Google Pixel 2 Review and Features

The Google Pixel 2 is a powerhouse of a smartphone, packing some serious features that'll make you wonder how you ever lived without them. It boasts an impressive 12.2-megapixel rear camera that can capture stunning images in any lighting condition.

One of the standout features of the Pixel 2 is its ability to take amazing low-light photos, thanks to its large 1.4μm pixels and f/1.8 aperture. This means you can capture beautiful shots even in the darkest of environments.

The Pixel 2 also comes with an impressive 4GB of RAM, making it a breeze to switch between apps and multitask with ease. This is especially useful for heavy users who need to have multiple apps open at the same time.

With the Pixel 2, you'll be able to enjoy a seamless Android experience thanks to its snappy performance and timely software updates. This means you'll always have the latest features and security patches right at your fingertips.

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The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have a premium look and feel thanks to their aluminum back, topped with a thin layer of plastic and a glass section for wireless transmissivity.

The design of the Pixel 2 XL is distinct from its smaller sibling, featuring a taller 2:1 P-OLED display, marketed as 18:9, instead of the Pixel 2's 16:9 AMOLED.

Both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, paired with 4 GB of LPDDR4X RAM.

The phones come in storage options of 64 or 128 GB, giving you ample space for your apps, photos, and other files.

The Pixel 2 has a 5-inch 16:9 1080p AMOLED display panel with a pixel density of 441 ppi, while the Pixel 2 XL boasts a 6-inch 2:1 1440p P-OLED display panel with a pixel density of 538 ppi.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL both have a 12.2-megapixel rear camera capable of recording 4K video at 30 FPS, 1080p video at 120 FPS, and 720p video at 240 FPS.

The camera also features phase-detection autofocus, laser autofocus, and HDR+ processing, making it a powerful tool for capturing life's moments.

The Pixel Visual Core (PVC) image processor helps speed up and lower the power consumption of image processing, although it was only enabled in Android 8.1.

The Pixel 2 includes optical image stabilization, which the original Pixel lacked, and uses Fused Video Stabilization to reduce issues with camera shake and motion blur.

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The Google Pixel 2 ships with stock Android 8.0 "Oreo" on launch, and Google promised three years of software and security updates.

The Pixel 2 also features "Active Edge", which allows the Google Assistant to be launched by squeezing the phone's sides.

The Pixel 2 was the first phone to ship with Android 8.0, and it also comes with the new Google Lens app, which uses visual analysis by the camera to bring up relevant information.

The "Now Playing" feature automatically detects music through the microphone and identifies the song on the lock screen.

On December 5, 2017, Android 8.1 Oreo was released for the Pixel 2, and on October 4, 2017, the Pixel 2 was granted an extended warranty period.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL shipped with stock Android 8.0 "Oreo" on launch.

Google promised three years of software and security updates, which is impressive, especially considering Apple's four-year support for iPhones.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were the first phones to ship with Android 8.0 ("Oreo").

The new Pixels also included a feature called "Active Edge", which allows you to launch the Google Assistant by squeezing the phone's sides.

The Google Lens app, designed to bring up relevant information using visual analysis by the camera, was also released with the new Pixels.

The "Now Playing" feature automatically detects music through the microphone and identifies the song on the lock screen.

On December 5, 2017, Android 8.1 Oreo was released for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were granted an extended warranty period, guaranteeing Android version updates until October 2020.

Android 9.0 "Pie" was made available upon its launch on August 6, 2018.

Android 10 was made available upon its launch on September 3, 2019.

Android 11 was made available to download upon its launch on September 8, 2020.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL reached their planned end-of-life date in October 2020, and their final security update was released in December 2020.

The software behind the Google Pixel 2's camera is a major highlight of the device. The Pixel 2 features a new Portrait Mode software solution that helps create professional-looking portraits.

HDR+ technology is also a key software feature, allowing for improved dynamic range in photos. This results in better contrast and more detail in both bright and dark areas of the image.

The Pixel 2's software is designed to work seamlessly with its hardware, resulting in top-notch photo and video quality.

The Google Pixel 2 features a range of cellular network standards, including 2G, 3G, and 4G.

In particular, the Pixel 2 supports 4G LTE-FDD on bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, and 66. These bands also support 4x4 MIMO.

The Pixel 2's cellular network capabilities are comparable to those of other smartphones on the market, but it's worth noting that the design choice of the antenna lines on the sides of the phone has been criticized for its potential impact on durability and water resistance.

Cellular networks are the backbone of our mobile devices, allowing us to stay connected on the go. They've come a long way since the early days of 2G.

2G networks, also known as GSM, operate on bands 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. This is the standard for older phones and basic communication.

3G networks, including CDMA EVDO Rev A, use bands BC 0, 1, and 10. These are faster than 2G but still relatively slow by today's standards.

UMTS, HSPA+, and HSDPA networks use bands 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. These are more advanced and provide faster data speeds.

4G networks, specifically LTE-FDD, use a wide range of bands, including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, and 66. Some of these bands support 4x4 MIMO, which enhances data speeds.

LTE-TDD networks use bands 38, 40, and 41. These are less common than LTE-FDD but still provide fast data speeds.

Here's a breakdown of the different cellular network generations and their corresponding bands:

* Bands that support 4x4 MIMO.

The Pixel 2 camera initially received a score of 98 (currently updated to 99) from DxOMark, making it the highest performing mobile device camera at the end of 2017.

However, it was later overtaken by Samsung's Galaxy S9+ in March 2018. The phone received mixed reviews, with some praising its camera quality and water resistance.

The removal of the headphone jack was a major criticism, especially after Google mocked Apple for doing the same with its iPhone 7 phone just 12 months prior. Google's decision to sell a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter for $20 was also met with criticism.

In response to the backlash, Google later dropped the price of the adapter to $9, making it more competitive with Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. The design of the smaller Pixel 2 was regarded as plain, with big chunky bezels that weren't well received.

The Google Pixel 2 has had its fair share of issues. Some users have reported problems with the screen touch, where it can mess up and take time to calm down.

The Pixel 2's camera, on the other hand, has received high praise. It's the top-performing mobile device camera we've tested, with a record-setting overall score of 98.

The camera's key specifications include a 1/2.6-inch 12MP sensor, f/1.8 aperture, and Optical Image Stabilization. These features, combined with the HDR+ technology and new Portrait Mode software solution, make the Pixel 2's camera a major step forward from its predecessor.

Here are some of the reported issues with the Pixel 2:

The Pixel 2 is a top-performing mobile device camera with a record-setting overall score of 98.

It's impressive that the Pixel 2 achieves this despite having a single-camera design for its main camera. The camera scores top marks in most traditional photo and video categories.

The Pixel 2 is a major step forward from the original Pixel, moving from a score of 90 to 98. This is a significant improvement.

The camera specifications include a 1/2.6-inch 12MP sensor and f/1.8 aperture. These are key features that contribute to the camera's high performance.

Here are the key camera specifications:

The Google Pixel 2 has had its fair share of issues, and users have been vocal about them. One of the most common problems is with the screen touch, which can be slow to respond and may take time to "calm down".

Many users have reported issues with the screen, including a "black smear" problem where black pixels linger on the screen. This can be frustrating, especially when it happens frequently.

Some users have also reported buzzing and clicking sounds coming from the phone, which can be distracting and annoying. Google has investigated the issue and recommended turning off NFC to temporarily fix the problem.

The Pixel 2 XL also has a volume flaw that reduces the sound level of audio clips sent through messaging apps. This can make it difficult to hear important messages or notifications.

Users have reported multiple issues with the phone, including Bluetooth connectivity problems and randomly stopping microphone functionality. In some cases, rebooting the phone can fix the issue temporarily.

Here's a summary of some of the most common issues reported by users:

It's worth noting that some of these issues have been fixed with software updates, but others remain unresolved.