Most of us don’t realize that Google’s been behind some of the best moderately priced Androids of the past several years. It’s partly on purpose. In the past, the tech giant has collaborated with smartphone manufacturers like LG and Huawei. While a company like LG is responsible for the hardware, Google packed these phones with their latest software updates. Now, Google wants to do it all, and they’ve done it with the Pixel line. The flagship is replacing the old Nexus line as the first mobile made completely by Google.

The XL is suited up with internal specs befitting of a high-end Google phone. It comes outfitted with the latest Android Nougat 7.1 software, and it’s the first phone to receive this updated operating system. It’s paired with the latest Snapdragon 821 processor and up to 4GB of RAM. As a result, it’s more than powerful enough to run all of your favorite apps — and a few that are sure to become your new ones.

Case in point: its virtual assistant. It’s an extension of the existing Google Now, and the tech company is calling it the future of AI. In layman’s terms, it’s an enhanced version of Apple’s Siri, but once you try it out for yourself, you’ll realize the two hardly compare. It excels in conversational exchanges, using contextual clues to follow a two-way dialogue between you and your phone. It can be customized to provide information and news for your local and favorite areas, and you can give it permission to connect with other apps and profiles so you can send messages and receive reminders of upcoming appointments. All you have to do is say, “Ok, Google” and you’re started.

The Assistant makes it a convenient tool when you’re off travelling in in faraway parts of the world. If you need to speak with someone who doesn’t share a common language, your virtual assistant will give out instant translations that let the conversation flow naturally.

dbrand-xl-skins

These new conversations and destinations give XL owners a need to protect their phones. Decals, which also go by skins or wraps, are a great way to keep travel and daily use from damaging your phone. When made by the designers at dbrand, these XL decals can provide unparalleled coverage and style. While protecting the droid from wear and tear, dbrand skins for the Pixel XL let you customize the look of your phone with imaginative colors and finishes. The top skin XL owners can get vary from person to person, as the ideal texture is an individual choice. Whether you go for a carbon fiber skin or a natural stone wrap for your XL, its texture will give it extra grip — which means you’ll keep it in your hands and away from the floor wherever your travels take you.

Once you get your hands on the XL, you won’t mourn for the old Nexus line. Better in every way, the newest Android from Google is worth the high-end price. Check out how it compares to the rest of 2016’s top smartphones, and make sure you try out its virtual AI. Just say, “Ok, Google” and ask help finding the best skins by dbrand.