And it shows. Some of the trade-offs made by the company also make sense when one starts using the new Pixel on a daily basis. So, are the new Pixels the Android smartphone to buy in 2017? Let’s see what other reviewers have to say about the device in our review roundup.
The Verge
The publication notes that despite being made of aluminium, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will feel like they are made out of plastic when one picks them up. For almost every aspect of the device, Google has chosen function over form with its new Pixels. The larger bezels on the Pixel 2 XL might mean the phone’s design might not be bezel-less like the Galaxy S8, LG V30 and others, but then the front facing stereo speakers offer fantastic sound output with a hint of bass. In almost every department, the Pixels are among the best — if not the best, with excellent battery life and performance in tow. In the camera department, they are a force to reckon with. It is simply astounding what Google has managed to do with the camera performance on its new Pixels with just a single 12MP sensor at the rear. Battery life also seems good. It takes some serious work to drain the battery on the Pixel 2 XL in a single day; usually it lasts until bedtime just fine. For those who pay attention to such things, I’ll say that I’ve been getting around six hours of screen time with the brightness at around 75 percent. On the smaller Pixel 2, my results haven’t been that impressive, but still quite good. My colleague Vlad Savov has spent more time with the smaller one, and he tells me he’s getting through a full day without issue. Sadly, the Achilles Heel of the Pixel 2 XL — and to a certain extent on the Pixel — is their display. The LG-sourced pOLED display on the Pixel 2 XL is simply not as good as OLED displays that we have grown used to. In fact, it even seems worse than the panel used by Google on the original Pixel XL last year. Take low light, for example: Google tells me that even though it could keep the shutter open longer to bring in more light, it’s not bothering. It doesn’t need to because every photo you take on the Pixel 2 is an algorithmically combined set of up to 10 images. Sadly, this trend continues in every other review as well. The screen on the Pixel 2 XL is simply not up to the mark. ➤ Review
Android Central
The publication praises the build quality of the new Pixels and says the front of the Pixel 2 XL just feels”right” due to the way the glass meets the metal edges. However, the size of the larger Pixel is definitely going to be an issue. Despite coming with a 6-inch 18:9 aspect ratio display, the Pixel 2 XL is almost as big as the Galaxy S8+. The large size means this phone cannot be used comfortably one-handed. The review notes that the Pixel 2 XL’s display is not as good as the one found on the smaller Pixel. The hardware is clean, efficient and beautiful — but not flashy. The camera gets a huge thumbs up, though the Portrait mode is a bit of a hit or miss. In the end, the new Pixels are the phone to buy. ➤ Review
Wired
Wired notes that the Pixel 2 is the Android smartphone which gets most of the things right: a fast and reliable software, great camera, excellent battery life and performance. The Pixels definitely seem like the Android phones to buy this year. So, it turns out Google has once again managed to make the best Android phones of 2017 despite the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL lagging in certain aspects when compared to offerings from Samsung and LG. Based on these overwhelmingly positive reviews, do you plan on buying the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL? Drop a comment and let us know!
