The Pixel and Pixel XL aren't waterproof because Google 'ran out of time'

Google’s latest smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL, may lack waterproofing because Google didn’t have enough time to properly integrate it. In a podcast from WIRED, David Pierce – who reviewed the Pixel for the tech site – shared some inside information regarding the water-resistant properties of the handset.

According to Pierce, when he asked Google why its phone isn’t waterproof, its response was, rather simply: “We ran out of time”.

Pierce states that the development cycle for the smartphone was uncharacteristically short, reportedly “nine months and a week” from design to launch, as Google abandoned its original plans for the phone at the end of 2015.

While it’s interesting to learn that Google potentially did want to pursue waterproofing – like found on modern flagships such as the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 – the development of any million-selling consumer product is likely to come with tight deadlines. Whether this means Google should be commended for what it achieved with the Pixels or lambasted for failing to deliver a premium smartphone feature, I’ll leave up to you to decide.

The Pixel and Pixel XL instead feature IP53 certification for dust and water resistance, meaning they can withstand splashes of water but not submersion. If you want to see our thoughts after 48 hours with the Pixel XL, hit the link.