Google’s Pixel phone represents the company’s attempt to take the phone market seriously and as such, many questioned whether they’d be able to root the device when it launches.
But the big G has now alleviated fans’ concerns by confirming users will indeed be able to root the Pixel phone.
Speaking to WonderHowTo, a spokesperson for the company said: “Yes, Pixel owners who purchased the device from the Google store will be able to root their devices. Pixel phones purchased from the Google store will ship with an unlockable bootloader.”
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Of course, until there’s a working root method the Pixel phone will remain unrooted, but we don’t expect it to take long for developers to create such a method.
In the US, carrier Verizon is offering the handset with a locked bootloader, so if you’re stateside and looking to root the Pixel phone when you get your hands on it, make sure to order through the Google Store and not Verizon.
The Google spokesperson went on to explain more about OTA upates, adding: “Rooting involves modifying partitions on the phone. If the partitions are modified the OTA will fail to apply.”
With an AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 821 chip, and Android 7.1 Nougat, the Pixel phone, which comes in both a standard and larger ‘XL’ version, is set to be one of the most powerful phones of 2016.
It’s also the first ‘Daydream-ready’ handset, meaning it will work with Google’s new Daydream VR platform to offer a new range of virtual experiences.
In the UK, you can pre-order the phone now starting at £599.99, ahead of its official release on October 26.
WATCH: Pixel phone hands-on
Let us know if you’ll be rooting the Pixel when you get your hands on it in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
