Pixel XL vs HTC 10 review
Two phones made from the same DNA. Which is better?
The Pixel and Pixel XL mark the first time Google has taken the design, engineering and testing wholly in house. If we didn't know better we'd wager there's an HTC A9 inside. After all, HTC did build the thing.
Bearing these similarities in mind, how does the Pixel XL compare with another of 2016's firebrands, the HTC 10? We thought we'd find out.
Dimensions and design
Google Pixel XL: 154.7x75.7x8.5mm, 168g, USB Type-C
HTC 10: 146x72x9mm, 161g, USB Type-C
If you hadn't noticed, our duo are more than just a little alike. Both are crafted almost entirely from aluminium and glass, and have the same two-tone brushed metal finish. It's hardly surprising considering HTC served as the puppet master behind Google's first phone proper.
The Pixel even mimics the HTC's antenna lines, save for the polished glass 'window' that takes up about a third of the rear. This area houses the phone's 12.3MP camera and fingerprint sensor.
Now here's the funny thing. Despite the Pixel XL's sizable dimensions - 154.7x75.7x8.5mm and 168g - the HTC 10 looks and feels heavier at 145.9x71.9x9mm and 161g.
HTC certainly hasn't shouted about it, but the HTC 10 actually has resistance to the IP53 standard, which is more commonly referred to as rain protection.
Each incorporates a fingerprint sensor into the design. The HTC 10 opts for the more traditional placement on the front bezel, and the Pixel XL locates it on the rear. Both offer high levels of accuracy and responsiveness.
Unlike the Pixel, the HTC 10 is able to take advantage of expandable storage. But instead of combining the two, it places the SIM and microSD slots on opposite sides. Textured power buttons and volume controls live on the right of each handset. Elsewhere you'll find headphone sockets on the top edge, and USB Type-C ports on the bottom.
Winner: Draw
Display
Google Pixel XL: 5.5in 2560x1440, 534ppi
HTC 10: 5.2in Super LCD, 2560x1440 resolution at 564ppi
Aside from the small difference in panel size, there's not an awful lot between the two. The Pixel XL uses a 5.5in LCD panel that outputs 2,560x1,440 pixels, and the HTC 10's 5.2in Super LCD display offers the same Quad HD resolution.
Put the two phones side by side and the Pixel is clearly the brighter of the two. Both handsets exhibit an abundance of colour that helps with viewing angles, even in the full glare of the sun. Neither exhibits Samsung's heightened levels of pop, but colours are rich and vivid and sharpness makes text extra crisp.
The Pixel XL uses the newer Gorilla Glass 4 as opposed to the Gorilla Glass 3 on the HTC 10.
Winner: Draw
Pixel XL vs HTC 10 review
Two phones made from the same DNA. Which is better?
Hardware and performance
Google Pixel XL: Snapdragon 821, quad-core 2x 2.15GHz and 2x 1.6GHz, 4GB of RAM
HTC 10: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, quad-core 2x 2.15GHz and 2x 1.6GHz, 4GB of RAM
The Pixel XL uses the newer Snapdragon 821 which is built on the same 14nm FinFET process as the Snapdragon 820, but is said to afford speed increases of up to 10 per cent. The 821 includes two 2.15GHz and two 1.6GHz processors.
Our benchmarks didn't entirely corroborate these claims and provided a confused picture overall.
Using Antutu the Pixel XL scored 139,503, while the HTC 10 came in slightly less at 134,347.
During our Geekbench 4 testing the Pixel XL scored 1,543 single-core and 4,086 multi-core. Whereas the HTC 10 wins in the single-core stakes with 1,717, while the 3,745 multi-core score is lower.
In a turning of the tables, the Pixel XL's PCMark work performance ranks lower at 4,480 vs the HTC's 5,907.
So even when using the same core clocks, the Pixel XL sometimes comes in slower. But at the same time we can't solely rely on numbers as the newer chipset may benefit the handset in other ways.
Our HTC 10 certainly runs hotter than its competition, and that metal exterior is prone to heating up when put under load or running updates. It's nothing to worry about, but we thought it worth a mention.
The HTC 10 is definitely serious when it comes to audio. It has a new iteration of HTC's BoomSound (this time a 'Hi-Fi Edition') that uses a speaker next to the phone's front-facing camera and one hidden behind a grille to crank out a pleasing noise.
Plus there's support for Hi-Res audio, so if you plug in a pair of cans to the double-powered headphone amplifier you'll be treated to professional level sound quality (24-bit, 96KHz). It's a trick sorely missing from the Pixel XL.
Winner: HTC 10
Storage
Google Pixel XL: 32GB/128GB
HTC 10: 32GB/64GB, microSD (up to 2TB)
The Pixel XL is available in a bigger 128GB capacity, but the HTC 10 can be expanded via microSD to a whopping 2TB. This is impressive enough, but the handset also supports adoptable storage which allows any external storage to be viewed as one with your phone's internal storage.
Instead of expandable storage Google's phone offers unlimited free online space for photos and videos via Google Photos. Google Photos will store everything in original (highest) quality, and that includes 4K video.
HTC 10 owners can also opt in to a promotion offering 100GB of additional online storage for two years via Google Drive.
Winner: HTC 10
Pixel XL vs HTC 10 review
Two phones made from the same DNA. Which is better?
Cameras
Google Pixel XL: 12.3MP rear-facing, f/2.0, EIS, 8MP front-facing
HTC 10: 12MP UltraPixel rear-facing, f/1.8, OIS, 5MP front-facing
For all the claims, HTC's UltraPixel technology has never lived up to its promise. The HTC 10 uses a second-generation HTC UltraPixel sensor, this time with a 12MP camera at f/1.8, which manages to pack in 1.55µm per pixel thereby absorbing more light.
On the flipside, the Pixel XL has a 12.3MP sensor with a slightly smaller f/2.0 aperture and the same 1.55µm pixel size. In looks alone the Pixel's camera is unassuming and sits flush with the chassis, while the HTC's is a more prominent affair. And although we're talking fractions of a second, the Pixel is quicker to open.
In our experience at least, all that talk of UltraPixels doesn't result in better images. In low light the HTC 10's efforts are disappointing, with the building seemingly stripped of detail (below, bottom).
The HTC 10 fares a lot better with the Frank Pick commemoration which, despite being subject to artificial lighting, does a really good job of capturing the scene. The definition still isn't as sharp as the Pixel XL's efforts mind (below, top).
In both sample images, the HTC 10 appears to lean heavily on the yellow.
Despite patching the phone to the latest build, we were still hounded by the HTC 10 laser autofocus blocked error. This is irksome, especially when our hands are nowhere near the camera.
Winner: Pixel XL
Pixel XL vs HTC 10 review
Two phones made from the same DNA. Which is better?
Operating system
Google Pixel XL: Android 7.1 Nougat
HTC 10: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with HTC Sense
Alongside the UltraPixel camera and BoomSound upgrade, HTC made quite a noise about the freestyle layout introduced with the latest version of HTC Sense.
The layout allows you to arrange apps and widgets exactly where you want and not be constrained by Android's conventional grid system. It's a great idea in theory, but the poor implementation sadly takes away from the promised benefits.
HTC worked with Google to create a purer Android experience which happily does away with the usual chaff, and if it wasn't for the inclusion of the Pixel Launcher interface on the Google phone it'd be difficult to spot the difference between the experiences on either handset.
The Pixel XL improves on Android Marshmallow offered on the HTC 10, replacing it with the latest Android 7.1 Nougat update. You're also treated to the new Google Assistant, plus the Allo and Duo messaging apps.
Google's AI-powered Assistant is a fun addition, but with its ability to send messages, open apps, make calls, set timers, check the calendar, grab the news, provide weather reports, and play music (as long as it's through Play Music), we'd wager it's not essential.
The HTC 10 should receive an upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat in the near future.
Winner: Pixel XL
Battery
Pixel XL: 3,450mAh
HTC 10: 3,000mAh
The Pixel XL's Snapdragon 821 is said to deliver a five per cent increase in power efficiency. It certainly works some magic as we repeatedly entered a second day of use, and our best was one day and 13 hours.
In comparison, the HTC 10 ably entered a second day of use on the original charge.
It's also worth calling out HTC's Boost+ app which is made up of tools designed to boost performance. Smart boost automatically clears your memory and battery booster, and limits games to outputting at 1080P (a reduction from the standard resolution).
Winner: Pixel XL
Price
At the time of writing a 32GB Pixel XL (SIM-free) costs £719, rising to £819 for the larger 128GB. The Google Phone is available in Quite Black or Very Silver.
The 32GB HTC 10 can be snapped up for just £499 (SIM-free) from Carphone Warehouse. There's a choice of Gold, Silver or Grey.
Summary
The Pixel XL and HTC 10 are made from the same DNA and for that reason, putting one over the other is a somewhat tricky task.
The two phones are fairly evenly matched in most departments, and when one does get a leg up it's only by the slightest of margins (camera notwithstanding).
On the other hand, the HTC 10 has killer audio, something which the Pixel can't replicate, and costs around £200 less than Google's supersized effort. The HTC 10 also succeeds on storage, so it might be worth questioning how soon you're likely to run out of space when making your decision.