What is Google Pixel 2?
The Pixel 2 is Google's second attempt to create an Android version of the iPhone 8 and a suitable competitor for the Samsung Galaxy S9
Instead of focusing solely on the top – end of the specs and including all the imaginable features, its goal is to offer users the cleanest possible experience of Android.
For the most part, this means you get the best of Google on a phone; However, there are still some areas where it is still necessary to improve.
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Pixel 2 – Design
The smallest of the two Pixel devices is made by HTC: with a Google design, of course, but there is very little DNA from the Taiwanese firm in this phone. Actually, Google Pixel 2 feels very different from any other Android phone you have recently used.
Although it is made of aluminum, the back has a finish similar to that of a stone. It is hard and textured; strange at first, but, ultimately, super nice. It is much stronger in the hand than shiny aluminum and is not as slippery when sitting on a table in the same manner as a glass. Neither does it seem to collect fingerprints. It gives the impression that it may scratch over time, but we will have to wait and see if that becomes a problem.
Like the previous Pixel, there is a crystal "tone" just above the metal covering the camera sensor and the flash. In addition to adding contrast to metal, this is where all cellular antennas and Wi-Fi live. Giving them a lot of space should help connectivity, but it also means that there are no antenna bands elsewhere. Hopefully this glass panel is less prone to scratches, which was a real problem with the first device.
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The back of the Google Pixel 2 is well designed, then, but the front seems a little old fashioned. Unlike the Pixel 2 XL or the Samsung Galaxy S9, the Pixel 2 has a huge chin and faces each side of the 5-inch screen. The bezel here is more substantial than the iPhone 8. In general, the Pixel 2 is not much smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S9 or the Huawei P20, but those have a much larger screen of 5.8 inches.
It seems strange that Google has taken this design route, especially since more and more device manufacturers opt for a non-bezel appearance. At least Google has used that extra space at both ends of the phone to add dual front stereo speakers, but it's still hard to forgive.
Like most flagship phones, the Pixel 2 has an IP67 rating for water resistance. Another trend, less desirable, that Google has decided to follow is the elimination of the headphone jack. I can only assume that the decision was made to allow waterproofing, but it is a pity. And even though you get a 3.5mm USB-C port dongle in the box and there are a lot of USB-C & # 39; Made for Google & # 39; headphones, it's annoying nonetheless.
Google Pixel 2 – Screen [19659016] There's not much to be excited about with the Pixel 2 screen. Just like in the first version of the device, it's a 5-inch, 1080p AMOLED panel that looks good but it's not surprising.
AMOLED panels are famous for offering more saturated colors, perfect blacks and better contrast than their LCD counterparts. But I am sure that the main reason why Google opts for these panels is because OLED is necessary for Daydream VR to work, which, of course, is a big boost for Google.
I'm a big fan of AMOLED screens, but they're not perfect. The edge panel of Pixel 2 to the warm side, so it is likely that whites have a slightly orange tinge. Keep in mind that Google does not offer any ability to adjust the colors on the screen, which is annoying if you prefer a slightly cooler screen.
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Probably the largest feature missing from the panels in both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are compatible with high dynamic range or HDR. The ability to play HDR10 and Dolby Vision content from Amazon and Netflix is available on the Galaxy Note 8, LG G7 and Apple's iPhone X, but is not available on the Pixel 2. This is not a problem. breaker, but it's a strange feature to skip when Google Play Movies and YouTube offer HDR support.