I used the Pixel XL for 12 months solid. I tested a bunch of phones during this period but I kept coming back to the Pixel XL. Why? Because it was a solid, reliable phone, with great software, exemplary battery life, and a brilliant camera.
In my book, that’s a tough act to follow. And for a first-generation phone, the Pixel and Pixel XL, for me, at least, were a resounding success. They showed that Google could make solid, functional phones that could keep up with more established players like Apple and Samsung.
The Google Pixel 2 XL, therefore, had quite a lot riding on it. Is it an evolution of what came before or is it just more of the same? I’ve just spent close to a month testing this phone, living with it, using it every day, which is why this review is late. Below is my full verdict on the phone.
Google Pixel 2 XL Review – Design
The Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL were nice phones, but both were about as exciting as a bowl of porridge to look at. The Google Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 2 aren’t much better, but they’re definitely more engaging to look at than their predecessors.
The Google Pixel 2 XL is longer and slimmer than the Pixel XL; this fact is obvious from the moment you unbox it. The slightly sloping edges add a splash of elegance to the mix, but overall there isn’t really that much to get excited about. The design of the phone just kind of gets out of the way.
Except, of course, it has crazy-big bezels at the top and bottom of the handset. I don’t personally mind these, to be honest, as they house dual stereo speakers and these do make a big difference, as they’re loud and clear with rich, detailed sound quality. I use the phone on speaker all the time for calls, and it is dramatically better than the Pixel XL in this regard. So, for me, having those bezels is a worthwhile trade if I get better audio.
The one aspect I detest about the Google Pixel 2 XL, however, is that Google removed the headphone jack. It does include a converter in the kit, but this workaround is just awful in practice and seems to enjoy playing up whenever you get the handset wet.
I get that headphone jacks aren’t fashionable at the moment, but there is more than enough room for a headphone jack on the Pixel 2 XL. Hell, you could probably fit two. And like Apple, the only reason this happened is because Google wants you to buy wireless heads – probably its own Pixel wireless earbuds at that.
I know this isn’t a big deal for a lot of people, and I personally don’t mind using wireless headphones, but there has to be a reason for removing the 3.5mm port, surely? I mean, Apple did it for design reasons, but from what I can see there is more than enough room at the top and bottom for a headphone jack.
The Google Pixel 2 series is available in a bunch of colours, but it depends which model you go for. The regular Pixel 2 comes in black, white or blue, while the Pixel 2 XL is either black, or dual-tone black and white. My review unit is black and that, in my opinion, is the most boring option of all. My preference would be the blue one, but then you don't get the Pixel 2 XL's big display and battery.
Google Pixel 2 XL Review – Specs & Performance
Under the hood, you have the following core specs:
- Snapdragon 835 CPU
- Adreno 435 GPU
- 4GB of RAM
- 64/128GB of Storage
That’s a pretty heady mix, and pretty much par for the course in the 2017 flagship space, with excellent performance across the board. The Google Pixel 2 XL is noticeably faster than its predecessor; everything feels more fluid and responsive with apps loading faster and boot-up times almost halved, which is impressive.
Generally speaking, I wasn’t expecting that much of a difference between the Pixel XL and the Pixel 2 XL. But there is a rather pronounced difference and, if you're familiar with the first-gen model, you can feel it as soon as you switch the newer phone on and start using it. Some of this will be down to the specs, some of it the software; either way, it’s all positive.
As I said, I’ve been using the Google Pixel 2 XL for a solid month now and during this time I have had ZERO issues with the phone. No random glitches. No reboots. No nothing. Just solid, reliable performance. Basically, the exact opposite of what I experienced when testing the iPhone 8, so make of that what you will.
This phone, like many of the Android flagships knocking around at the moment, has masses of performance and power. It is also exceptionally efficient with how it uses it, though this is predominantly down to Qualcomm’s excellent Snapdragon 835 CPU, which is a marvellous mobile processor in every sense of the word.
But where the Google Pixel 2 XL beats off many of its Android-based competition is with its software; Android Oreo in stock is a beautiful thing indeed. It runs smoother than Kenny G and is packed with useful features and design elements. And, because it’s a Pixel phone, you will get updates on time, every time for at least two years. In fact for the Pixel 2 series Google has now upped that promise to three years.
No other player in the Android space is offering that right now, and this is the main reason why I have consistently used Nexus and Pixel phones for the past five years.
Google Pixel 2 XL – Display
So, yeah… the display, which has been a huge bone of contention for many reviewers. The OLED used here is made by LG. LG also designed the phone for Google – and, while it is a nice enough display to look it, it is nowhere near as good as Samsung’s OLED panels.
This isn’t conjecture on my part, either. It is a fact. Samsung has invested untold billions in its OLED facilities over a period of more than half a decade and the results of this are now paying dividends. No one can beat Samsung’s OLED. And this is why Apple’s iPhone X uses it.
So how bad is the Google Pixel 2 XL’s display? Personally, I don’t mind it at all. The hues are slightly weird when you look at it from an angle, though I have experienced no burn-ins yet. For the most part, it is detailed and crisp and a pleasure to look at.
Google says it calibrated the display to be as natural as possible, meaning no Samsung style high contrast and saturation. This is likely why a lot of people don't like it – it just doesn’t pop quite like a Galaxy Super AMOLED. All I can do is offer my opinion on the matter and, after a month’s worth of usage, I do not have a problem with the Google Pixel 2 XL’s display.
Though I do remember thinking it was a bit dull when I first switched it on. And it kind of is. But once you adjust to this it kind of just fades away. The bottom line is that if the quality of OLED is important to you, and is the main reason why you buy a phone, you need to get a Samsung phone.
If it’s not, the Google Pixel 2 XL will suit just fine.
Google Pixel 2 XL – Camera
The Google Pixel 2 XL’s camera is bloody outstanding. And that is really saying something given the quality of the Pixel XL’s and the wealth of decent camera phones you can buy right now.
I would go as far as saying it is the best camera on a phone I have ever used. You can get amazing results with zero effort, and if you want something a little special, you can either use its brilliant Portrait Mode, or tinker around with the settings until you find what you’re looking for.
The technology inside is essentially an up-cycle on what came before. Google has kept what worked and added a TON of new, innovative features and the net effect of this is a pretty much unbeatable camera, in my opinion.
But one of the Google Pixel 2 XL’s coolest features, which is also available on the Google Pixel 2, is Portrait Mode, which you’ll find inside the camera app. Portrait Mode lets you take truly stunning, unique-looking shots.
I had a blast testing this aspect of the camera out over the weekend with my niece and nephew, both of whom were also very impressed with the results too.
How Does The Pixel 2 XL’s Portrait Mode Work?
The main thing you need to remember is that the Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 2 do not have a dual-lens camera; instead, Google leverages clever software to create the effect of having a dual-lens camera and the results, as you can see above, is pretty impressive.
How it works is also pretty simple (well, in theory, anyway). Basically, the sensor, once you’re in Portrait Mode, isolates the subject of the image via machine learning, using the dedicated chip inside the phone. Once it has done this, the background is blurred, creating that DSLR style finish.
The INS and OUT of how this technology actually functions are rather complicated, but the resulting effect is designed to create a dual-lens-style shot with a single lens setup, thereby negating the need to have a dual-lens camera on the rear.
“Starting from an HDR+ picture,” said Google, “we next decide which pixels belong to the foreground (typically a person) and which belong to the background. This is a tricky problem because unlike chroma keying (a.k.a. green-screening) in the movie industry, we can't assume that the background is green (or blue, or any other colour) Instead, we apply machine learning.”
You can read more about how Portrait Mode is achieved over on Google’s Research Blog.
This technology is also available on the front-facing camera too, so if taking selfies is something you do a lot, you can get some pretty good results using Portrait Mode.
The idea behind this technology is to mirror, as closely as possible, the way a DSLR captures images, with that tell-tale background blurring.
Granted, you’re going to get better results with a $2000 DLSR, but for a phone, Portrait Mode is a great addition to an already very impressive piece of kit.
Google Pixel 2 XL – Battery Life
Battery life is INSANE. I am consistently getting a solid day and half out of the Google Pixel 2 XL with normal to heavy use. If you charge it at night, you can basically use it all day and never have to worry about it running out of juice.
In this regard, as well as the camera, the Google Pixel 2 XL is exceptional with few equals in the mobile space right now.
Google Pixel 2 XL – Verdict
The Google Pixel 2 XL is my new phone. I liked it that much I went out and bought one, so that should tell you everything you need to know about what I think about this handset.
Is it perfect? No. But then nothing is, really. It has everything I look for in a phone and more – great battery life, an exceptional camera, tons of power, and it looks OK too.
But best of all, it gets Android updates as soon as they’re ready and will do for three years (at the very least). If any or all of the above are important to you, you could do a lot worse than the Pixel 2 XL.
For my money, and keeping in mind all of the above, it is the best Android phone around for me right now.
by rgoodwin via Featured Articles
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