(San Francisco=e4ds) Google unveiled two types of smartphones, "Pixel" and "Pixel XL," at a new product launch event held in San Francisco on the 4th (local time). Google's new products, configured with 5-inch and 5.5-inch (Pixel XL) display sizes, can operate for 7 hours with a 15-minute charge, and secure a wider viewing angle by using a 12-megapixel sensor and f/2.0 lens. A gyroscope sensor has been integrated to enable more stable 4K video recording. The AP is reported to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821, and the memory is equipped with 4GB.

Notably, Google's announcement of the "Pixel" smartphone is significant in its adoption of Android 7.1, which indicates it will serve as the reference device for the proprietary VR platform DayDream announced at the developer conference in May. Google's DayDream, as announced in May, appears unlikely to receive support from existing Android phones. This is expected to become a differentiating point from existing Android phones using OS versions prior to 7.1, such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 7.
Google's newly launched smartphone is locally priced at "Pixel" $649 (approximately 720,000 KRW) and "Pixel XL" $769 (approximately 853,000 KRW), placing it in the premium phone category alongside existing offerings from Samsung, LG, and Apple. This is anticipated to create a new competitive landscape in the smartphone market going forward.