterday, we now have the first official-looking renders of Google's new Pixel phones, thanks to leaker Evan Blass. No surprise: Both the 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL look basically identical. In fact, the change in wallpaper is more noticeable than the difference in size, when viewed individually.

However, with a bit of simple math, it's easy to put these two alongside each other in context, since we know the relative screen sizes. So here you go — here's how Google's two new phones should look relative to each other. (Note that the phones are only to-scale relative to each other. Obviously they'll all appear larger or smaller than real life depending on the size of your screen.)

Pixel and Pixel XL

For greater context, here're 2016's Pixel phones next to the previous year's Nexus 5X and 6P — once again, to scale.

Left-to-right: Pixel (5.0-inch), Nexus 5X (5.2-inch), Pixel XL (5.5-inch), Nexus 6P (5.7-inch). Click to enlarge.

This year's Google phones are each smaller than their immediate predecessors, with the regular Pixel sitting below the 5X and the XL below the 6P. What's most striking here is how the Pixel XL's footprint isn't actually much bigger than the 5X, despite the substantial increase in screen size.

Specs won't be confirmed until launch day, but here's a comparison of what we're expecting, based on the most reliable leaks so far.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CategoryGoogle PixelNexus 5XGoogle Pixel XLNexus 6P
Operating SystemAndroid 7.1 with Google UIAndroid 7.0Android 7.1 with Google UIAndroid 7.0
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 821Qualcomm Snapdragon 808Qualcomm Snapdragon 821Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
RAM4GB2GB4GB3GB
Display5-inch AMOLED 1920x10805.2-inch LCD 1920x10805.5-inch AMOLED 2560x14405.7-inch AMOLED 2560x1440
Camera12MP rear, 8MP front12MP rear, 5MP front12MP rear, 8MP front12MP rear, 8MP front
Battery2,770mAh non-removable2,700mAh non-removable3,450mAh non-removable3,450mAh non-removable
ConnectivityUSB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2
FingerprintYesYesYesYes
Storage32GB/128GB16/32GB32GB/128GB32/64/128GB
IP ratingIP53N/AIP53N/A
Alex Dobie
Executive Editor

Alex was with Android Central for over a decade, producing written and video content for the site, and served as global Executive Editor from 2016 to 2022.

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