For a long time, Google has showed what it wants the vision of Android to be first with its Nexus and now the Pixel phones. True to form, it has announced the Pixel 2 phones following up on last year’s original Pixel and Pixel XL, but does it succeed?
The new Pixel phones come with overhauls to their designs. However, unlike last year’s models, this year the standard and XL models offer substantial differences.
Google Pixel 2 front
For one, the trademark glass on the back has been reduced to circulate just the area around the back camera. The fingerprint scanner is not embedded on the glass any more.
Google Pixel 2 back
The standard non-XL model looks almost exactly like the last year’s Pixel, with a very mainstream, minimalistic look. There are thick, chunky bezels on the top and bottom which don’t feel particularly at home in a 2017 flagship.
Thankfully, the XL model reduces those bezels much, much more and the result is an attention-grabbing device. The phones also sport IP67 water and dust-resistance, as well as curved Gorilla Glass 5 on the front.
Google Pixel 2 XL
The Pixel 2 comes with a 5-inch 1080p P-OLED display, while the Pixel 2 XL ups that to a 6-inch QHD+ unit. Both have stereo speakers on the front and an always-on display. The latter comes with an improved 18:9 aspect ratio.
The former will be available in Black, Blue and White, while the Pixel 2 XL will come in Black and Black/White.
Google is also borrowing HTC’s side-squeezing tech, which allows you to squeeze your phone for various options such as launching the Google Assistant or silencing phone calls.
One quirk (or flaw, depending on how you see it) here is the lack of headphone jack, which is slowly becoming a thing on Android flagships as well. However, it won’t become a popular option until Samsung and LG embrace it.
Under the hood, you get the familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4 GB RAM. Storage is not expandable, though, it won’t be a huge concern now that only 64 GB and 128 GB storage options are available.
The phones support not only the Nano-SIM card, but also an eSIM which will be helpful in switching networks while travelling. You will have to download a virtual SIM from a supported network to use the feature.
The software is Android 8.0 Oreo, stock, which will receive regular updates for up to 2 years.
For connections, you get the USB-C primarily, which serves as a headphone port too (with a Type-C to 3.mm jack converter).
The Pixel changes the Nexus line’s perception of slow and un-focused cameras by offering arguably the best shooters in the Android ecosystem, and that is the advantage the new Pixels are keen to retain.
In contrast with the current trend, the new Pixels come with a single-lens setup on the back with 12 MP resolution. There is better image processing as well as hybrid EIS and OIS baked in. They also sport hybrid phase detection and laser autofocus.
Both phones retain the same 8 MP shooter with f/2.4 aperture. Below the rear camera sits what Google claims is the fastest fingerprint scanner in the world.
The battery on the larger phone is a 3,520 mAh cell, while on the smaller unit it stands at 2,700 mAh only.
Google also showcased its AR and machine-learning capabilities. For the former, Google is partnering with developers to create content using its ARCore platform, including its own AR Stickers. For the latter, Google demonstrated an always-on feature, which automatically detects what music is playing in the background.
As for the price, the Pixel 2 starts at $650, while the Pixel 2 XL understandably ups that to $850. An extra $100 gives you double the native storage.
