Google just unveiled the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, the twin successors to the smartphones the Palo Alto company launched a year ago. Aimed at delivering cheaper alternatives to the iPhone, the two new Pixel models come with several upgrades, more particularly in the camera department (now, with only a single rear camera), software integration, but no headphone jack.
Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL Key Features
In the Google Pixel 2 launch event in San Francisco, the company made sure that both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are packed with features you would expect from a premium phone in 2017. Chief among the players in this market are the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. In the premium Android-powered phones, both Google Pixel models will slug it out with the Galaxy Note 8,OnePlus 5, LG V30, and iPhone X.
The smaller Pixel 2 will have a 5-inch Cinematic 127-mm full-HD (1080 x 1920) display, making it a strong competitor versus iPhone 8 and competing Samsung phones, all in the grand hope to winning users’ hearts .
The smaller Pixel 2 will run Android Oreo (version 8.0), share the same hardware as the bigger Pixel 2.
With a larger 6-inch QHD+ (2880 x 1440) P-OLED display at 538ppi with 18.9 ratio, the Pixel 2 XL as in the smaller phone’s display will be protected by 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Pixel 2 XL will share the hardware components of the smaller Pixel 2 and will sport Android 8.0.0 Oreo phone powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC and 4GB of RAM. Storage will be 64GB and 128GB.
Due to size differences, the bigger phone will have a 3520mAh battery while the smaller Pixel 2 will sport 2700mAh battery. Users can get up to 7 hours of battery life even from just a 15-minute charge.
To unlock the Pixel 2 phones, the gadgets feature fingerprint sensors.
The smaller handset comes in three colors: Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly White. The bigger Pixel 2 will be available in just two colors: Black and Black & White.
Photography Prowess
When you have the industry-best camera sensors, you know you have a good shot at the smartphone space. The smaller and bigger Pixel 2 feature a single 12.2MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, along with optical and electronic image stabilization.
Yes, Google decided to drop the dual-camera setup bandwagon as is common in most premium-priced phones, for a reason of course. This may sound a wrong move by Google, but looks like the answer lies in the software it developed to address what only dual-camera phones can do – produce DSLR-looking portraits that sharpen the subject while blurring the background, the effect often referred to as bokeh.
So, all things considered in the camera department, the new Pixel 2 gizmos are in a league of their own, as attested to by DxOMark which gave the new Pixel 2 a score of 98. This score is so far the highest rated camera on any smartphones, even trumping up both iPhone 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which just received a score of 94.
In layman’s term, this is an impressive level that should be enough to render photos taken using the Pixel 2 smartphones look immaculate albeit the conditions.
Both phone’s front-facing 8MP camera will have an aperture of f/2.4.
Moreover, a new augmented reality platform, ARCore was used to the Pixel’s camera. There will be an ability for users to add “AR stickers” to the phone camera, which can be used to superimpose digital graphics and images into videos and photos. Google said that the stickers are exclusive to the new Pixel phones. As of press time, it is just not clear yet how many of these ARCore-powered stickers will be rolled-out in the market after launch.
No Headphone Jack, Shows Off Squeezable Sides
Probably a nod to Apple’s decision to axe the headphone jack, the Pixel 2 phones removed them also, a move that’ll surely upset many users.
What might look strange for some users when they had their hands on any of the Pixel 2 devices will be the addition of “squeezable sides.” Users will just need to squeeze the sides to active the Google Assistant, Google’s artificial intelligence feature that can answer any user’s basic questions and run basic commands.
Good thing though, the Pixel handsets will be water-resistant, making the Pixel 2 smartphones fit neatly in the latest smartphone trends.
Other Cool Perks
As with their predecessors, the purchase of Pixel handsets comes with unlimited storage on Google Photos. With the purchase of the phones, Google is offering a free Google Home Mini.
How much do the Pixel 2 phones cost, and date of release?
The price of the smaller Pixel 2 starts at $649 (estimated at P33,111.98) while Pixel 2 XL will cost $849 (estimated at P43,315.98). Both handsets are available for pre-order for US-based customers, as well as those in Australia, Canada, Germany, India and U.K. In Italy, Singapore and Spain, Google Pixel 2 will be available later this year. There is no announcement yet of local availability.
P.S. Here’s a a video released by Google, for you, iPhone users, to be convinced that transitioning to the new Pixel handsets is “super smooth” …
Ryan G. Borja - Blogger from Manila 
Wow. That’s kind of awesome. I’d like to see how it will compare to the new iPhone. What will their bluetooth ear piece look like? Although, surely, there’ll be those purchasable at a local CyberZone. Great read.
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There’s the Apple AirPod released a couple months ago. It boasts of its audio capability san the translation feature that Google’s Airbuds has, Ms. Reese.
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Google Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone X
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