Google Pixel 2 XL Review

The 3-Minute Google Pixel 2 XL Review

Close to Perfection

By Zach Riley | February 8, 2018

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 4/5 ● Performance: 5/5 ● Value: 3.5/5 ● Battery 5/5

The Best:

The Google Pixel 2 XL is Google’s best smartphone yet, offering impressive performance and one of the best smartphone cameras we’ve ever seen.

The Bugs:

Like many smartphones, the Google Pixel 2 XL has ditched the headphone jack. The display is less impressive than the original XL model, and the device is pretty expensive.

Is it for you?

If you’re after a phone with some premium power and no bloatware, the Pixel 2 XL may be right up your alley - particularly if you enjoy photography.

“The Google Pixel 2 XL combines a fluid operating system, top-notch performance, and one of the best cameras around to make an all-around excellent flagship.”

Meet the Google Pixel 2 XL

The Google Pixel 2 XL is the larger and more premium model in Google’s second generation of smartphones. While Google has owned the Android operating system for quite some time, their foray into smartphone development with the Pixel line is only a somewhat recent development. The Pixel phones received all-around excellent reviews, and the Google Pixel 2 XL improves upon its predecessors with updated technology and a similar, fluid operating system that remains one of the best Android experiences we’ve seen to date.

What we like

The Google Pixel 2 XL is a truly premium device, and one of the most impressive aspects of the device is its camera. We feel that it’s safe to say that you won’t find a better smartphone camera with current releases, so if excellent photographs are your primary concern, the Google Pixel 2 XL is a clear winner.

Another refreshing aspect of Google’s latest flagship is the operating system. While companies like Samsung and LG make impressive smartphones that have performed admirably, they tend to bog the system down with bloatware that is viewed as largely unnecessary by many users. With the Pixel 2 XL operating system, you’ll enjoy fluid, no-nonsense performance that makes operating your new phone a breeze.

Add to these benefits a battery that lasts all day, a gorgeous design, and some seriously impressive power, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the top flagships of 2017.

What we don’t like

There are a few drawbacks to the phone that are worth mentioning. 

Perhaps most glaring among the issues is the fact that the Google Pixel 2 XL screen actually feels like a bit of a downgrade when compared to the original Google Pixel XL. Users have reported muted and unsaturated colors, grainy images on web pages, and a slight blue tint to images. Considering how long people spend looking at their phone, it’s a pretty major fault with an otherwise excellent device.

Although it’s become expected that flagships are ditching the headphone jack, it’s still an unfortunate omission in our opinion. The phone is also pretty expensive, which makes it less accessible to the average smartphone user.

Should you buy it?

We feel comfortable recommending the Google Pixel 2 XL as a viable alternative to other android flagships such as those from Samsung or LG. While the issues with the display are a major issue, the top-notch performance, excellent camera, and one of the best operating systems we’ve seen make it a clear contender for one of the best options on the market.