Google Pixel and Pixel XL Are Not Waterproof Because Company ‘Ran out of Time’

BY Rajesh Pandey

Published 24 Oct 2016

Google Pixel XL

For their price, one of the biggest disappointments with the Pixel and Pixel XL is their lack of any kind of waterproofing. All other flagship phones that are priced on the same level as the Pixel and Pixel XL like the Galaxy S7 edge and iPhone 7 feature an IP67 or higher rating that makes them resistant to dust and water.

The Pixels, however, only come with an IP53 rating that makes them splashproof and resistant to water damage when sprayed from a certain angle.

Now, responding to a question on the lack of waterproofing on the Pixels from WIRED’s David Pierce, Google simply said that it “ran out of time.” Pierce reveals in his review that the Pixel and Pixel XL had an unusually short development time for a smartphone.

While most OEMs take anywhere between two to three years from designing to manufacturing their phones, Google designed and started manufacturing the Pixels — with the help of HTC — in just “nine months and a week.” This was because the company had originally abandoned its original plans for the phone at the end of 2015 and started afresh.

Despite their lack of waterproofing, the Pixels have received highly positive reviews, with reviewers (even us!) recommending the handset if you have the money to spare.

[Via Wired Podcast]