The Pixel’s digital camera bar is right here to remain, and that’s an excellent factor

You can spot an Apple iPhone from 20 paces away. I wager you’d be capable to inform a Samsung Galaxy from that distance, too. Yet, till final yr, a Google cellphone didn’t have an attention-grabbing design language all its personal.

But this week, Google revealed that its most distinctive, in-your-face design ingredient ever is right here to remain. Not solely did it function on final yr’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro — and can seem on the Pixel 6A this July as effectively — however Google has additionally already proven us a fair bolder, harder-hitting model will jut proper out of this fall’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

I’m speaking, in fact, concerning the digital camera bar.

Or, as Dieter Bohn jokingly known as it earlier than he coincidentally left us to work for Google: the “shelf.”

Whatever you name it, it’s instantly divisive: this factor jutting out the again of your cellphone. But that’s how we initially noticed Apple’s iPhone notch, too, or its ugly white earbuds. I’m sufficiently old to recollect when its authentic candy-colored translucent iMac G3 was ridiculed for trying like a toy. But all of these bizarre designs grew to become iconic strengths for followers (and ads) to rally round. (Heck, we even get nostalgic for clear devices nowadays.)

And it doesn’t damage that Google’s digital camera bar has a few of that playfulness, too. Where Apple and Samsung’s multi-eyed digital camera arrays initially regarded a bit insect-like, the Google digital camera bar has extra of a robotic, R2-D2-esque look — becoming for the corporate behind Android.

I’m not saying Google didn’t have a design language earlier than the Pixel 6, nevertheless it felt borrowed slightly than new. Originally, in fact, Google didn’t design Android telephones in any respect. The T-Mobile G1 and Nexus One had been from HTC; the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus had been from Samsung; the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and Nexus 5X had been from LG; the Nexus 6 got here from Motorola; and the Nexus 6P was a Huawei cellphone.

Aside from giving half these telephones a horizontal “Nexus” wordmark, solely the LG telephones had any frequent design language in any respect.

All of that modified with the Google Pixel in 2016. But not essentially for the higher as a result of Google was gunning for the iPhone proper from the beginning. We famous that the unique Pixel regarded approach an excessive amount of like an iPhone, solely with the fingerprint sensor divot of a Nexus 5X and {a partially} glass again — not unhealthy, that two-tone glass, however not likely a particular look you’d acknowledge from throughout the road.

Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

Rather than get extra distinctive, Google wound up eradicating an increasing number of glass every year, save the Pixel 4’s all-glass again. Then, the Pixel 4 failed, Google pivoted cheaper, and the glass disappeared altogether in 2019.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

It additionally most likely doesn’t assist that in late 2019 / early 2020, Apple and Google and Samsung all settled on the squircle as their digital camera corral of alternative. Oops! While Samsung shortly discovered a approach out by mixing its digital camera stumble upon the S21 metallic rail, Google’s telephones wound up trying extra like low-rent iPhones than ever… till the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro lastly arrived final October with the digital camera bar in tow.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

There’s nothing low-rent concerning the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, and even the brand new Pixel 6A isn’t ditching that premium look — although it does have a “3D thermoformed composite back” as an alternative of the Gorilla Glass you’ll discover on pricier fashions.

Image: Google

But the factor that ties all of it collectively is that digital camera bar. It’s the centerpiece (that isn’t technically centered as a result of lifeless middle can be a dumb place to place a digital camera). It’s the function that now provides Google’s Pixels an precise silhouette as an alternative of simply being yet one more rounded rectangle. It’s the road dividing the 2 tones of Google’s two-tone design language for all the Pixel household.

Here’s the brand new Pixel household portrait, so you possibly can see what I imply:

Image: Google

Except… wait, what the heck? What is THAT?

Angry, ugly arrows by Sean Hollister / The Verge

Oh Google, what have you ever completed now… you promised!

I’m so, so sorry, everybody.