Google Pixel 2 & 2XL

Google Pixel 2 XL

The Pixel 2 is Google’s latest Android flagship. The successor to last year’s excellent Pixel handset, this is the smartphone that’s primed to set the benchmark for Android phones for the next 12 months.

As the smaller of the two new Pixels, the Pixel 2 is a 5in smartphone with an AMOLED screen and a 12-megapixel rear camera that, according to the folks at DxOMark, is the best in its class. And as you'd expect, performance takes a step up too, with the latest Snapdragon 835 processor buddying up with 4GB of RAM and a choice of either 64GB or 128GB of non-expandable storage.

Google has come a long way since the days of Nexus smartphones. This is only the second iteration of the Google Pixel and it shows how much Google's software and hardware have evolved in the past year. Both Pixel smartphones got a refined, yet simpler appearance. This review is specifically for the larger Pixel 2 XL.

This model has a couple of differences over the smaller Pixel 2. For starters, the Pixel 2 XL has a larger 6-inch display with the 18:9 aspect ratio of display that has taken 2017 by storm. This, and the Pixel 2 XL gets a 21% larger battery than the 5-inch Pixel 2.

Google offers the latest Qualcomm processor on both Pixels, along with its powerful HDR+ algorithm for taking photos. Combine these with Google's unparalleled Android experience, not to mention Google's unlimited photo storage with its official Photos app, and software updates directly from Google.

Google Pixel 2

• KEY SPECS
• PRICE IN INDIA

Display

5.00-inch

Processor

1.9GHz octa-core

Front Camera

8-megapixel

Resolution

1080x1920 pixels

RAM

4GB

OS

Android 8.0.0

Storage

64GB

Rear Camera

12.2-megapixel

Battery Capacity

2700mAh

Google Pixel 2 key features

• Body: Metal body with matte Premium Hybrid Coating; "2.5D" Gorilla Glass 5 on front; IP67 water resistance
• Display: 5.0" AMOLED, 1,080 x 1,920px resolution, 441ppi
• Rear camera: 12.2MP, 1/2.6" sensor size with 1.4µm pixel size, f/1.8, OIS, dual LED flash and Google's HDR+ algorithm
• Front camera: 8MP, 1/3.2" sensor size, f/2.4, 1.4µm pixel size
• Video: 2160p@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720@240fps; front camera:1080p @ 30fps
• OS/Software: Android 8.0 Oreo with updates directly from Google
• Chipset: 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPU - Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo); Adreno 540 GPU; dedicated image processing chip to be enabled via OTA Android 8.1
• Memory: 4GB of RAM; 64/128GB of internal storage (non-expandable)
• Battery: 2,700 mAh Li-ion (sealed); USB-C Power Delivery 2.0 (5V @ 3A or 9V @ 2A with included 18W adapter)
• Connectivity: nanoSIM; eSIM for Project Fi (US); Cat 15 LTE 800/75 Mbps; Bluetooth 5.0 LE, A2DP, aptx HD; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi-Direct, DLNA; NFC; USB-C 3.1
• Misc: Fingerprint scanner, dual stereo speakers, Always-on/Ambient display, Active Edge squeeze detection.

Main shortcomings

• No 3.5mm headphone jack (ships with an adapter).
• No microSD card slot.
• Video camera records mono audio only.
• You can't assign the Active Edge squeeze detection any other feature but Google Assistant.
• We know you have to fit the innards somewhere, but still - bezels

Google Pixel 2 XL

• KEY SPECS

Display

6.00-inch

Processor

1.9GHz octa-core

Front Camera

8-megapixel

Resolution

1440x2880 pixels

RAM

4GB

OS

Android 8.0.0

Storage

64GB

Rear Camera

12.2-megapixel

Battery Capacity

3520mAh

Google Pixel 2 XL key Feature

• Body: Metal body with matte Premium Hybrid Coating; "3D" Gorilla Glass 5 on front; IP67 water resistance
• Display: 6.0" POLED, 1,440 x 2880px resolution, 538ppi
• Rear camera: 12.2MP, 1/2.6" sensor size with 1.4µm pixel size, f/1.8, OIS, dual LED flash and Google's HDR+ algorithm
• Front camera: 8MP, 1/3.2" sensor size, f/2.4, 1.4µm pixel size
• Video: 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @30/60/120fps, 720@240fps; front camera:1080p @ 30fps
• OS/Software: Android 8.0 Oreo with updates directly from Google
• Chipset: 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPU - Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo); Adreno 540 GPU; dedicated image processing chip to be enabled via OTA Android 8.1
• Memory: 4GB of RAM; 64/128GB of internal storage (non-expandable)
• Battery: 3,520 mAh Li-ion (sealed); USB-C Power Delivery 2.0 (5V @ 3A or 9V @ 2A with included 18W adapter)
• Connectivity: nanoSIM; eSIM for Project Fi (US); Cat 15 LTE 800/75 Mbps; Bluetooth 5.0 LE, A2DP, aptx HD; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi-Direct, DLNA; NFC; USB-C 3.1
• Misc: Fingerprint scanner, dual stereo speakers, Always-on/Ambient display, Active Edge squeeze detection.

Main shortcomings

• No 3.5mm headphone jack (ships with an adapter)
• No microSD card slot
• Video camera records mono audio only
• You can't assign the Active Edge squeeze detection any other feature but Google Assistant

The Pixel 2 XL's camera did get a bump in specs. The camera now has OIS and the aperture has been bumped to f/1.8 from last year's f/2.0. The real magic happens, though, thanks to Google's HDR+ algorithm, which gathered high praise with the first-gen Pixels. We are definitely excited to see what kind of images the new Pixels can capture. Google poked fun at Apple during the launch event saying it didn't reserve the better camera for the more expensive model. Both Pixels get identical cameras. And perhaps that must not have been easy as the two phones are manufactured by different companies.

THE CAMERA

The Google Pixel 2 XL's camera has a couple of hardware upgrades that improve its performance over the first-generation while keeping the same resolution sensor. For starters, the aperture has received a bump to f/1.8 from last year's f/2.0. In addition, the Pixel 2 XL's camera now has optical image stabilization (in addition to electronic image stabilization), which calls for a protruding camera ring.

Also new to the Pixel line is dual-pixel autofocus. While last year's Google Pixel uses a combination of phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) + laser, both Pixel 2 models use laser + dual-pixel autofocus for improved autofocus performance. A dual-LED flash illuminates the subject.

The front facing cameras carries over from the first Pixel. It has large 1.4 micron pixels just like the main camera, but with a dimmer aperture of f/2.4. Just like the rear camera, the selfie camera can also take advantage of Google's software-based portrait mode and HDR+.

Google also offers unlimited photo and video storage at full resolution for Pixel users until January 2021. Even after that runs out, the free tier of Google Photos offers unlimited photo storage at 16MP or unlimited video storage capped at 1080p.

The Pixel 2 XL can record 4K video at 30fps or 1080p at up to 60fps. Slow motion video allows either 240fps at 720p or 120fps at 1080p. Meanwhile, the front-facing camera can do 1080p at 30fps video.

Why to choose Pixel 2 Over any other Handset

The single biggest reason to choose the Pixel 2 over any other handset is the camera. On paper, the 12-megapixel f/1.8 unit sounds fairly pedestrian. In use, however, it captures some wonderfully detailed images that are often much better than those produced by the competition.

A great camera shouldn’t be a surprise; the original Pixel is still one of the best around, after all. However, the range of improvements Google has added take it to another level. These include optically stabilising the camera for less shaky shots, widening the aperture to let more light into the sensor, and improving the processing that goes on after you’ve pressed the shutter button.

Pictures from the Pixel 2 aren’t like those from a Samsung Galaxy S8 or iPhone 8; they’re less saturated with deep colours and look more lifelike. I do love the rich hues of images captured on a Samsung device, but they’re unmistakably from a phone camera. Shots taken with the Pixel 2 transcend this and look all the better for it. Colours are vibrant, but greens don’t have that fluorescent glow and it doesn’t make flowers look artificial.

Where the Pixel 2 really shines is in the level of detail crammed into the picture. Everything from pollen inside a flower to writing on a sign in the distance makes the frame, and you can even crop in on a picture without it turning into a blurry mess.

Clearly, many of these tricks are a result of Google’s excellent software and optimisations. Auto-HDR+ mode is on by default; you’ll need to bury down into the settings to actually turn on an option to disable it. Google is confident its processing tricks are the way forward, and on seeing the results, it’s hard to argue. Shots taken with Auto-HDR+ enabled display some of the best dynamic range I’ve ever seen in an image taken on a phone – meaning you’ll have a lovely contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of the photo. This is particularly noticeable in landscape shots, where you really want that feeling of depth and scale. Auto-HDR+ also levels out exposure, ensuring a bright sky doesn’t blow-out the picture.

IMAGE SAMPLES

Sample Image of Pixel 2 XL

Sample Image of Pixel 2 XL

WRAP UP

Prices aside, Google made a big decision to shift from the mid-range Nexus brand to the high-end Pixel brand last year. Being part of the premium crowd does a couple of things: it puts you at the level of other top performers like Apple and Samsung, and people will hold your brand to higher standards. This happens when there is more money at stake. And you can't afford any slip-ups in this price range.

Google has seen nice success with the Pixel brand, overall. Even on its second generation smartphone, Google still stumbles a bit. The phone is facing availability issues, and it remains a Verizon exclusive in the States (although it can be purchased directly unlocked from Google for all US carriers). We'd like to see the next Pixel become available at more carriers to give consumers more choices than just Apples and Galaxies.

The 2 XL does fill in the blanks quite nicely with some of the stuff that the original Pixel XL was missing: IP67 water resistance, stereo loudspeakers, and OIS on the camera. Granted, the Pixel 2 XL no longer has a headphone jack, but that's the direction the mobile market is headed. The Pixel 2 XL's hardware has also matured well - the design is simpler, yet, somehow more refined.