The Pixel and Pixel XL aren’t water resistant because Google “ran out of time”
A lot of people were a bit up in arms regarding the IP rating (or lack thereof) for the Pixel and Pixel XL. The devices are rated at IP53, which practically means that your $600 device could end up fried if it gets caught in a rain storm.
In a podcast from WIRED, it was revealed that the reason for this was because Google simply “ran out of time”. The company was already in the process of manufacturing its own phone for the first time, but decided to change things up and began working on the Pixel and Pixel XL.
The problem with this is all about the timing. The podcast explains that Google scrapped its previous smartphone plans around the end of 2015, leaving the company with roughly 9 months to design and manufacture two brand new devices.
With IP ratings becoming increasingly important to users, it’s a little upsetting that Google decided to cut corners on this one. Hopefully, the next Pixel rendition provides a higher IP rating, but in the meantime, just make sure that you don’t go dunking your Pixel in a bowl of water for more than a few seconds.
[WIRED]