tech

Google Didn't Make The Pixel Smartphone, This Company Did

The company's name wasn't mentioned in the Pixel launch event.

Cover image via Android Central

Google has officially launched its much talked about line of smartphones - Pixel and Pixel XL - at a special event in San Francisco on Tuesday, 4 October

Image via Android Central

Both devices boast 4GB of RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, a fingerprint sensor, and a 12MP rear-facing camera. With the new smartphones, Google is taking on Apple's iPhone 7.

The California-based company claimed that the new devices were "designed and built by Google". The thing is, everything in the Pixel and Pixel XL is manufactured by HTC, not Google.

Image via CNET

Jeff Gordon, Senior Global Online Communications Manager at HTC confirmed to tech website Phone Arena via e-mail that the Pixel and Pixel XL were built by the Taiwanese phone manufacturer HTC.

But why didn't Google utter a single word about HTC during the launch event?

Image via Reuters

Google and HTC's relationship dates back to the original Android phone and the first Nexus phone, the Nexus One. However, while the Nexus One featured HTC's logo on the back (in addition to Google's logo), the Pixel and Pixel XL bear no trace of HTC branding whatsoever.

The Nexus One that was released in 2010.

Image via Arstehnica

The main reason there isn't a trace of HTC branding on the devices is because Google is in charge of everything, save for the manufacturing process.

"There is no HTC branding because this is a Google phone that brings together premium hardware by multiple partners to serve a best in class software experience for users," said a Google spokesman.

What does HTC have to say about the "silent treatment" given by Google?

Image via Livemint

According to CNET, HTC was more than happy to be part of the project and couldn't ask for anything else.

"We're proud that when Google needed an industry-leading partner for the Pixel, HTC was the clear answer," said HTC spokesman Jeff Gordon.

This isn't something out of the blue in the phone industry. Foxconn, also a Taiwanese phone manufacturer, builds Apple's iPhones.

A Foxconn employee packing boxes of iPhones.

Image via iSource

Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, has been building Apple products including iPad, MacBook, and iPhone for a number of years.

Google's highly anticipated Pixel smartphones are set to be one of the best devices of this year:

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