Given the choice, would you rather spend a few hundred bucks on a prototype phone or an actual commercial unit? Most people would rather pay to get a phone that’s working as intended, but we get it. There are some folks out there, like enthusiasts, fans, or collectors, who wouldn’t mind owning a prototype device. If that’s you, then you might want to check out this eBay auction for a Google Pixel prototype .
Google Pixel prototype spotted on eBay
In an eBay listing by user MyWorldPlz, they are selling a rare 1st generation Google Pixel prototype . The fact that these prototypes exist doesn’t come as a surprise. After all, Google probably created a bunch of them for internal testing purposes, but for some reason, one of them slipped out into the wild. In fact, you can see in the photos that on the back of the phone, it clearly states that this phone is not for sale and that it is the property of Google.
For the most part, the device looks like it’s in relatively good condition. There are some scuff marks on the back of the phone, but other than that, it’s fair. Right now, the phone is listed for $113.61. However, with 8 days to go, we wouldn’t be surprised if the price were to spike when the auction is nearing the end.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen prototypes listed online. However, we’re curious if Google will want to nip this in the bud. After all, this is clearly listed as their property, so there’s a good chance the seller probably doesn’t have the right to sell it.
Google’s first-gen Pixel
For those unfamiliar, the first-gen Google Pixel phone was launched in 2016. This wasn’t Google’s first attempt at making its own smartphones. Back in the day, for those who remember, Google’s own brand of smartphones was sold under the Nexus lineup. The company eventually retired that branding and went with the Pixel.
However, it was more than just an exercise in rebranding. Back then, the Nexus phones were positioned as phones that offered users a pure vanilla Android experience. This was to combat smartphone manufacturers who skinned their UIs heavily, resulting in a laggy experience.
But with its Pixel phones, Google shifted from offering vanilla Android to a more Google-optimized version of Android. Users were getting exclusive features that other Android phones weren’t getting. They also benefited from being first in line when it came to updates.
