8 years of Pixel: How the Google phone changed the industry
From AI to updates, you've got the Google Pixel series to thank for many of Android's best accolades.
![8 years of Pixel: How the Google phone changed the industry](https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Google-Pixel-vs-Google-Pixel-8-Pro.jpg)
The original Google Pixel launched in 2016 — that’s eight years ago, for those of you who aren’t already suffering an existential crisis. The smartphone industry looked a lot different back then, and it’s safe to say that the Pixel lineup, although still not quite a global force, has been instrumental in shaping the smartphone space as it is today, from flagship powerhouses to bargain budget models.
With the Pixel 9 series fast approaching, it’s time to appreciate just how far the series has come and the effect it’s had on the broader smartphone landscape.