Google Pixel 2: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Google's Pixel 2 offers an improved interface and high-quality camera, alongside Google's latest Android OS.

The Google Pixel 2 is the smaller of Google's second generation of phones under the Pixel branding, having switched away from its previous Nexus stylings for its own in-house handsets with last year's Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL.

Design

• Features a 5-inch, 1080p display
• No headphone jack, but it does feature stereo speakers

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 design

  

  While the larger Google Pixel 2 XL is produced by LG, the regular Pixel 2 is an HTC-built device. That's quite significant, both because the original Pixel phones were both HTC creations, but also because of Google's recent acquisition of HTC engineers and IP to boost its Pixel division.

  The HTC linkup also extends to the same squeezable sides feature as found in the HTC U11. Like the U11, you'll be able to use a squeeze on the sides of the device to take photos as well as engage Google Assistant.

  Squeezable sides are something of a gimmick, as we discussed in our review of the HTC U11, but it's also a point of differentiation from the rest of the smartphone pack.

  The Pixel XL 2 features a larger screen, but the Pixel 2 features a more pocket-friendly 5 inch 1080p display.

  In line with its own commitment to its ARCore platform, the Pixel 2 is AR-ready as well as compatible with the updated Google Daydream VR headsets. It features stereo front-firing speakers, but no headphone jack at all. Google is also launching its own "Pixel Buds" headphones, but those will cost extra above the Pixel 2's asking price.

  One of the major pain points for the original Pixel phones were that they weren't notably water resistant in any tested way. That changes with the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, both of which feature an IP67 water resistance rating.

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Camera

• 12.2MP rear-facing camera with software-based depth-of-field capabilities

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 camera

  
  Google made a particular point of pitching the camera in the original Pixel phones as the best you could get at the time, especially for low-light photography. It recognises the heavy importance that users put on mobile photography, and for the Pixel 2, it stayed the course with a single 12.2MP rear camera. One key innovation here is that the Pixel 2 will offer a "portrait" mode as found on many dual-lens cameras, utilising Google's own proprietary machine learning to provide what it claims will be best in class bokeh effects.

  2017 has been a hyper-competitive year for smartphone cameras, with many stellar options pushing the boundaries of what's feasible with smaller lenses and sensors, but the Pixel 2 should offer good, if not great camera experiences.

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Performance

• Powered by the popular and powerful Snapdragon 835 processor

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 performance

  
  Google went down the same basic smartphone route as other devices including the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium and the OnePlus 5 by utilising Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 SoC alongside 4GB of RAM.

  That puts the Pixel 2 in an interesting position. The Snapdragon 835 is a powerful processor without a doubt, but at the Pixel 2's asking price, it's possible to score a Snapdragon 835-touting handset for less. Google's own optimisations within Android and the clean Pixel interface may give it an edge here. Ultimately, however, the Pixel 2 will still be a powerful phone that should at least work at parity with other Android handsets in 2017.

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Battery

• Features a 2,700mAh battery
• Charges via USB-C

Pricing and availability

Google Pixel 2

All the trimmings

For its second crack at self-branded smartphones, Google delivers improved performance, a sharper camera and a water-resistant body. Enjoy these benefits and more by picking one up today.

Buy Now

• Google sells the Pixel 2 outright for $1,079 with 64GB of onboard storage or $1,229 with 128GB of storage.