Google Pixel 2 XL: A.I. magic on a 6-inch display
You’ll want the Google Pixel 2 XL if you’re looking for the most elegant Android experience possible in a 6-inch phone. You’ll want the Pixel 2 XL if you’re looking for a stunning display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, amazing portrait photography, and a ton of surpriseand- delight features made possible by Google Lens and the rest of Google’s A.I. tool chest.
When the Pixel 2 XL was announced on Oct. 4, Google reminded us that its machine learning engine is watching our every move to improve its A.I. algorithms. So, yes, the Pixel 2 XL’s ever- Googley magic tricks may keep robophobes up at night. But it’s an incredible phone that grafts device experiences to life experience in simple, intuitive, and smile-provoking ways. And you’ll rightfully want one it if you’re due for a phone upgrade.
But if you already own the original Pixel, your decision is more difficult. The Pixel 2 XL kicks ass, but much of what makes it special— the most refined expression of Android, the Google Photos experience, Google Assistant in the home button, and Google Lens—is available in the first-generation Pixel phones, too. To this extent, the Pixel 2 XL (and the smaller Pixel 2, which I’ll review soon) are victims of Google’s success at creating a cloud-first, machine-learning platform that spans #MadeByGoogle devices.
PIXEL 2 XL SPECS
Before we drill down into features, let’s get straight to Pixel 2 XL specs.
OS: Android 8.0 Oreo with guaranteed updates for three years
Dimensions/weight: 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches/6.2 ounces
Display: 6-inch QHD+ (2880x1440) pOLED, 538 pixels per inch
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Memory/storage: 4GB RAM/64GB or 128GB
Cameras: 12.2MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and optical + electronic image stabilization, 8MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture
Battery: 3520 mAh
Port: USB-C (and that’s all she wrote)
The 5-inch Pixel 2 doesn’t have the screen real-estate or display quality of the 6-inch Pixel 2 XL. But aside from the display and physical design, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL offer all the same features and functionality.
As first glance, the numbers don’t look mind-blowingly advanced. Other phones have similarly generous display resolutions and run the Snapdragon 835. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 even comes with 6GB of RAM. And neither the Pixel 2’s 12-megapixel resolution nor f/1.8 aperture are best-of-class for a rear camera.
But don’t get bogged down in the swamp of raw
