Google’s New Pixel Devices Are Ugly As Sin, But I’ll Still Get One

Google’s new Pixel devices were leaked ahead of their grand unveiling planned for October 4th. The Phones would be the second in Google’s new “Pixel” line of high-end smartphones. The original Pixels set the new standard for how a smartphone camera should work, and also had a pretty gnarly, but manageable design. The new phones will have to capitalize on that momentum, but they’ll also have to overcome adversity out the gate. If the leaks are proven to be true, Google is about to release some of the ugliest phones of the year.

First pictured on Droid Life, the designs on the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will leave A LOT to be desired. The standard Pixel will have three different colors (Kinda Blue, Black, and a hybrid panda Black and White) while the Pixel XL 2 will only have two (Black, and Panda). The most striking thing about both of these phones is that they look unapologetically square. As more and more manufacturers are moving towards more curved phones with rounded edges, Google appears to be building actual bricks. And don’t get me started on that super awkward Black and White color way (which I’m oddly falling for).

Thankfully for me, I’m never one to be 100% sold on appearance alone. I just like my phones to work, and work well. One of my favorite things from the Pixel phones last year was the seamless integration of the software and hardware. Everything just seemed to click. On top of providing some of the best software with Android 7.0, the Pixels also gave us the best camera on a smartphone ever. So good, that it is STILL being praised as the best photo experience on a smartphone almost a year later.

With Google already telling smartphone owners to “ask more of their smartphone” while teasing the next generation of Pixel devices. Early leaks suggest the new crop of Pixels will be powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 to 6GB of RAM, and will come in 64 or 128GB configurations. If Google can maintain the quality of or even improve on it, they will have an easier time luring customers away from the iPhone X.

So, here we are…. Two weeks away from the official unveiling of the next Pixel devices. If looks alone had to sell the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, I’d have to take a strong pass on either handset. Thankfully, I’m expecting much more flash and function from the Google event, so I’ll save final judgement for after that happens. Until then, I’m gonna hope that Google has some really big plans for the new Pixels.