Google Pixel review: Assistant, camera add up to a winner

Columnist Ed Baig reviews Pixel, which features the high-IQ Google Assistant and a competitive, high-end smartphone camera. NEW YORK--Google's new Pixel phones should be on a smartphone shopper's shortlist -- and not just for those disheartened by Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 recall. Pixel is a winner for anyone looking for an excellent phone. Start with cameras that are at the very least on par with the terrific cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7 that represent its main competition. Add the baked-in voice-enabled Google Assistant, Google's answer to Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana and Amazon's Alexa, where another battleground is poised to take place.