Background and Identification
While “Google Phone” could refer to any phone running Google’s Android OS, this page corresponds specifically to phones that were designed and developed by Google.
Google’s Nexus is a line of Android OS smartphones that was designed, marketed, and supported by Google, but would be manufactured by other major smartphone manufacturers. The first was released in 2010, the Nexus One, and was manufactured by HTC, which had already developed a relationship with the Android platform after working on the HTC Dream and HTC Magic. The Nexus would go on to be manufactured by Samsung, with the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus; LG, with the Nexus 4, 5, and 5X; Motorola, with the Nexus 6; and Huawei, with the Nexus 6P.
Nexuses typically came branded with the word “Nexus” printed on the back of the phone, usually along with the manufacturer’s logo. This makes identification a bit more straightforward, as you can narrow down your device to two or three possibilities based on the manufacturer. If you have a Nexus Smartphone not listed above, we might still have repair documentation for it listed under its manufacturer.
In 2016, Google moved the manufacturing in-house, and released the first Pixel phone. The Pixel’s initial selling points were an industry leading 12 megapixel camera and an unlockable bootloader when purchased directly from Google. The Pixel continues to be Google’s flagship line and is their only current offering in the smartphone market.
Pixel phones can be identified by a Google “G” logo printed on the back of the phone.
Additional Information
Google’s Smartphone Product Page
All Google Smartphones on GSMarena