Google Pixel 2

Google finally made their move with the Google Pixel 2, after a very successfully and pretty difference attempt with that of the Google Pixel. There had been several phones from several competitors that had taken the game to a next level, but since Google came out after all those we are expecting a tough competition with the rest of the lot. Let’s have a detailed look at the Google Pixel 2 and see whether it hits the mark or not.

Variants and Colors

Like last year, Google released two variants of the Google Pixel 2, a smaller 5-inch display and then the other one with 6-inch display, which they are calling the Google Pixel 2 and the Google Pixel 2 XL, respectively.

Google went ahead with aesthetics and added an extra color which they are calling “Kinda Blue”, the description of the color is perfectly in-line with name. However, you can only get the color in the smaller Pixel 2 whereas the bigger XL comes in the standard Clearly White (Black and White) and Black (Matt Black) colors.

Design

Google has made a few tweaks when it comes to the design of the flagship phone by adding a soft touch aluminum, which not only looks classy but also gives away that premium feel in the hand, however, the metal back does not allow for wireless charging which would be a definite disappointment for users. Unlike the previous Pixel, the pixel 2 is now water and dust resistant.

The top and the bottom bezels are still big as compared to its competitors but that is because of the front facing stereo speakers which sound tremendous. There is no headphone jack, but it comes with a converter right out of the box which should make up for the loss to some extent.  Another issue with the design is the camera bump at the back, which again adds up to the list of negatives.

Overall the design feels modernized and sleek, however, we still believe that there are things that Google still needs to work on.

Display and Camera

Both the display and the camera were the strong points of the Pixel and fortunately, the Google Pixel 2 keeps up with the legacy. The Pixel 2 is having a 5-inch Amoled display whereas the Pixel 2 XL has a 6-inch P-OLED display. Thanks to upgrade, the Pixel 2 now has the always on display which shows the notifications and the clock.

The camera has had an upgrade and unlike the flagship phones of 2017 there are no dual cameras at the back. The rear 13 mega-pixel camera can take portrait pictures and add the blue with Google’s data driven image processing which works outstanding. The front facing 8MP camera works wonders with an outstanding capability of taking bright pictures even in a limited amount of light.

Performance & Added Functionalities

The performance of Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL is snappier than ever. The Snapdragon 835 Chip combined with 4 GBs of RAM does an amazing job. Performance has never been an issue with Google phones thanks to the stock android experience. It goes without saying that the Pixel 2 comes with Android 8.0 Oreo right out of the box.

Google has also incorporated the squeeze feature which HTC pioneered this year. Squeezing the phone from both sides enables Google Assistant, which is pretty cool and convenient. Adding on to this, the Google Pixel 2 now can detect any music playing in the background and automatically shows the name of the lock screen, tapping on the song will let you open the song on YouTube, Soundcloud etc.

Pricing

The year 2017 has been all about quality phones with a low price and Google has maintained this as compared to the other flagship devices. The Pixel 2 retails at $649 whereas the Pixel 2 XL starts at $849.

Orders can be placed on Google