The annual Made by Google event last October 4 had many exciting announcements. Various amazing products took the spotlight. Among those that caused a stir is the Google Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL smartphones.
These devices are Google’s answer to Apple’s iPhone X release. Many industry experts believe these phones could be the biggest thing that happened to smartphones so far. If you are curious about them, read on to find out if these handsets are worth the hype.
Introduction to Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
Google Pixel smartphones were originally launched in October 2016. They were instantly recognized and applauded for their unique set of features. In fact, most of the features and specs available are still up to par with today’s standard.
One of the Pixel’s most distinctive features is the camera. You can argue that the Google Pixel smartphone cameras are one of the best in the industry.
However, Google is keen on making the Pixel series the top smartphone range in the market right now. A year later since its initial launching, they have introduced the new and more beefed up version of the originals. The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL definitely wowed the crowd at Made by Google event!
Specs Comparison
To give you an idea of how much work Google has done on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, here is a side by side comparison of the specs from the previous launch:
Google Pixel vs Pixel 2
Size
Google Pixel: 143. 8 x 69.5 x 7.3 mm
Google Pixel 2: 145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm
Weight
Google Pixel: 143 grams
Google Pixel 2: 143 grams
Display
Google Pixel: 5-inch 1920 x 1080 AMOLED screen
Google Pixel 2: 5-inch 1920 x 1080 AMOLED screen
Processor
Google Pixel: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad-core 64-bit 2.15GHz+1.5 GHz
Google Pixel 2: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core 64-bit 2.3GHz+1.9GHz
Storage
Google Pixel: 32GB / 128 GB
Google Pixel 2: 64 GB / 128 GB
Camera
Google Pixel: 12.3 MP (rear camera), 8 MP (front camera)
Google Pixel 2: 12.2 MP (rear camera), 8 MP (front camera)
Battery & Charging
Google Pixel: 2,770 mAh with 15W-18W charging
Google Pixel 2: 2,700 mAh with 18W charging
Operating System
Google Pixel: Android 8.0 Oreo with two years of OS upgrades and three years security updates
Google Pixel 2: Android 8.0 Oreo with three years of OS upgrades and three years security updates
Google Pixel XL vs Pixel 2 XL
Size
Google Pixel XL: 154.7 x 75.7 x 7.3 mm
Google Pixel 2 XL: 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm
Weight
Google Pixel XL: 168 grams
Google Pixel 2 XL: 175 grams
Display
Google Pixel XL: 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 AMOLED display screen
Google Pixel 2 XL: 6-inch 2880 x 1440 POLED display screen
Processor
Google Pixel XL: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad-core 64-bit 2.15Ghz + 1.6Ghz Adreno 530
Google Pixel 2 XL: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core 64-bit 2.35Ghz + 1.9Ghz Adreno 540
Memory
Google Pixel XL: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
Google Pixel 2 XL: 4G LPDDR4x RAM
Camera
Google Pixel XL: 12.3 MP (rear), 8 MP (front)
Google Pixel 2 XL: 12.2 MP (rear), 8 MP (front)
Battery & Charging
Google Pixel XL: 3,450 mAh
Google Pixel 2 XL: 3,520 mAh
Operating System
Google Pixel XL: Android 8.0 Oreo
Google Pixel 2 XL: Android 8.0 Oreo
In essence, the Pixel 2 features are a step up from the previous model. As you can see, the original Google Pixel specs are already quite impressive. However, Google made a few more tweaks to further enhance user experience.
Display
The full HD AMOLED display of the Google Pixel 2 is equipped with an always-on configuration. Hence, it conveniently displays all the menu options and information you need. The 441 pixels per inch quality is pretty standard for a smartphone of this caliber; however, the always-on display is the new and breakthrough feature.
When you are playing music, the tune will be on display as well. There is no need for an internet connection to recognize the song since the device has its own music database.
Design
Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL both have a metal body with glass on the top part where the camera and flash are. On the right part of the handset, you will find the controls for the power/lock and volume. At the base of the device is where the USB port is located. The most significant update is the removal of the headphone jack. This will require you to use a Bluetooth headphone moving forward.
In addition, these smartphones are created to be water- and dust-resistant. You can take them outdoors without having to worry about exposing them to the elements. Meanwhile, the front-facing speakers are now more convenient to use especially when watching videos or playing music.
If you want to buy Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, they are available in 3 color options: Just Black, Clearly White, and Kinda Blue.
Performance
With Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, you can expect plenty of power. These two handsets can definitely compete with other top smartphones in the market today. Power-wise, they are on the same plane as Sony Xperia XZ1 or the LG V30 models. They are also equipped with 4GB RAM so you can expect no unnecessary slowdown. When it comes to internal storage, you have two options: 64 GB or 128 GB. Feel free to save plenty of photos, music, or videos and enjoy them on the go.
Camera
The camera of both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is one of the highest-rated cameras for any smartphones in the market right now. The rear camera quality is the highest for any smartphone at the moment. And it is also equipped with optical image stabilization so you can capture crystal-clear photos. If you prefer taking selfies, the 8MP front camera is not a slouch either.
Release and Price
Now that you’ve had a peek at the wide array of features available in Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, you might be curious to find out when they will be released and for how much. Google’s new flagship smartphones are expected to be hit the market on October 19th. The smaller Pixel 2 will retail at $649 (for the 64 GB version) and $749 (128 GB). The bigger Pixel 2 XL, meanwhile, will sell for $849 and $949 for the 64 GB and 128 GB versions respectively.
