A Google Pixel 2 XL review…
The Google Pixel 2 is very real and has been an expensive project for Google. After all, paying HTC — the grandfather of all Android handsets — $1.1B in order to absorb the 2,000 person team that would go on to produce this device is no small feat.
But this is Google, a new flagship device and the darling example for an entire mobile operating system, so the first step (acquiring said team) was truly just the first step.
So, let me get straight into it. What has changed for Google’s flagship phone since the last generation, how is it as a daily driver and is it worth buying?
At least I can answer the last question quickly: absolutely. This will be one of the best phones well into next year.
Aesthetics
The Pixel 2 XL has had a major redesign compared to the OG model. In comparison, the original Pixel — which was often described as clean, but boring — looks archaic next to the Pixel 2 XL. Not a full version ahead, but years ahead.
A full metal unibody, with a glossy panel on the back where the camera sensor and flash reside are fingerprint magnets, but visually is a nice touch. This is a premium device, without question.
What do the rounded corners of the 18:9 ratio, 6-inch POLED screen remind you of? The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, of course. Not to say it’s a bad trait to share, at all. While the gain in screen real estate is minimal at best, it assist the nearly-edgeless aesthetic, complementing the stereo speakers proudly featured on the front of the device.
Asking around in the tech journalist community, I found that many users who came from Galaxy Note 8 devices considered the Pixel 2 XL to be not as vibrant and darker in comparison. Those coming from an iPhone 8 Plus (or 7 Plus, in case) noticed the slight tint in warmer color, most likely due to the P3 color gamut. Still, QHD+ (2,880 x 1440 pixels, 538ppi) looks crisp and delightful, with a polarizing filter (for easy use with sunglasses) and 3D Gorilla Glass 5 for durability.
To the untrained eye, most will probably like the Pixel 2 XL’s display, but I will have to say it’s not the best display to adorn a smartphone in 2017, especially moving into 2018, with flagship competition from Apple on the horizon.
That’s completely understandable: Samsung is king of screens, in more than one medium — after all, they produce and sell the upcoming iPhone X’s displays to Apple.
Meanwhile, IP67 water-resistance has been added this year, but alas, wireless charging hasn’t. Also, no 3.5mm headphone jack, but Google does include a USB-C 3.1 to audio jack adapter in the box.
Using It
I’m nearing a week of usage with the Pixel as I write this and I can confidently say this is the best Android experience I’ve had. I’ve tested everything from the original T-Mobile G1, all the Galaxy S flagship and Note devices, all iteration of the HTC One (M7, M8, M9), numerous Xperias, a few Huaweis and the Nexus line; which evolved into the original Pixel XL — and finally, this device.
This is quintessentially Android. This is the phone that *should* but probably won’t be the face of the operating system (read: marketing, people don’t care and the brand machine of the Samsung Galaxy line).
Its reliability, ease-of-use, battery life that easily lasts a full day of usage (with an hour of hotspot usage, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and auto-brightness) and finally, that crisp and bright screen.
The Snapdragon 835 processor that lives inside is clocked at 2.35Ghz/1.9Ghz, at 64Bit and is an octa-core — no one was fooling around this time. Paired with 4GB of RAM and sustained by a 3,520mAh battery, this is a first-rate flagship both aesthetically and internally.
The fact that it always will have the latest version of Android should make this the best Android phone — but that argument has been uttered before, countless times, for devices lesser than the Pixel 2 XL.
But, it’s the cameras where the Pixel really shines. One of the things I never cared to admit in all my years of being a technology journalist — starting at age 12 (now 21) — is I never actually bought an Android phone. I did, however, buy an iPhone 7 Plus. And now, I’m feeling rather silly. Just maybe, I did it for FaceTime and iMessages (spoiler: I did).
Cameras
First, I’ll just drop a few examples here, so you get a better idea.
As a quick refresher, the f/1.8 aperture back-facing camera uses a 12.2MP sensor with dual pixel phase detection (the large, 1.4μm pixels can do focusing/color work while also composing the image). Also included is optical + electronic image stabilization. The front facing uses an equally impressive, f/2.4 aperture 8 megapixel sensor.
My good friend Sara Dietschy made a video trying out the Pixel 2 XL’s camera, comparing the recently-launched iPhone 8 Plus. We share similar sentiments about the camera. It performs well in many different lighting conditions, both front and back, but the lack of 24fps when shooting in 1080p or 4K is a bit of a bind for videographers.
Also, despite the portrait mode doing a decent job of making your subject look like they were shot with a real, full-frame camera the effects look artificial and software-based. Which they are! But that’s all to say that the iPhone does a far more convincing job.
Everywhere else however, I was pleased. So was DxoMark, which gave the Pixel 2 its highest camera rating ever for a phone — 98 points — the iPhone 8 Plus is four points behind the Pixel 2.
Conclusion
Price as Reviewed: $849 at Google Store
If you’re in the market for a new Android phone, get this. It’s pure Android, will be updated on time, has one of the best phone cameras in the world (I fully believe this), works on multiple carriers and doesn’t shy away from looking good.
What if you’re looking at Samsung and LG’s offerings? Unless something about Samsung displays, S Pens or somehow the software appeals to you, then go that route. I rule out LG’s V30 here because of the device’s less-than-stellar reception.
Now, what if you’re an iPhone loyalist? Well, you have quite a few options — iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models, plus the upcoming iPhone X — but if you want something fresh and new that works consistently, then the Pixel 2 XL is the perfect guinea pig for your smartphone experiment.
I just hope Google does a better job this year with availability.
Pros:
- Great display
- Amazing camera
- Fast, clean build of Android 8.0
- Feels like the pinnacle of Google’s Android phones
Cons:
- No headphone jack (disputable)
- No wireless charging
- Portrait mode camera feature could use some work
- Display could be more vibrant
