Google's new flagship phones are actually manufactured by HTC. But given that Google closely supervised its design and make, it is a Google phone through and through. However, it is also obvious that the Pixel phones is Google's attempt to make a phone that looks and feels a lot like an iPhone on a whole new level.

Pixel VS iPhone 7: The similarities

First off, Pixel is as expensive as the iPhone 7 during its launch in San Francisco at $649. Before Pixel series, Google made affordable smartphones with the best of Google experience. Both phones have similar process for the manufacturing too. Both are U.S. devices, but they outsource hardware to China and Taiwan.

Also, both Apple and Google decided to focus on camera performance among their phone's many features. For iPhone, it's the new portrait mode that did it. For Pixel, it's the 12.3 megapixel rear camera dubbed the "best smartphone camera ever" with a score of 89 from DxOMark, three points higher than iPhone 7's rating of 86.

Pixel might hurt Samsung more than Apple

The phrase "Made by Google" during the Pixel launch is a reminder though that the iPhone 7 and Pixel are polar opposite. One has the iOS which is practically built for iPhones and another one has the Android software that many smartphone manufacturers use nowadays.

It is the very problem that Pixel has to face. Google might want to take the banner of leading the smartphone market. But instead of targeting Apple, the company is sharing the market with Samsung with its Android smartphones.

Obviously, Google is pretty smart with regards to its competition. The new Pixels look like they are a mirror of an iPhone device given their hardware and stylish make. But the software is pure Android which is in competition with Samsung.

So far, this puts Google in a stiff competition between the two largest smartphone makers in the market today.