Google’s Pixel Phones Now Supported by Project Fi

Google is shaking up the cellphone world with the release of its new Pixel phone, the first to drop the Nexus branding and be presented as a purely “Google” phone (though HTC is the company’s unofficial manufacturing partner).

The devices, available as the five-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL, are also available on Verizon, but people are most excited about the opportunity for a purely Google phone experience on Project Fi. The cell service has been available for more than a year now, receiving praise for its competitive and flexible pricing as well as its WiFi preference technology and availability around the world.

Unlike other carriers, Project Fi is supported in more than 135 countries, meaning you won’t have to switch out your SIM card. Before Google’s announcement earlier this month, the only phones supported by Project Fi were the Nexus 5x and 6p. The introduction of Pixel means users will get a purely Google experience, now that the company has a network and hardware to match its Android software.

Now available for pre-order, both versions are equipped with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 821 chip, 4GB or RAM and a highly-rated 12-megapixel rear camera (in addition to an eight-megapixel camera on the front). The phones are available in silver, blue and black, offering 32 or 128 GB of storage.

Google also unveiled a number of other new products, including Daydream, a new VR headset; the new Chromecast Ultra for 4k video; a WiFi router; and Google Assistant, the company’s ambitious new artificial intelligence software.