Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Long Term Review: The World’s Best Smartphones

I took my time writing this review. I held back during the well-publicised display problems, waited for fixes, waited for
Google
to enable the Pixel Visual Core camera chip and to really get a feel for both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. After five months I can confidently say – despite a couple of unnecessary flaws – Google has made the two best smartphones currently available and they leave
Apple
’s iPhone X and Samsung’s Galaxy S9 totally outgunned.

Here’s why…

Gordon Kelly

Displays – The Storm In A Teacup

Just as the iPhone X (long-term review also coming soon) has overshadowed the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, so the Pixel 2 XL has overshadowed the Pixel 2 for one big reason – its display.

• Pixel 2 – 5-inch 16:9 AMOLED, 1920 x 1080 pixels (534 ppi), 67.9% screen-to-body ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 95% DCI-P3 coverage

• Pixel 2 XL – 6-inch 18:9 P-OLED, 2560 x 1440 pixels (538 ppi), 76.4% screen-to-body ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 100% DCI-P3 coverage

But had you listened to every report since the Pixel 2 XL was released you’d have thought Google put Medusa behind the glass. Now the dust has settled the reality is the Pixel 2 XL was badly calibrated at launch. It had a questionable D67 white point, red was way off making skin tones appear vampiric and Google’s promise of “accuracy” simply didn’t wash.

Gordon Kelly

Skip forward to March 2018, however, and software updates mean the Pixel 2 XL can match almost any rival. In-depth studies show brightness and clipping levels close to the superb Galaxy Note 8 display and I’d suggest you pick the P3-based ‘Saturated’ screen mode (Settings > Display > Colors > Saturated) which XDA developers’ reports, “is more accurate than its Natural color profile [with] an astounding, perceptually near-perfect average grayscale”.

Gordon Kelly

But how does the Pixel 2XL compare to the very best?

In short: it’s still not as good. That said, the differences are tiny. Whether pictured alongside current best-smartphone-display-in-the-world titleholder the Galaxy S9 Plus (above) or playing HDR video beside the iPhone X, it can stand toe-to-toe and that’s no mean feat.

As for the Pixel 2? It’s fine. The OLED is made by Samsung (LG makes the Pixel 2 XL panel) and it’s bright (not as bright as the Pixel 2 XL actually), accurate and does what it should for the price point. There’s really nothing more to say. It’s a very solid display.

Gordon Kelly

One final point: both Pixels add always-on displays. They’re great. They’re less intrusive than the same tech on Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and they have no tangible impact on battery life (more later), though some customizability wouldn’t go amiss. Leave them on.

Design – Where Bigger Is Better

While time has proven the fuss about the Pixel 2 XL’s display was overblown, it has been less kind to the smaller Pixel 2’s design.

• Pixel 2 – 145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm (5.74 x 2.74 x 0.31 in) and 143 g (5.04 oz)

• Pixel 2 XL – 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.22 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) and 175 g (6.17 oz)

There’s no getting around it. The Pixel 2 has surprisingly large bezels for a modern smartphone, and it looks worse with the release of every new trimmed down (or even notch-based) rival. Furthermore, the slim bezels on the Pixel 2 XL mean it can fit a 20% larger display into a chassis just 8% taller than the Pixel 2.

Then again it’s time for some perspective: The Pixel 2 has a 68% body-to-screen ratio, that’s higher than the iPhone 8 (65%) and iPhone 8 Plus (67%).

Gordon Kelly

At least Google puts its big bezels to good use. Like the Pixel 2 XL, it has clear, loud front firing speakers. They have slightly more bass but similar peak volumes to the dual stereo equipped Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, and slightly more bass but less volume than the iPhone X. The Razer phone remains the king of loud stereo, but it has other compromises.

Meanwhile, I’m pleased to report that fears about scratches to the (practical) textured coating applied to the aluminium chassis of both Pixels were misplaced in my extended time with them. I have noticed the coarseness to this texture has reduced slightly, but they withstand knocks extremely well and this stands out in a world of glossy, impractical glass backs.

Gordon Kelly

Both phones also sport rock solid magnesium mid-frames, IP67 dust and water resistance (they’ve been fine when left on the side shelf in my shower) and phone, WiFi and Bluetooth signals have been uniformly excellent thanks to the small glass panel in the upper quarter of both phone’s back panels. They also run ice-cold, a significant plus point given how hot rivals (particularly the iPhone X) become under load.

So the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are super practical, super durable, pick-them-up-to-appreciate it smartphones. With one exception.

There is no headphone jack. Yes, despite mocking Apple for removing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, Google has now done exactly the same thing with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. I accept wireless audio is the future, but it isn’t here yet. Want wired audio? It’s USB-C or nothing. Google does include an adaptor and I suppose this at least means your headphone cable will come out the right end (a top jack means headphone wires get in the way of the display while you use it), but it’s disappointing nonetheless.

Gordon Kelly

But I’ll end with two positives because they are head turners.

Firstly both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL pack an HTC-borrowed party trick: squeeze their sides and they open the Google Assistant and mute calls. I’d like this feature to be more customisable (perhaps through an update in future), but I have found myself using the squeeze regularly – particularly when out and about. You’ll have to adjust the sensitivity to suit your own needs, but there is no faster and easier way of triggering a smart assistant on any rival phone.

Gordon Kelly

Secondly the colours. While my review samples had the standard black finishes, I’ve seen the white and black ‘panda’ Pixel 2 XL with its orange power button and the ‘Slightly Blue’ of the Pixel 2 with its turquoise power button. They’re fun, but stylish and stand out from the crowd. These are the finishes to buy and I hope it inspires Google and others to be even more daring when the Pixel 3 debuts.

Case tip: Google’s fabric cases are not cheap, but they are excellent. The colourful power buttons retain their sense of fun and they are durable and protect the phones well from drops (I’ve had several). They are also easily washed with soapy water if they get dirty.

Gordon Kelly

Performance – Software Tops Hardware

When it comes to synthetic benchmarks in 2018, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are not at the races. Apple’s A11 blows everyone else away and the Snapdragon 845 chipset in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus is a generation newer than the 835 in Google’s phones. But the reality is smartphones live or die on their real-world performance and in everyday use the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are outstanding.

They run every bit as fast as the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X while performing similar tasks and they remain faster and more fluid than the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. Yes, Google is getting as much responsiveness out of stock Android with a Snapdragon 835 as Apple is out of iOS 11 with an A11 chipset and outperforming Samsung’s bloated Android build on newer hardware.

How? It comes down to optimisation and brains.

Gordon Kelly

As Google stressed when launching these phones: in a time of increasingly similar hardware, software and machine learning are crucial. Will this last? After 5 months the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’. So my advice would be to forget synthetic benchmarks when choosing your phone.

Moreover Android on a Pixel is like iOS on an iPhone: you get instant updates. Google promises a minimum of three years support and this means you’ll get the latest versions of Android literally 6-12 months ahead of almost everyone else (the exception being Nokia, a member of the Android One program, which so far has been refreshingly fast out the gate).

As touched upon earlier, both Pixels also run ice-cold and I’ve also been impressed by the strong phone reception, WiFi signal and Bluetooth performance. I’ve seen some complaints about connectivity with Bluetooth car systems, but that’s not something I’ve experienced. As for the fingerprint sensor? It’s every bit as excellent as the one on the original Pixels and unlocks every bit as quickly as Touch ID on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. 

I was also lying when I said there was nothing remarkable about the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL specs. There is and it’s called the ‘Pixel Visual Core’, but that’s for the next section…

Gordon Kelly

Cameras – It’s Not Even Close Anymore

Google changed smartphone photography when it launched the original Pixel and Pixel XL in 2016. After years of fighting between Apple and Samsung, Google blew them both away and – despite their best efforts – Google has extended that lead.

Note: high-resolution versions of all comparison shots used in this review (and many more besides) can be found here.

Simply put the number one reason to buy a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL is their (identical) cameras. Something that isn’t immediately obvious from their specs:

• Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL – Rear: 12.2 MP, f/1.8, OIS, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED flash, 1.4 µm pixel size, 4K 30fps, 1080p 120fps, 720p 240fps – Front: 8 MP, f/2.4, 1.4 µm pixel size, 1080p video

The improvements from the original Pixels are a larger aperture and the addition of optical image stabilisation but it isn’t the hardware driving their results, it’s software and machine learning.

Gordon Kelly

Objectively Google now has by far the best image processing in the industry. Its remarkable HDR+ technology combines up to 10 photos with zero shutter lag and the end results display greater colour accuracy, detail and – most crucially – vastly superior dynamic range compared to any other smartphone.

Gordon Kelly

It is this last detail I want to focus on because many reviews have failed to pick it up. In good lighting, the Pixels’ photos are superb (as seen in some samples above), and so are the shots of rivals at first glance. But check again and where the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL really stand out are in very bright and very low light shots and in any photo which needs to balance the two.

Gordon Kelly

This is hugely noticeable against Apple’s iPhone X and even Samsung’s Galaxy S9 Plus with its variable aperture technology. For the iPhone X, examine the shots of the countryside sky above where the sun is breakin. The same problems can be found with the Galaxy S9 Plus and once the flaws in these rivals are seen, it’s hard to get past.

Gordon Kelly

Even simple indoor shots show where the iPhone X struggles when you know where to look:

Gordon Kelly

In fact, any scene with major lighting differences exposes the iPhone X in particular:

Gordon Kelly

Furthermore, the differences between the Pixels and their rivals becomes even greater when you compare their front-facing cameras. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus simply aren’t at the races. Samsung has not upgraded them since the Galaxy S8 and that was already a poor performer, so comparing it to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is borderline laughable:

Gordon Kelly

So far so impressive. But what about rival’s dual cameras?

Certainly, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL lose out in not having a 2x optical zoom (like the iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and Galaxy Note 8) or super wide angle (like the LG G6 and V30) and it greatly impacts their DxOMark score which treats this as a serious feature omission and penalises heavily. But the reality is very different.

Crop in a Pixel 2 shot and you will find it’s extremely close to the quality of its rivals’ dedicated 2x optical cameras. See sample below vs the Galaxy S9 Plus and iPhone X (remember full-size samples are available here, including more 2x comparison shots). 

Gordon Kelly

All of which brings me to perhaps the biggest Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL win against their dual camera rivals: Portrait Mode.

Portrait Mode is a method of heavily blurring the background of a subject (an effect popularised by DSLRs) and on smartphones, this is supposed to require a dual camera so image and background could be simultaneously shot at different focal lengths and merged together. But Google has used hardware and software smarts to prove a dual camera is entirely unnecessary.

Gordon Kelly

Instead of two physical camera modules, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have ‘dual pixels’.

Dual Pixels literally split the camera lens into left and right sides two different viewpoints can be shot simultaneously while their phase detection and laser autofocus measure depth. These two images are then combined and – unlike the big distance between dual cameras – the left and right sides of the Pixel cameras are under 1mm apart so the mapping can be extremely accurate (you can read Google’s explanation of this here).

This is best seen in how the Pixels handle hair, consistently cropping superbly around each strand so it doesn’t give the buzz cut look you’ll often see with the iPhone X and Galaxy S9, which have a hard time detecting anything but a user’s face:

Gordon Kelly

It also means the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL don’t require people to produce high-quality Portrait Mode shots. Some of my favourite shots are using Portrait Mode with objects:

Gordon Kelly

But while Portrait Mode on the new Pixels is class leading, it isn’t perfect.

You may get a superb shot but, unlike some dual camera phones, you can’t adjust the level of background blur afterwards and occasionally the mode misjudges an aspect of the background (most often tree branches, as in the example below) making it sharper than it should be. Therefore it’s a nice touch that both Pixels keep a non-Portrait mode version of every shot as a backup.

Gordon Kelly

Would I still like Google to fit a dual camera to the Pixel 3? Yes. It adds an extra form of shooting (I’d prefer a super wide angle or 3x optical zoom given the minor difference in quality at 2x), but right now it’s wholly unnecessary.

What about video?

While many raved about video on the original Pixel and Pixel XL, I wasn’t so convinced. A side effect of those phones’ extreme electronic image stabilisation (EIS) was the so-called ‘Terminator’ effect, where video could jump when panning left to right. This was particularly noticeable in low light. Thankfully, however, with the introduction of OIS this has gone and results are silky smooth and stability is phenomenal – particularly when walking:

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL do lack the extreme slow motion of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus (120fps @ 1080p and 240fps @ 720p Vs 240fps @ 1080p and 960fps @ 720p), but it still works extremely well. It’s also worth pointing out Samsung’s 960fps mode has limitations (no audio, 0.2 seconds max record time, the need for near-perfect lighting), but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’d like to have this on the Pixels.

And yet we may still get it. How? Because the most impressive thing about the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL cameras is they are not yet close to their full potential.

In Android 8.1 Google switched on the Pixel Visual Core, a dedicated chip specifically designed to enhance the camera. But it isn’t yet running flat out, we merely have a taster of it up and running.

So what can we expect? In raw specification terms, it is a monster. Google claims it can compile HDR+ images 5x faster than the standard application processor while consuming just 1/10th of the power. It is also 5x faster than the dedicated camera chip in the iPhone X. Given the lead the Pixel 2 already has over the competition, it is set to get even bigger as time goes by.

Complaints? Yes, I have a few.

As exciting as the Pixel Visual Core is, Google has yet to add its power to the Google Photos app (which is frustratingly slow to delete open photos or save edited video) and image processing – particularly Portrait Mode – needs a performance boost. Taking a few Portrait shots quickly together results in a long wait.

Gordon Kelly

The Google Camera app itself is also frustratingly light on customisable options, though support for its image processing is finally rolling out to third-party apps (which previously took awful photos, forcing you to shoot everything via the main camera then share it). Google also needs to adopt the space-saving HEIF image format, though that is coming in Android P.

Gordon Kelly

Elsewhere Google has also added ‘Motion Photos’ (a rip-off of Apple’s Live Photos, that ripped off HTC’s Zoe that ripped off Nokia’s Living Images) which intelligently detects movement to automatically create 3-5 second videos with each image. Personally, I rarely use Motion Photos, the quality isn’t brilliant, but it’s a me-too catch-up feature some will enjoy.

The good news though is you can leave Motion Photos on because it doesn’t waste storage. This is because Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL owners will get free, full resolution unlimited Google Photos storage like the original Pixels. The entitlement lasts until 2020 after which, if you haven’t bought a new Pixel, you will only be charged for new content you add over 16MP and over 1080P.

Where Google is less successful is Google Lens.

Designed to be a modern-day Google Goggles, it can analyse your photos and provide relevant information about what is contained in them. For example, a photo of a famous monument or a product you want to buy. When it works the results can be genuinely useful, but often it is also laughably bad (check the far right image below).  Software updates will help this, but I think Lens should also work through the camera lens without needing to take an initial photo – such as when you’re simply looking to scan something like a book and don’t want to clutter up your image library.

Gordon Kelly

Also at a very early stage is Google’s take on Augmented Reality which debuts first in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

What’s implemented on these phones is fairly basic at this stage: via the camera viewfinder you can insert 3D characters (often from licensed content like Star Wars and Stranger Things) in your environment and they will (mostly) walk around convincingly and occasionally interact with one another.

Where the real excitement lies, however, is the launch of Google’s ARCore platform which enables third parties to build AR apps. The first apps are promising and threaten to steal a march on Apple, which appeared to have first mover advantage. They’re also a lot more fun than animoji.

Battery Life And Charging – Incremental But Welcome Updates

Google hinted at better battery life before launching the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and yet on paper, their specifications look very similar to last year’s models. In fact, the Pixel 2 has a slightly smaller battery capacity:

• Pixel 2 – 2700 mAh (Pixel – 2770 mAh)

• Pixel 2 XL – 3520 mAh (Pixel XL – 3450 mAh)

But the good news is – like so much about these new Pixels – specifications do not tell the whole story.

The standout here is the Pixel 2 XL which delivers perhaps the best battery life I’ve seen on any current generation smartphone. I’ve had over eight hours of screen-on time and, with light to moderate usage, I can get two days from a single charge. Moreover, standby on both smartphones is excellent with the major gains in stock Android Oreo finally putting Android on a par with standby boss iOS.

Gordon Kelly

The Pixel 2 isn’t as strong as its bigger brother, but it is notably longer lasting than Apple’s similarly sized iPhone 8 and even with heavy usage I can find 20-30% battery left by the end of the day. With light usage, it can be 60% or more.

Battery charging is good too. There’s no wireless charging (a downside of the otherwise excellent grippy aluminium backs), but wired charging is speedy with the bundled fast charger (take note Apple) and you’ll go from 0-100% in less than 90 minutes. More importantly, you’ll go from 0-40% in about 25 minutes, which is great if you need a quick ‘splash and dash’.

It’s worth pointing out Google uses USB-C Power Delivery (PD), an industry standard, rather than the proprietary charging of OnePlus’s Dash Charge or Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (used by most Android handset makers). I found the former is quicker than USB-C PD, significantly so when using the phone at the same time, but a match for Quick Charge.

Storage and Price – Wallet Busters

Google shocked many when it priced the original Pixel and Pixel XL like iPhones because its much-loved Nexus range famously offered incredible value for money. And the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL carry on this tradition after premium smartphone prices rose dramatically over the last year:

• Pixel 2 – $649 (64GB), $749 (128GB)

• Pixel 2 XL – $849 (64GB), $949 (128GB)

The good news is you get twice the base storage this year (64GB vs 32GB) but there’s no 256GB option at the top tier which is a mistake as it puts the 128GB Pixel 2 XL within $50 of the 256GB iPhone 8 Plus. That won’t covert Apple fans. 64GB and 256GB should’ve been the storage options, especially as Google has never and will never offer microSD expansion.

That said, unlimited Google Photos storage does mean no Pixel 2 ever has to run out storage and it is worth factoring the value of this against the cost of either phone (1TB Google Drive storage costs $9.99pm).

Another factor to consider against the price is Google provides the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL with two-year warranties, twice what you’ll get from Apple or Samsung. Given the (justified) outrage over Apple’s iPhone battery problems, a two-year warranty should ease fears of potential Pixel owners.

How well Google will communicate the value of both unlimited Google Photos storage and the Pixels’ two-year warranties remains to be seen. But so far both are poorly promoted at present.

Gordon Kelly

Bottom Line

Every year the best smartphone is typically the one with the fewest flaws. iPhones have traditionally done well by this metric, but the Pixel 2 and – in particular – the Pixel 2 XL change these rules completely.

Unlike their major rivals (iPhone X – notch, no fingerprint sensor, poor dynamic range; Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus – creaky software, mediocre battery life, terrible front camera, slow updates; LG V30 – poor software, weak camera in auto, slow updates; OnePlus – mediocre camera, slow updates; Huawei – terrible software, slow updates), the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have no serious problems other than their missing headphone jack. A problem they share with most of them.

That’s not to say these phones are perfect.

The Pixel 2’s big bezels will alienate some (though they are no worse than the iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus) while Google has a marketing challenge convincing buyers the Pixel 2 XL’s display issues are now fixed (they are). Price is also a problem with a 128GB top tier, even if unlimited photo and video storage should theoretically make it a non-issue.

And yet where these phones excel are the most important areas on any smartphone: real-world performance, battery life, software and truly game-changing cameras that leave the best from Apple and Samsung a very, very long way behind.

Gordon Kelly

Of the two, the Pixel 2 XL is clearly the superior phone and that’s reflected in its price. But for those who can look past the Pixel 2’s big bezels, you’ll get the same lightning-quick performance, the same astonishing front and rear cameras, stock Android experience and ‘unlimited’ storage as the Pixel 2 XL for $200 less.

Ultimately, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL represent Google’s vision for smartphones perfectly: do the most important things better than everyone else. They are the best marriage of hardware and software you’ll find on the Android platform and the fact the Pixel Visual Core is still in its infancy is frightening.

General awareness means the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL will barely register compared to the sales figures for the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X, but they aren’t meant to. Google doesn’t market nor manufacture Pixels in the same volumes as its rivals because they are only two generations old.

But those in the know already know what to buy, and you should join them…

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