Google Pixel 2 XL Review: Plans | Pricing | Specs

The Pixel 2 XL excels in essential photography and general app performance, although the screen could be improved and the overall design isn't that flashy.

Google has a long history of developing its "own" Android handsets, stretching back through the Nexus phones and tablets to the emergence of its more premium-styled and premium-priced Pixel devices.

The Google Pixel 2 XL is a Telstra-exclusive Android handset that sells itself on just how pure its Android vision is. Indeed, it's the most Google-centric phone in the entire Android world, and a fine premium device in its own right.

Design

• Plain design
• Predictably lacks a headphone jack

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 XL design

  

  Many premium handsets sell themselves on impressive or fashionable designs. Not so the Google Pixel 2 XL, which has a design that's not particularly fancy in any real way at all.

  You could even call it plain and, while it doesn't look cheap or distasteful, it's relatively bereft of any design features that make it stand out. In some ways, it feels like a throwback to Google's earlier Nexus phones, which sported similarly ordinary designs.

  The Google Pixel 2 XL is the largest of the new Pixel family, measuring in at 157.9x76.7x7.9mm with a carrying weight of 175 grams. It features a 6-inch 1440x2880 P-OLED display with minor bezels around all sides, so it's not quite a "full" screen phone. They're a necessary compromise because the top and bottom bezels house quite solid front-facing speakers, while the sides have to accommodate the squeezable sides technology that Google's adopted directly from HTC.

  As with its predecessors, controls are kept to a minimum, with USB C charging, no headphone jack and no ability to add microSD card storage to the Pixel 2 XL. Again, Google would really prefer that you kept content in the cloud rather than on a card, and as such it's advisable to consider the 128GB variant if storage is important to you.

  The Pixel 2 XL comes in either a straight black finish (dubbed "Just Black") or in a two-tone "Black and White" finish that's a touch more striking, but still less showy than some competing handsets.

  If your smartphone needs to be your fashion accessory, you may find the Pixel 2 XL a little underwhelming, especially given its asking price. I had the same observation about last year's Pixel phones too, and it would be nice for Google to put a bit more pressure on the design teams for Pixel to come up with some slightly more striking designs. Maybe next year.

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Camera

• The best single-lens camera money can buy.
• Lens will limit your photographic possibilities.

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 XL camera

  

  Where 2017 has seen an increasing number of premium cameras adopt dual lenses to enable photographic flexibility, including portrait modes, Google has opted for a single lens 12.2MP f/1.8 optically stabilised sensor paired with a front-facing 8MP f/2.4 sensor. Despite appearing on paper to be a lesser option, actually shooting with the Pixel 2 XL is generally a pleasure, especially if you shoot a lot of video.

  The use of AI to guide its photographic efforts does have genuinely excellent results most of the time, but there's a significant catch for some smartphone photographers – there's no "manual" mode to allow you to adjust settings. Indeed, Google's Pixel 2 camera app goes out of its way to try to stop you changing any setting at all, including HDR. That's probably fine for the vast majority of users, but if you want a little more photographic flexibility, you won't find it here. You'll simply have to trust Google to get it right.

  At the time of writing, the Pixel 2/XL enjoys top spot in DxOMark's sometimes contentious mobile benchmark tables. Specifically, its ratings stand right now as follows:

  Handset	DxOMark Score
  Google Pixel 2	98
  Apple iPhone X	97
  Huawei Mate 10 Pro	97
  Apple iPhone 8 Plus	94
  Samsung Galaxy Note 8	94
  Apple iPhone 8	92

  The Pixel 2/XL scores most highly for its video performance, which is genuinely exceptional if you like filming from your phone. Here's some sample footage from my morning commute over the Sydney Harbour Bridge:

  Bear in mind that this is entirely handheld footage, and Sydney's trains aren't exactly known for being the most still or stable platforms. In DxOMark's estimation, the Pixel 2/XL trails the iPhone X in still photography, but that's arguably more of a subjective call depending on your usage and especially your photographic skill level.

  The Pixel 2 XL is exceptional if you're happy to point and shoot and trust it to make the right AI call on the type of photo, especially when it's a low-light photo. Here's a comparison shot from the Pixel 2 XL in low light:

  

  And the same shot taken with the iPhone X:

  

  The Pixel 2 XL also manages a "portrait" mode. This has been managed by other phones through the use of dual lenses, but the Pixel 2 XL does this with fancy software interpretation of the scene behind it to create a mostly clean bokeh effect. Here's our editor-in-chief in standard and portrait photo mode side by side:

  

  Portrait mode isn't flawless, as it sometimes struggles with complex hair arrangements or lower light situations. In some instances, subjects can end up with a slightly exaggerated edge that makes them look a little like they've been photoshopped in. Google may be able to improve that since it's essentially a software function, but it's not quite as smooth as the effect you can get from an actual dual-lens camera.

  Google also incorporates its Google Lens features into the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. This uses machine learning and Google's vast repository of visual knowledge to analyse any picture you throw at it to return contextually relevant results. Lens is a little rudimentary, and it can't analyse every feature you throw at it, but pitching it at some standard Sydney landmarks saw it happily identify them and draw up relevant web results that could be very handy for tourists.

  

  Still, the Pixel 2 XL sits up there with the best overall performing cameras I've tested this year. It's not as flexible without a second lens, and that goes beyond just portrait modes because the lack of a secondary lens means there's no optical zoom, no extra-wide angles and no monochrome features to use in your photographic arsenal.

  You could overcome those with clip-on lenses to an extent, but that's not an ideal solution either. Again, quite how much that matters to you will vary depending on what you use your phone's camera for, and for many, images processing automatically to a pleasant standard will be enough of a hook. Here's some sample images direct from the Pixel 2 XL to compare:

  

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Performance

• Smooth performance under Android Oreo or Android Pie.
• Blue tint on P-OLED screen is regrettable.

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 XL performance

  
  I often end up commenting that benchmarks, while a useful gut-feel guide, aren't the complete story when it comes to smartphone performance. The Pixel 2 XL might just be the best example of this maxim I've seen this year. In Geekbench 4's CPU test, the Pixel 2 XL tests near identically to any other Snapdragon 835-based system we've tested this year, although a fair distance behind any of Apple's A11 Fusion-based iPhones:

  Handset	Geekbench 4 CPU Single Core (higher is better)	Geekbench 4 CPU Multi Core (higher is better)
  Apple iPhone X	4185	10319
  Apple iPhone 8	4270	10272
  Apple iPhone 8 Plus	4113	10221
  Huawei Mate 10 Pro	1888	6787
  Samsung Galaxy S8+	2020	6690
  Samsung Galaxy S8	1989	6628
  Huawei P10 Plus	1863	6544
  Nokia 8	1932	6529
  OnePlus 5	1976	6506
  Samsung Galaxy Note 8	2024	6490
  HTC U11	1919	6362
  Sony Xperia XZ Premium	1908	6324
  Google Pixel 2 XL	1914	6254

  And here's how it compares using 3DMark's Ice Storm Unlimited benchmark:

  Handset	3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Result
  Apple iPhone 8	64461
  Apple iPhone X	61256
  Apple iPhone 8 Plus	59205
  HTC U11	40239
  Sony Xperia XZ Premium	40086
  Google Pixel 2 XL	39551
  OnePlus 5	39497
  Samsung Galaxy Note 8	32277
  Huawei Mate 10 Pro	30765
  Samsung Galaxy S8	28409
  Samsung Galaxy S8+	28120

  However, in real-world usage, the Pixel 2 XL is the swiftest Android phone I've tested this year, hands-down. I can't help but suspect that, aside from its clean Android install (a trick that other phones, such as most of Nokia's handsets, use), Google's managed to sneak in more than a little software optimisation to really push the hardware to deliver because it genuinely does.

  For standard everyday tasks, response is silky smooth and fast, whether that's unlocking via the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, checking email or quickly zipping out a social media update. This pushes the Pixel 2 XL beyond the simple realm of hardcore Android aficionados because nobody ever wishes their phone would operate more slowly.

  While the Pixel 2 XL is an LG-built device, its smaller partner, the Pixel 2 is an HTC production, and it's from HTC that Google has borrowed the "Edge Sense" concept (also found on the HTC U11) for squeezable sides on the Pixel 2 XL.

  Like the HTC U11, you can set the degree of force needed to activate the motion, but unlike the U11, you can't actually pick what feature you'd like to invoke with a squeeze. On the new Pixels, it's to activate Google Assistant or to optionally mute calls, and that's it.

  I was one of only a few reviewers who saw merit in Edge Sense but, while it does sell Google services, it feels limiting in a way that Android often avoids. It's a closed platform play that would feel far more at home on an Apple phone, really.

  Then there's the contentious issue of the Pixel 2 XL's P-OLED display. Google has made some interesting choices when it comes to calibration, some of which are often overstated, and others that are slightly more problematic.

  On the lighter side, the Pixel 2 XL is calibrated specifically to the sRGB standard. That means (in very simplified terms) that it's a significantly less-vibrant display than you might be used to on competing OLED displays from, say, Samsung or most Chinese OEM makers, who love oversaturated displays. Neither approach is "wrong", just "different".

  It's probably worth having a decent look at the Pixel 2 XL's display in real life to work out if this is going to bug you and while you're at it, give it a slight tilt.

  That's because the Pixel 2 XL has one of the most noticeable cases of blueshift from any premium phone released this year. It's a factor for any display screen because they're typically built to present images straight on.

  Still, you really don't have to tilt the Pixel 2 XL much to see it, and once you're aware of it, it's hard to ignore. Again, this isn't a critical error, but it's less than desirable on what is a premium-priced handset, in the same way that the iPhone X "notch" is something of a visual blight.

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Battery life

• Good all-day battery life.
• Wireless charging is surprisingly missing (and missed!)

• Read more on the Google Pixel 2 XL battery life

  

  The Pixel 2 XL features a 3520mAh battery, which is a solid size for a larger Android device that should bring with it decent battery life. As always, your precise battery life will vary by usage and I've yet to hit a phone that I can't send flat in a day if I particularly push it.

  However, anecdotally it's quite easy to keep the Pixel 2 XL going for more than a day, and this is backed up with battery benchmarks, where the Pixel 2 XL acquits itself quite well. Here's how the Pixel 2 XL compares using Geekbench 3's battery test:

  Handset	Geekbench 3 Battery Test Duration	Geekbench 3 Battery Score
  Apple iPhone 8 Plus	15:27:40	9276
  Galaxy S8+	14:55:30	8955
  Google Pixel 2 XL	14:22:30	8625
  Apple iPhone X	12:46:50	7652
  Nokia 8	12:22:10	7421
  Sony Xperia XZ Premium	12:06:40	7266
  Samsung Galaxy Note 8	12:00:50	7208
  Samsung Galaxy S8	11:47:50	7078
  HTC U11	11:42:40	7026
  Apple iPhone 8	10:30:00	DNF

  The Pixel 2 XL can't unseat Samsung's Galaxy S8+ or the awesome battery life of the iPhone 8 Plus in benchmark terms, but it's a very solid offering that should have little trouble lasting all day for most users. While it supports rapid charging via USB C, there's sadly no sign of Qi or PMA compatible wireless charging, which would have been a nice addition to the Pixel range.

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Verdict

• A great handset for Android purists
• Single lens camera and that blue-tint screen means it's still worth comparing.

• Read our full Google Pixel 2 XL verdict

  

  The Pixel 2 XL is like a fix of pure Android and that means that, like other pure Google devices, it's particularly well-suited to the Android fan base that loves to have the latest Google OS and happily lives within Google's suite of services. If that's you, there's really not much point considering other phones because the Pixel 2 XL will meet your needs and then some.

  For the wider phone-buying audience, it's a very worthwhile contender and definitely worth putting into your consideration pile when choosing a new premium smartphone. It's a particularly smart buy if you struggle with getting the best possible photos out of your phone, although you've got to balance that against considerations such as the lack of a microSD slot and the missing headphone jack.

  The screen could ultimately be a little more vibrant and with less of a blueshift problem than it has, and that's a minus mark on a premium handset if you compare it against other options. Still, even if you're not part of the hardcore Google faithful, this is an excellent handset.

  Alternatives

  At its $1339/$1549 outright price point you could have just about any other phone you'd care to name, but there are a few very obvious contenders to the Pixel 2 XL in the premium space worth comparison. If you're happy jumping between operating system camps, consider the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, which features dual cameras, equally snappy performance and even better battery life, or if you don't mind spending a little more, the much more stylish iPhone X.

  If the thought of buying an iOS device brings you out in a rash, there are plenty of top quality Android alternatives worth pursuing as well. You could get the same Snapdragon 835 in the much less expensive OnePlus 5, or a more stylish body and dual lenses in the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, for example.

  If portrait and monochrome shooting are a key consideration, Huawei's Mate 10 or Mate 10 Pro may meet your needs.

  Another suggestion, if you want video as a focus is to consider Sony's slow-motion-spectacular Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

  If the squeezable sides concept intrigues, HTC's U11 is also worth considering.

  

  Google Pixel 2 XL: What the other reviewers say

  Site	Comment	Score
  TechRadar	"A really impressive smartphone with an absolutely killer camera."	4.5/5
  CNET	"The Pixel 2 XL serves up an exceptional camera and Google Lens in a bigger package, but the display leaves some bristling."	4.5/5
  Trusted Reviews	"For the second year running, the larger of the two Pixel devices released by Google is the more enticing."	4.5/5
  Android Authority	"You don’t buy a Pixel for its revolutionary hardware or industry-leading design..."	8.7/10
  PCMag	"The Pixel 2 XL packs more Google into its body than any other phone on the market."	4.5/5
  AFR	"Google is an engineering company, one of the greatest engineering companies of our generation, but it still has a thing or two to learn about luxury and desirability."	N/A
  SMH	"These are phones for people that want to use Google's services and software to their fullest."	N/A
  News.com.au	"The Google Pixel 2 XL is a slick, high-end phone that demonstrates just how fast Google’s hardware is evolving."	4.5/5

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Pricing and availability

Google Pixel 2 XL

Google's own take on the best of Android

The Google Pixel 2 XL brings the best of Android home, with guaranteed updates, a super-smart camera and more. It's available outright or on contract through Telstra.

Buy Now

• The Google Pixel 2 XL sells in Australia for $1339 with 64GB of onboard storage, or $1549 for 128GB.
• The Google Pixel 2 XL is also available on contract exclusively from Telstra.

Order Google Pixel 2 from Telstra from Telstra deals

Available in 64GB and 128GB

Free unlimited online storage to save photos and videos

Long lasting and fast charging battery

Use Google Lens to learn more about landmarks, artwork and more

New Pixel-exclusive AR stickers to dress up your photos

View details