I got to spend some time with both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and while both phones have the same internal parts and cameras, I\u2019m particularly enamored with the Pixel 2 XL thanks to its brilliant edge-to-edge display.
\n{{
\nThe bold and the beautiful
\n}}<\/p>\n
Google has stratified its two premium devices by creating a kind of base phone with Pixel 2 and a more high-end offering in the Pixel 2 XL. The difference comes down to the size and type of displays found on both phones, but it makes a real impact.<\/p>\n
The Pixel 2 is essentially the same as the original Pixel save for a few refinements. The handset is a bit lighter than its predecessor and feels sleeker when you grip it with one hand.<\/p>\n
The display is also similar to last year\u2019s model. Once again you get a 5-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution AMOLED panel that promises rich, dynamic colors. The Pixel 2 XL, meanwhile, sports a gorgeous, 6-inch edge-to-edge 2800 X 1440 resolution P-OLED panel with swooping curves at its edges. P-OLED panels are essentially just OLED screens with polymer substrates that allow manufacturers to create curved displays.<\/p>\n
The Pixel 2 XL\u2019s panel serves as a direct response to Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S8, S8 Plus and Note 8 and Apple\u2019s iPhone X, all of which have edge-to-edge displays. The decision to use such a screen makes the Pixel 2 XL really stand out next to the Pixel 2, which still has large bezels above and below its display.<\/p>\n
Seriously, the Pixel 2 XL is one pretty smartphone.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Google has killed the headphone jack, though the company said it will include an adapter with its phones so you can connect your old headphones to the device\u2019s USB C port.<\/p>\n
{{Camera power}}<\/p>\n
Google chose not to attach two lenses to its smartphones. That\u2019s a bit of a letdown, as Apple and Samsung use such a feature to let you zoom in on a subject using their devices\u2019 telephoto lenses.<\/p>\n
But Google doesn\u2019t seem to think that will be an issue. During its keynote, the company said its phones\u2019 12-MP cameras received the highest DxOMark rating of any smartphone. DxOMark is a trusted, independent evaluator of standalone and smartphone cameras. <\/p>\n
Google also managed to include a Portrait mode, which lets you capture a photo with a bokeh effect that blurs the background while keeping the foreground in focus. So far, the feature has been hit or miss with Apple and Samsung\u2019s offerings, but Google, which uses dual-pixel technology in its camera and machine-learning software, seems to have hit the jackpot with its version.<\/p>\n
I took several images in Portrait mode using both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and both phones were able to capture exceptional shots with blurred backgrounds. And unlike Apple or Samsung\u2019s Portrait modes, I didn\u2019t notice any issues with portions of the background being clear while other areas were blurred. The camera seemed perfectly able to separate the two.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, Google also chose to make both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL water-resistant, so you\u2019ll be able to dunk them in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without them giving up the ghost.<\/p>\n
{{Should you get them?}}<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve only spent a short time with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but they\u2019re both impressive devices. I\u2019m especially interested in the Pixel 2XL and its wonderful display. The cameras on both handsets are also intriguing and will likely prove tough competitors for Apple\u2019s fantastic iPhone 8 Plus.<\/p>\n
Still, I\u2019ll have to hold off until I can fully review these handsets before I can say whether you should buy them or not. But they\u2019ve certainly got potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Google (GOOG, GOOGL) on Wednesday rolled out its newest smartphones, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and they look primed to take on anything Apple (AAPL) or Samsung (SSNLF) have to throw at them. Available for pre-order Oct. 3, the 5-inch Pixel 2 starts at $649, while the 6-inch Pixel 2 XL starts at $849.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[2848],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-35988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-david-howley"],"bylines":[{"id":2848,"name":"David Howley","slug":"david-howley","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":2848,"name":"David Howley","slug":"david-howley","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"featured_image":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35988\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35988"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=35988"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=35988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}