Review: Pixel 2XL

Not going to go into to much detail. I got one sight unseen once they launched. I didn't even watch the launch event. I was tired of my 6p for various reasons. iPhone is still not supported fully on Project Fi. And the first Pixel had racked up a solid reputation as a premier phone and fantastic camera.

Then I watched in horror as the official reviews started rolling in and there was massive wailing about the screen.

So... is there a problem? Yes and No.

First lets tackle 'muted' or 'dull' colors. Google selected a real world color pallet. Compared to the super saturation of Samsung displays it comes across as a bit less.... dramatic. But it isn't dull. It isn't muted. At least in my case it is a fantastic display. It is far more viewable in sunlight than the 6p LCD. However there are some issues with enough of the early review units for concern on that front. That said my phone displays no unevenness in the backlight at low settings on grey screens and it has none of the 'grittyness' that some have.

Second is the blue tint when viewed off center/tilted. And my phone does display this behavior. Slightly. And it is typical of most AMOLED screens. Samsungs displays do not suffer to badly from this and actually tend to tint pink from my experience with demo units. But... again at least in my case it is very slight. It in no way keeps the display from being useable and it only presents at angles far enough off typical use that it is not an issue on my unit.

Finally... and perhaps most worryingly is the apparent burn in some early review units have shown after just a few days.

In response to all of this Google has extended the factory warranty to 2 years.

So is there a problem? Yes, Google issuing the warranty extension says two things to me. One, there is a problem. Two, they do not think it is something they cannot cover. So in the grand scheme of things I would surmise they expect it is something that impacts a fraction of what they make, possibly tied to early batches.

So get the phone if it is one that appeals to you. Google will replace the unit if you have one that has problems. And that is a worthwhile risk for the rest of the phone. Because this one possible sour note that Google will in all likely hood handle if you have an issue should not keep you away from this fantastic phone.

The camera is fantastic. Fast. Very fast. And the optical stabilization works great.

Oreo Android on this hardware is swift and clean. The Google extras (assistant, lens etc...) are what they are. I personally still find them more gimmicky than useful. But the assistant is easily better than Alexa. Lens.... is neat... but still very early days.

Battery life is significantly better than on the Nexus 6p. Solid day of use.

The size and textured finish make it less prone to slipping out of your hand.

Really about the only negatives I have so far is the off center camera lens bulge which makes for a slightly off kilter experience when pecking at the device when sitting on a table. And of course the asinine deletion of the headphone jack.