The Google Pixel 2 follows the model set by last year's first-gen Pixel, combining top-notch specs with Google's software expertise. Powered by the latest Android 8.0 Oreo (with no bloat whatsoever), the phone offers a set of promising stereo speakers, a 5-inch OLED screen, water resistance and a rear-positioned fingerprint scanner. The Google Pixel 2 is a great example of how successors overpower the predecessors. With a compact size, the Pixel 2 forms to be a great convenience for handling, besides coming with brilliant features that is sure to keep you amazed.
Codename |
|
---|---|
Developer | |
Manufacturer |
|
Slogan | Ask more of your phone. |
Series | Pixel |
Model | |
Compatible networks | |
First released | October 19, 2017; 19 months ago |
Discontinued | April 1, 2019[2] |
Predecessor | Pixel |
Successor | Pixel 3 |
Type | Pixel 2:Smartphone Pixel 2 XL:Phablet[3] |
Form factor | Slate |
Dimensions | Pixel 2: H: 145.7 mm (5.74 in) W: 69.7 mm (2.74 in) D: 7.8 mm (0.31 in) Pixel 2 XL: H: 157.9 mm (6.22 in) W: 76.7 mm (3.02 in) D: 7.9 mm (0.31 in) |
Mass | Pixel 2: 143 g (5.04 oz) Pixel 2 XL: 175 g (6.17 oz) |
Operating system | Original:Android8.0 'Oreo' Current:Android 9.0 'Pie' |
System on chip | |
CPU | Octa-core (4 × 2.35GHz, 4 × 1.9GHz) Kryo |
GPU | Adreno 540 |
Modem | Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE (integrated) |
Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4X RAM |
Storage | 64 or 128 GB |
Battery | |
Display | Pixel 2: 5 in (130 mm) FHDAMOLED, 1920 × 1080 (441ppi) Pixel 2 XL: 6 in (150 mm) QHDP-OLED, 2880 × 1440 (538ppi) All:Gorilla Glass 5 |
Rear camera |
|
Front camera | 8 MP Sony Exmor IMX179 1.4 µm pixel size f/2.4 aperture |
Connectivity | GSM, LTE, LTE Advanced, Voice over LTE, HSDPA, CDMA, TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA |
Website | store.google.com/product/pixel_2 |
Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are Androidsmartphones designed and developed by HTC and LG respectively, and marketed by Google. They were announced during a Google event on October 4, 2017, as the successors to the Pixel and Pixel XL. They were released on October 19, 2017, and serve as the second set of smartphones in the Google Pixel hardware line. On October 9, 2018, they were succeeded by the third-generation Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
- 2Specifications
- 4Issues
History[edit]
In early March 2017, Google's Rick Osterloh confirmed that they would bring a 'next-gen' Pixel phone later that year. He stated it would 'stay premium' and that there would be no 'cheap Pixel'.[4]
Google originally intended to use HTC to manufacture both their 2017 flagships, but later shifted to LG to manufacture the bigger Pixel 2 XL. The unreleased device that was supposed to be the Pixel 2 XL under the codename 'Muskie', was later re-developed by HTC into the HTC U11+.[5]
The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were carried in the United States by Verizon and Project Fi. On October 4, 2018, Verizon Wireless stopped selling the Pixel 2.[6]
Specifications[edit]
Design[edit]
The back of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is made from aluminum with a thin 'premium coating' of plastic and has a top section made from glass to provide wireless transmissivity.[7] Unlike the original Pixel XL, which was simply an enlarged version of the Pixel design with no other changes, the Pixel 2 XL's external design differs from its smaller sibling, employing a taller 2:1 P-OLED display (marketed as 18:9) instead of the Pixel 2's 16:9 AMOLED.
Hardware[edit]
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are both powered by the QualcommSnapdragon835, coupled with 4 GBLPDDR4X RAM. They both come in storage options of 64 or 128 GB.
Magnified view showing the diagonal PenTile pixel arrangement on the Pixel 2 (not XL)
The Pixel 2 has a 5-inch (130 mm) AMOLED display panel with 1920×1080 resolution, coming in at around 441 ppi, while the Pixel 2 XL comes with a 6-inch (150 mm) P-OLED display panel with a 2:1 aspect ratio and a 2880×1440 resolution at 538 ppi.
Both phones 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 contains phase-detection autofocus, laser autofocus, and HDR+ processing. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL also include the Pixel Visual Core (PVC) image processor for faster and lower power image processing, though it was not enabled until Android 8.1 was released in January 2018.[8][9] The PVC was custom design by Google's consumer hardware team with collaboration from Intel.[10] The Pixels do not have support for 4K video at 60 FPS, as the processor is not powerful enough.[11][12] The Pixel 2 includes Optical Image Stabilization which the Pixel lacked. Google uses Fused Video Stabilization which reduces issues with camera shake, motion blur, rolling shutter distortion, and focus breathing as found in other image stabilization methods.[13]
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL support USB Power Delivery quick charging, have a fingerprint sensor on the rear, IP67 dust and water resistance and are Daydream-ready.[14] The Pixel 2s has a nano-SIM and an eSIM, Android Q Beta 2 enabled dual SIM support however Android Q Beta 3 disabled it.[15]
Software[edit]
The phones ship with stock Android8.0 'Oreo' on launch. Google has promised three years of software and security updates,[16] making it closer to the average four years of support that Apple provides for its iPhones.[17]
The new Pixels also include a feature called 'Active Edge'. With this, the Google Assistant can be launched by squeezing the phone's sides, similar to the HTC U11's 'Edge Sense' feature.
This phone was also released with the new Google Lens app, which is designed to bring up relevant information using visual analysis by the camera. Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL also automatically reverse searches songs which are playing around the device.[18]
Android 8.1 Oreo was released for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on December 5, 2017.[19]
Pixel 2 owners receive free unlimited storage for all photos and videos taken on the phone in original quality through the end of 2020, with unlimited high-quality storage continuing afterwards.[20]
Google updated the Pixel 2 with many features from the Pixel 3, such as: Night Sight, Google Duplex, Call Screening, Playground, New Google Lens, Portrait Mode Depth Effect Adjustments, Flip to Shhh and Digital Wellbeing.[21]
Cellular networks[edit]
Generation | Standard | Bands[22] |
---|---|---|
2G | GSM | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 |
3G | CDMA EVDO Rev A | BC 0, 1, 10 |
UMTS / HSPA+ / HSDPA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 | |
4G | LTE-FDD | 1*, 2*, 3*, 4*, 5, 7*, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66* |
LTE-TDD | 38*, 40, 41 | |
Does not appear | * Indicates the bands that support 4x4 MIMO |
Reception[edit]
The Pixel 2 camera received a score of 98 from DxOMark, making it the highest performing mobile device camera at the end of 2017, and was overtaken in March 2018 by Samsung's Galaxy S9+.[23]
The Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL received mixed reviews. The phone was praised for the camera quality and water resistance,[24] but was criticized for the removal of the headphone jack,[25] particularly after Google mocked Apple for doing the same with its iPhone 7 phone at the launch of the first generation Pixel phone just 12 months prior.[26] Google was also criticized for the price of the USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter it sells, which costs US$20 while Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm adapter costs US$9,[27] as well as for not including headphones with the phone. However, news outlets noted that because USB-C is a standard interface, unlike Lightning, there are a variety of third-party adapters that retail for less than Google's official one.[28] Google later dropped the price of the adapter to US$9, keeping the price in-line with Apple's offering.[29][30][31]
YouTuberJerryRigEverything, who performs durability tests on various smartphones, criticized Google for their design choice with the antenna lines on the sides of the handset. When he bent the Pixel 2, it cracked at the antenna line near the middle of the phone, voiding its water resistance and warranty, while most other phones from competitors pass his bend test. This does not apply to the Pixel 2 XL.[32][33][34]
The design of the smaller Pixel 2 was regarded as plain, and its big chunky bezels were not well received, considering that earlier 2017 phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6 had moved to nearly bezel-less screens.[35]
The Pixel 2 XL screen became infamous for quality control issues, a flaw shared with the LG V30 which also has the same manufacturer and P-OLED screen type. The Pixel 2 XL has a blue tint visible on the screen when the phone is viewed at an angle. Many were dissatisfied[36][37] and it was speculated that Google had installed the polarizer incorrectly.[38] However, when Google addressed the tint, they stated that it was a design choice to have the blue tint to go along with the cooler color temperature used by the screen (it is calibrated to a D67 white point, which is 6700K).[39][40]
The Pixel 2 was updated with the Pixel 3's Night Sight feature which dramatically improves low light performance with no flash or tripod. Using Night Sight the Pixel 2 takes superior low light photos than newer 2018 flagships such as the iPhone XS, Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9.[41]
Issues[edit]
Screen issues[edit]
Vlad Savov of The Verge has complained of under-saturated and distorted OLED displays,[42] and there have also been reports of screen burn-in on some Pixel 2 XL units.[43]
The Pixel 2 XL also suffers from a 'black smear' problem, which occurs when a group of black pixels transition to colored ones, and tend to linger for a while, before changing to their expected state.[44][45]
Google conducted an investigation and said that a software update would be coming soon that would add a new mode for more saturated colors, reducing the maximum brightness of the Pixel 2 XL devices by 50 cd/m2 to reduce load on the display, and fading out the navigation bar after a period of inactivity.[46] The November security patch came with three new screen modes that Google promised earlier,[47] although Google has also said that further enhancements would be included in a separate software update to be released in December.[48] Google also extended device warranty to two years for both devices worldwide.[49]
The Pixel 2 XL has an issue where the screen may flash randomly. It occurs when the phone is locked or unlocked.[50] The issue was fixed in the June system software update, but returned with the July update.[51]
Audio issues[edit]
Hundreds of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL owners have been complaining of high-pitched and clicking sounds coming from the phone.[52] Google investigated the issue and recommended turning off NFC to temporarily fix the problem until a software update comes out.[53][54] The November security patch fixed the clicking sound as well as the KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi security issue, however, it did not fix the buzzing sounds heard during calls on some devices. Google has promised a fix in a future update.[55]
The Pixel 2 XL has a volume flaw that reduces the sound level of audio clips sent through messaging apps such as Google Allo, Instagram, and Telegram among others. Google is aware of the problem and is looking into it.[56]
Some of the USB-C to 3.5mm adapters for the headphones do not work. In some cases, rebooting the phone can fix the issue temporarily. Google is offering replacements for the faulty adapters.[57][58]
Some Pixel 2 XL suffer from speaker rattling when playing content or even during phone calls.[59]
Multiple users reported that the microphone can randomly stop working. A possible solution is to blow into the microphone.[60]
Some units suffer from Bluetooth connectivity issues.[61]
There is an issue where Google Assistant does not work with some Bluetooth headphones.[62]
Other issues[edit]
The Pixel 2 XL comes with a charger capable of fast charging at 18W, but the phone is not able to charge at more than 10.5W, taking two and a half hours for a full charge.[63] Below 20 °C (68 °F) the charging speed is just a mere 3-4W, but the phone will still display 'Charging rapidly', which is misleading.[64]
The phones are known to randomly reboot. Google promised a fix in the coming weeks.[65] The random reboots are believed to be caused by the LTE modem. The Android 8.1 release in 2017 did not fix the problem.[66]
The Android 8.1 update introduces an issue in the Pixel 2 XL making the fingerprint sensor slower. Google is investigating the issue.[67][68]
The phones have issues with Wi-Fi mesh networks, where disconnects are common. Google is already investigating this issue.[69]
Users started reporting battery drain issues after the February security update.[70] The battery drain become worse after the April security updates. Google is looking for a fix.[71]
Users are reporting proximity sensor issues. Google is aware of the issue and looking for a fix.[72]
Some users are having issues making calls and receiving MMS messages.[73] Google claims these issues are fixed but users are still complaining about them.[74][75]
The Pixel 2 produces blurry panoramas. Google has known about this issue since December 2017, but has not been able to deliver a fix.[76] There is a workaround for this issue but it requires rooting the phone (which requires a full wipe if the bootloader wasn't previously unlocked). Google has promised a fix later in 2018.[77]
The June OTA update introduces an issue that makes the phone much slower to wake up from sleep. Google is already aware of the issue and looking for a fix.[78]
The camera has an issue where it sometimes shows 'fatal camera error'. Google is aware of the issue and working on a fix.[79]
The phone has lag issues and can get extremely laggy without a known cause. The only known fix is to replace the device. Google is aware of the issue and looking for a fix.[80][81]
Pixel 2 refurbished phones have a locked bootloader. Google is aware of the issue and is looking for a fix.[82]
Fixed issues[edit]
Some Pixel 2 XL devices also fail to register touch near the edges of the screen.[83] Android 8.1 fixes this issue.[84]
Some Pixel 2 XL units suffer from poor audio recording quality. The recorded audio is high-pitched and distorted.[85] Android 8.1 fixes this issue.[86]
Some Pixel 2 XL devices were shipped to consumers without an operating system, rendering them unusable.[87][88][89][90]
Many users are reporting that unlocked devices have a locked bootloader.[91][92] Google fixed the issue, but the solution includes factory resetting the device.[93]
Sales[edit]
In the United States, Verizon and Project Fi are the exclusive carriers for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. They are available direct-to-consumer for use on any wireless network through Google's online store, or from Best Buy and Target.[94]According to IDC Senior Research Director Francisco Jeronimo, Google shipped 3.9 million units in 2017, twice as much as Pixels sold in 2016.[95]
On March 21, 2018, Google did a temporary offer if a consumer financed a Pixel for 2 years the consumer receives $200 cashback, to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and iPhone X. The promotion ended March 31, 2018.[96]
On July 9, 2018, Google reduced the Pixel 2 XL price significantly.[97][98][99]
On October 12, 2018, The Pixel 2 XL was discounted by $300 for Verizon Wireless customers.[100][101]
On April 1, 2019, Google stopped selling both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL on the Google Store.[102]
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External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pixel_2&oldid=899143404'
$849.00
- ProsExcellent battery life. Terrific low-light camera performance. Elegant Google software. Great build.
- ConsNo headphone jack or microSD card slot. Lacks Band 71 for expanded T-Mobile coverage. Screen quality has caused drama.
- Bottom LineThe Pixel 2 XL combines elegant Google software and a great camera for a smooth Android experience.
The Pixel 2 XL (starting at $849) is a true Google phone—possibly the most Google phone ever. The company has remixed its favorite features from HTC and LG to make a supersized flagship with a unique personality. While the 6-inch Pixel 2 XL has roughly the same power and hardware capabilities as the 5-inch Pixel 2, the XL has a better design and better performance. It also has the finest smartphone camera we've tested. But its highly divisive display, the most hotly debated smartphone screen we've seen in years, means that this phone falls just short of our Editors' Choice.
- $750.00
- $699.00
- $930.00
- $799.00
- $800.00
- $437.37
- $479.00
- $649.00
Design
Here's a slight shocker: Although Google tries to hide it, the smaller Pixel 2 (made by HTC) and the larger Pixel 2 XL (made by LG) are different phones; they're not just big and small variants, like the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. They have very different screen panels, a different screen-to-body ratio, different call and multimedia audio, and different VR performance.
The Pixel 2 XL has the same 6-inch Quad HD OLED panel as the LG V30, but it's in a custom chassis that's a little taller at 6.2 inches to the V30's 6.0 inches. That's to make room for front-facing speakers. The back is a warm, cozy mix of matte metal and glass, in black and white (or all black). The phone measures 6.2 by 3.0 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.2 ounces--it's definitely bigger and heavier than the Galaxy S8 (5.9 by 2.7 by 0.3 inches, 5.5 ounces), although it's slightly shorter than the Note 8 (6.4 by 3.0 by 0.3 inches, 6.9 ounces).
I'm very happy to see the modern 18:9 form factor here rather than the smaller Pixel's outdated 16:9. After using a Samsung Galaxy S8 for a while, I've become a major partisan of tall, narrow phones, which give you more screen area while still remaining easy to hold. It's IP67 water resistant, like Samsung's latest phones.
Here's the statement, though: Google takes that LG body and puts...HTC's squeeze sensor on it! This shocks me a little—the squeeze sensor from the HTC U11 is one of its proudest inventions right now—but apparently the tech was part of Google's $1.1-billion HTC deal. Squeeze the phone slightly below its midriff, even if it's in a case, and it'll launch Google Assistant. You can alter the squeeze sensitivity and it'll work even if the phone is off, but as far as I can tell, you can't change it to launch a different app.
Inside, there's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage, just like the smaller Pixel. The 3,520mAh battery, along with Google's relatively efficient software and the not-so-bright screen, makes for excellent battery life. We got 9 hours, 25 minutes of continuous LTE video streaming at maximum brightness, which is between the Galaxy S8 (5 hours, 45 minutes) and Note 8's (10 hours) results and outpaces other leading smartphones. The phone has Qualcomm's fast charging technology, although it lacks wireless charging.
Screen and Audio
The Pixel 2 XL has a 6-inch, 2,880-by-1,440 OLED display, for 536 pixels per inch (ppi ). It's the same resolution and pixel density as the V30, though not quite as pixel dense as the slightly smaller S8 (570ppi). According to our own tests and experts we've consulted, the screen isn't the finest on the market, but it's fine. It's not nearly as bright as the screen on the Galaxy Note 8 or Galaxy S8, and its colors tend to be a bit cool and bluish. But performance is entirely within the acceptable range.
There are many people who don't share our opinion, though, and this matter of taste has become so divisive that we really suggest looking at a Pixel 2 XL at a Verizon store before buying. Google stepped up and said it would add a more vibrant color mode, as well as additional protection against display burn-in and a two-year warranty. The burn-in protection consists of making the screen slightly dimmer, though, and it already isn't the brightest screen. This doesn't reduce our rating for the Pixel 2 XL, but we have to acknowledge the vibrancy of the debate here.
The new Pixels also have no headphone jack and instead come with USB-C dongles. You have to use this adapter to attach headphones; some third-party adapters that work with Motorola phones, for instance, don't work here.
![Pixel Pixel](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81KgaU7qznL._SX569_.jpg)
Google clearly wants to push you toward Bluetooth, and it's pushing a new 'fast pairing' technique that's supposed to make it easier to pair your Bluetooth headset. Right now, though, it only works with a handful of headsets: the Libratone QAdapt Over Ear , Google's own Pixel Buds, the Plantronics V8200, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, and some headphones made by a company named AiAiAi. That said, I didn't have any trouble pairing the phone to my Plantronics Voyager UC headset.
The Pixel 2 XL's front-facing speakers give the phone a relatively rich, full sound that's better than the Galaxy S8, Note 8, V30, or Pixel 2. Compared with phones with single speakers, you hear more of a distinct separation between instruments in a track. Compared with the smaller Pixel, which has front-facing speakers, the XL sounds fuller and is about 2dB louder at maximum volume.
Call Quality and Networking
The Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 2 have distinct differences in voice quality. Voices sound more rounded and less harsh on this model than on the smaller Pixel, though the smaller model is louder. Transmissions through the mic have very good, but not quite perfect, noise cancellation on both. The front-facing speakers help in speakerphone mode. Both phones have louder earpieces and more consistent voice tone than the latest iPhones.
Both Pixel 2s sport category 15, or 800Mbps, LTE, and are compatible with all the major US networks. They lack Band 71, T-Mobile's new 600MHz network specifically for rural coverage. If you're in one of T-Mobile's Band 71 areas, you'll need to get an LG V30, it's currently the only Band 71 phone.
The Pixels will get their best speeds on networks other than Sprint, though, because their 4x4 MIMO antennas are tuned for non-Sprint bands. (They'll work on Sprint, just in a 600Mbps mode.) According to modem experts, the Pixel has the hardware for gigabit LTE, but Google chose not to support the full spec. That's a little perplexing, but more than speed, we're glad to see 4x4 MIMO here for the coverage and signal strength improvements it brings.
Dual-band Wi-Fi support is excellent, on par with the Samsung Galaxy phones. The Pixel 2 XL also has Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC.
Performance and Software
When you get a Pixel, you get the latest Google software, currently Android 8.0 Oreo. That's refreshing. You also get OS and security updates before anyone else does. And you get Google's applications, like its calendar and messaging apps, without redundant manufacturer apps. If you're into hacking, models bought directly from Google (not through Verizon, more on this in a bit) are easy to modify.
Google has added some minor tweaks with varying levels of success. I like the idea of Now Playing, a feature that automatically listens to ambient music and tells you what's playing on the lock screen. But when I tried it with ten songs, it only worked on four of them. Google says it's primed with the most popular tracks, and it'll be updated as time goes on.
Google Lens has some promise; it's a feature that automatically recognizes text in photos, or lets you look up books, albums, artwork, and locations in Google Photos. It worked easily on books I tried, but it's not a huge differentiator, and I kept forgetting it was there.
I surprised myself at how much I used the new squeeze-to-Google-Assistant feature, though. You can set Google Assistant to activate by voice even when the phone is locked. After a bunch of false-start activations in conversations where I was saying 'Google' a lot, I turned to the squeeze sensor. By squeezing the phone about two-thirds of the way down, the Assistant pops up (it never launched accidentally). On a Pixel, the Assistant can manipulate on-device settings (like turning off Wi-Fi) as well as answer internet-based questions.
You can't shake the fact that Google's apps are better than OEM apps, and it's nice to see them on a phone where they aren't redundant. Google Assistant is far better than Samsung's Bixby, because it integrates on-device and internet queries seamlessly, and the squeeze sensor is much better than Samsung's Bixby button, which is way too easy to press accidentally.
One Camera, Not Two
The Pixel 2 XL gets its camera right. The main sensor's specs are pretty much the same as our previous Editors' Choice, the Samsung Galaxy S8, but Google's software is a touch better than Samsung's in low light, making this the best phone camera we've seen so far.
See How We Test Phones
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL share a 12.2MP, f/1.8 main camera setup. That looks to be the sweet spot for phone sensors; go any higher in terms of megapixels, and you lose low-light capabilities.
Google's camera app has relatively few modes and options. By default, there's no manual mode or RAW support, but you can get both through third-party apps (and the vast majority of people shoot in auto anyway). The phone does have Motion Photos, which, like, Apple's Live Photos, add a short video to your still photos.
Google also manages to do bokeh Portrait mode with the single camera sensor through software. We took a photo of a heavily bearded GSMArena editor, and it worked pretty well, but stray hairs behind other hairs tended to be blurred out as part of the background. It's not perfect, but it's also not worse than on dual-camera phones. Bokeh works with the 8-megapixel front camera, too.
In auto mode, the Pixel 2 XL takes the best photos of any camera we've tested this year. While the results are on par with the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 in good light, the Pixel 2 XL really shines in low light. It's able to gather a little more light, allowing it to raise shutter speeds and reduce blur, and its color balance is a bit truer than the S8/Note 8. While the Note 8 would judge some skin tones to be too bluish under streetlights, the Pixel made our test model look more human.
The 8-megapixel front-facing camera has, in theory, a tighter aperture than the Galaxy phones do--f/2.4 to f/1.7--which results in grainier, noisier low-light photos than you get from the Samsungs. Samsung's image quality is compromised by an intense smoothing algorithm that's part of the default settings, and isn't to everyone's tastes. In good light, the Pixel's front-facing images are fantastic.
The Pixel 2 XL lacks a second main camera, which competitors like the LG V30, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and iPhone Plus models all have. I recently got into a debate about whether wide angle or 2x zoom is a better approach there, but we agreed that the second cameras have benefits. That said, the advantage of a second camera doesn't outweigh having the best possible main camera, and the Pixel 2 XL has that best possible camera.
The camera may also get better with time. Google says it has a Pixel Visual Core processor in the phone that is not yet active, but will improve HDR photography in mixed lighting conditions. The chip will become active with Android Oreo 8.1 'in the coming weeks.' The Pixel's HDR performance is already excellent, so this is just going to be icing on the cake.
Daydreamin'
If you want to live in VR, the Pixel 2 XL is the best phone to choose.
I'm skeptical about the attraction of VR; I think it's about to be outpaced by augmented reality, which nobody currently does well, but which we'll be hearing a lot more about in 2018. But the Pixel 2 XL's Daydream system, along with the new $99 Daydream View headset, is a bit more comfortable to wear and less expensive than Samsung's Gear VR. Neither system will bowl you over with a massive selection of VR content, which is VR's fatal flaw.
This is one area where the bigger Pixel leaps ahead of the smaller one, though. It's hard to tell the difference between a 440ppi screen and a 536ppi panel with the naked eye, but it gets much easier when you're wearing a VR headset: Daydream on the smaller Pixel looks genuinely pixelated, to a distracting extent, while it's acceptably fine-grained on the Pixel 2 XL. You see the biggest difference in text. Words appear to shift and pulse distractingly on the smaller Pixel, making it a slightly unpleasant phone to use for VR.
Where to Buy and Conclusions
Buying a Pixel 2 XL may be a little out of your comfort zone, because it isn't sold directly by most carriers. But it's worth it. Verizon sells the 64GB Pixel 2 XL directly for $849.99 or $35.41 per month. But that model has bloatware and a locked bootloader. Just go instead to the Google Store online, where it's $849 or $35.38 per month.
Balancing the Pixel 2 XL against the Galaxy S8, the Galaxy has a brighter screen, standard headphone jack, wireless charging, and a microSD card slot. It's also a little easier to hold, because it's narrower. The Pixel 2 XL brings cleaner and more updated software, longer battery life, better low-light camera performance, and none of that Bixby nonsense.
If only it wasn't for that divisive screen. As it stands, if you don't want to bother having to check out a phone in the store yourself, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 are no-brainers. But we really suggest taking a look in person, seeing what the Pixel 2 XL has to offer, and whether you can see yourself using one.
Google Pixel 2 XL
Bottom Line: The Pixel 2 XL combines elegant Google software and a great camera for a smooth Android experience.