Just in time got Google I/O 2018, we're revisiting one of Google's finest achievements: the Pixel 2 XL.  This might sound familiar, we dropped our review back in October and it had its issues at launch but have since been resolved.  

Having a more minimalist design that's more of their own identity and word of mouth about ti superior camera abilities, Google had a home run w/ their 2nd-gen Pixel.   Now that 6 months has passed, we revisit the Pixel 2 XL.  Time to break down how everything has been holding up.  




  • The issue of a bad display w/ muted colors and either it was image burn or blue tint.  Google let us know that most of that the dull colors was software based and was fixed via update.  Most folks wanted that pop that Samsung has got us used to and now we got it.  The 6inch OLED panel on my Pixel 2 XL didn't suffer from any image-burn of sorts but I did like having colors pop w/ the Saturated option in Settings.  You got a good punch of colors & deep blacks that look great.  No regrets here.  
  • After a good 6 months and using it as my daily driver, I've come across zero encounters of lag.  We got to thank the Snapdragon 835 + 4GB of RAM and the lightweight of stock Android 8.0 now 8.1.  Whether its YouTube streaming, gaming, etc., it is still a powerful performer.  Mines is as still as snappy as the day I took mines out of the box for the 1st time.  
  • The Pixel 2 XL has a 3520 mAh battery inside which holds up all day.  I can go to an event in the morning and do an 8-10-hour day at work w/o having to charge.  This is moderate usage while heavier will last me close to 12 hours.  It's great but now that the feature is on more phones, I would love the Pixel 3 to get fast wireless charging.  
  • The dual front-facing stereo speakers are great to have.  Good for speakerphone, watching YouTube clips at home, and IG stories.  

Best camera on the market US market.

  • Whether its simple Auto mode to just point-and-shoot or the Portrait Mode, the Pixel 2/2 XL is the best shooter.  It does all of this utilizing f/1.8 12.2MP, auto-focus w/ laser +dual pixel phase detection, OIS/EIS, and Google's HDR+ software.  There are times where I'll go to events like the NY Auto Show and just use my Pixel 2 for photos instead of using my actual camera.  But remember, the Pixel 2 shines more so in photos rather than in video.  
  • Activating Google Assistant via Active Edge or squeezing the side of the phone may have been viewed as a gimmick at launch.  But I actually use a lot more than I thought I would.  I thought I would use it for demo purposes once in a blue but wind up using it like multiple times a month.
  • The Picture-In-Picture feature courtesy of Android 8.0 Oreo is one of many welcome additions as it premiered on the Pixel 2 line 1st.  I actually use this over split screen for multitasking.  I'm on YouTube a lot these days whether for a podcast, comic book related content, or quality control of our own content.  I use when posting to IG w/o having to pause or catching up on my FB/Twitter feed after a long day.  
  • Now Playing is a Godsend, if you're a music-lover.  This is Google's take on Shazam that just does it automatically.  Of course, it doesn't get every single song but its database is growing and is getting better.  I've been building amazing playlists for mornings on the weekend thanks to this.  I wish there was a built-in way to retain the songs it hears but there are apps & workarounds to get these songs. 
  • Google Lens is actually the one thing that I thought I would use more but I rarely use it.  It never really got out of beta or was really updated since it was launched.  
  • The same goes for AR Stickers as I only use it when they announce new stickers.  Which has only been once.   

The Pixel 2/2XL is still a great buy for Android - even in 2018. 




Buy Yours Here

The Pixel 2 XL is a great phone as it has been my main phone since reviewing it those 6 or 7 months ago.  The best go-to camera, battery life enough to last me for most of the day, good performance, and a much better display behind it all.  Long live the Google Phone!

So if you haven't done so yet, swing by our original review here to compare.  Do you have a Pixel 2 XL or a Pixel 2?  How do you like it?  How is yours holding up for you?