What was the first Google Pixel phone released?

The first Google Pixel phone released was the Pixel.

Google announced the original Pixel, alongside the larger Pixel XL, on October 4, 2016, at its Made by Google hardware event. The Pixel replaced the Nexus smartphone line and represented Google’s stronger move toward designing and marketing its own complete smartphone experience. Both models were manufactured by HTC under contract and went on sale in the United States on October 20, 2016.

The Pixel launched with Android 7.1 Nougat and featured Google Assistant integration, a fingerprint sensor called Pixel Imprint, and a 12.3-megapixel rear camera enhanced by Google’s HDR+ image processing. Google also promoted unlimited full-resolution photo backups for the device through Google Photos.

“Pixel” can be confusing because Google had already used the Pixel name for products such as the Chromebook Pixel. In smartphone history, however, the original Pixel means the 2016 Pixel and Pixel XL generation. The Pixel 2 followed in 2017, while Nexus refers to the earlier Google-partnered phone family.