The Pixel 7’s colors make me wish Google brought back Moto Maker

You’ve in all probability heard it one million instances already however I’ll complain about it once more — smartphone design has grow to be a bit boring. That’s very true within the flagship house, the place producers appear to suppose that larger costs benefit subdued colours — devoid of any enjoyable or playful appeal. Google has traditionally been one of many few remaining holdouts on this regard. Nonetheless, the colour choices for this yr’s Pixel 7 and seven Professional have left me wanting. Greater than that, they’ve me wishing Google would simply carry again the Moto Maker design studio and let me customise my very own smartphone.

Apart from black and white this yr, you may get the Pixel 7 in Lemongrass and Pixel 7 Professional in Hazel. Nonetheless, I don’t suppose both of those is as daring because the Kinda Coral of the Pixel 6 or as quirky because the Purple-ish of the Pixel 3a. And in contrast to a number of generations in the past, there’s nonetheless no accented energy button. Worse nonetheless, the Pixel’s signature dual-tone look has disappeared this yr too.

However this isn’t the primary time we’ve seen this occur. Wanting again on the previous few entries within the Pixel collection, it virtually appears as if Google oscillates between eye-catching and subdued colours yearly.

The Pixel 5 changed the intense Oh So Orange of the Pixel 4 with a muted Sorta Sage shade. A yr later, Google gave us an assortment of colours with the Pixel 6, solely to take them away with the Pixel 7 as soon as once more. These are odd selections, particularly when you think about that the corporate has carried out its finest to affiliate its {hardware} with enjoyable colours over time. I nonetheless envy the beautiful deep blue shade of the first-generation Pixel. Even the Chromecast that’s meant to sit down behind your TV is on the market in additional playful shades than the Pixel 7 collection.

Now, I do know I don’t converse for everybody. In a latest Android Authority ballot, over 50% of our readers mentioned they appreciated Google’s shade decisions for the Pixel 7 collection. Solely 24% of respondents expressed disappointment, whereas one other 20% mentioned they have been detached. That mentioned, many commenters agreed that black and white aren’t actually distinctive decisions, leaving simply Hazel or Lemongrass relying on the mannequin you select.

For others, smartphone skins negate the argument for shade selection completely. However I’m inclined to disagree. The Pixel 7 and seven Professional function glass backs that give the telephone a premium, reflective look. Protecting that up with a pores and skin appears like taking a step again. Even should you suppose glass makes the telephone slick, utilizing a transparent case eliminates that downside with out hiding the telephone’s magnificence beneath. And that brings me to what I want Google would carry again from the useless: an internet Moto Maker-esque software that lets me customise my telephone earlier than I purchase it.

See additionally: The most effective Pixel 7 Professional instances you should purchase

Almost a decade has handed, however I nonetheless bear in mind how straightforward it was to spend hours on the Moto Maker web site arising with enjoyable, quirky, and downright ridiculous combos for the Moto X. It gave you an identical feeling of satisfaction as customizing your character in a online game. Along with choosing the telephone’s shade and accents, you might additionally engrave textual content on the again and add a customized greeting to the boot display screen. However maybe my favourite function was the flexibility to pick out a distinct materials for the again. Pure supplies like wooden and leather-based aged fantastically with use and would develop a novel patina over time.

As we speak, Samsung is carrying Moto Maker’s legacy with its Bespoke Version Galaxy Z Flip 4 however the decisions are nowhere close to as exhaustive. You’ll be able to solely decide particular person colours for the metallic body and two glass panels — that’s it. Nonetheless, an interview with Samsung’s design crew revealed that limiting choices was an intentional resolution to forestall overwhelming patrons. The corporate additionally admitted that it realized lots about shade preferences by listening to its millennial and Gen Z patrons. For instance, Samsung’s higher administration was hesitant so as to add yellow as one of many shade choices, however ultimately relented when the survey outcomes rolled in. Finally, yellow and blue ended up being one of many best-selling shade combos within the US.

Whereas I’d prefer to see a full-fledged return of Moto Maker sometime, I’d even be prepared to simply accept Samsung’s restricted customization on a Google smartphone. Hopefully, we’d additionally give you the option choose two totally different shades and convey again the Pixel’s signature dual-tone look. Right here’s what the beloved Pixel 2 XL’s “panda” shade scheme may appear to be on a contemporary Pixel, courtesy of a mockup by Twitter person Jonas Daehnert. The probabilities can be limitless.

As a lot as I want Google would introduce customization, although, I do know it in all probability isn’t going to occur anytime quickly. World availability has by no means been the Pixel collection’ robust swimsuit (although fortunately it’s higher this time round) and customizable orders would solely additional that downside. Apart from, it didn’t work too properly for Motorola both. Regardless that the corporate opened a manufacturing facility within the US completely for last meeting, ordering a personalized Moto X as a substitute of a typical one elevated the supply time by a couple of week.

The Bespoke Version Galaxy Z Flip 4 takes longer nonetheless from order to supply — as much as a month, in accordance with Samsung’s web site. Simply final month, we realized that Google was contemplating shifting some Pixel manufacturing from China to Vietnam and India, however that’s nonetheless fairly removed from western shores. Most individuals merely gained’t be prepared to attend that lengthy if they will decide up one thing else at a retailer or have it delivered to their doorstep inside two days. Then once more, that’s the price of a telephone that’s made completely for you.

However maybe the most important purpose why we gained’t see a Moto Maker-inspired customizable Pixel is Google’s latest zeal for effectivity. Earlier in 2022, the corporate canceled at the least seven “moonshot” tasks that had unsure prospects of profitability. A customizable smartphone would in all probability fall squarely in that class, on condition that Google reportedly hasn’t bought greater than 10 million items of a single Pixel era to this point. Samsung foldable gross sales alone, in the meantime, surpassed 10 million in 2021. A customizable version solely actually makes monetary sense if the Pixel 7 is already flying off the cabinets — it’s a little bit of a chicken-and-egg downside.