Google Pixel 2 review: Can Google finally beat the iPhone?

While the removal of the headphone jack is controversial, people also can’t stop talking about the Pixel 2’s bezels. In a market where most smartphones are going bezel-less, Google’s 5-inch handset, like the iPhone 8, looks like it’s stuck in 2016.

But I am willing to ignore it, or at least accept it. Yes, the Pixel 2’s bezels are chunky, but they aren’t completely horrible. Just like the iPhone 8’s bezels aren’t completely horrible. The bright side is Google utilized that space by including two front-facing stereo speakers, which are loud and sound great without much distortion at high volume.

Compared to the Pixel 2 XL, the smaller Pixel 2 includes a 5-inch Full HD display with a 100,000:1 super contrast ratio and support for always-on technology. The time and date will always be displayed, along with any notifications that come streaming in.

The screen also comes withe a built-in circular polarizer, making the display easier to view when wearing sunglasses with polarizing lenses. I have no complaints about the Pixel 2’s screen thus far; it looks sharp and produces vivid colors. It’s tough to see in bright sunlight but, then again, most displays are.

(One weird quirk we noticed with the display was the automatic brightness feature didn’t seem to accurately read the ambient light. When I was in my car at night, the automatic brightness rendered the display barely visible, so I wound up just leaving brightness at 50-percent and calling it a day.)

The rest of the Pixel 2 is pretty much identical to its larger, more advanced brother. It comes with a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, Android 8.0 Oreo, a 12-megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture, optical and electronic image stabilization, and support for 120fps at 1080p. The battery is 2700mAh compared to the Pixel 2 XL’s 3520mAh battery.

That’s a marked difference in battery size, but I found the battery life to be pretty great. At the very least, the Pixel 2 will get you through a heavy day of email, web browsing, pictures, and social media. Of course, it goes without saying that mileage varies depends on your usage.

If you do find yourself without much battery left, know that the Pixel 2 supports Quick Charge technology, so if you use the included wall wart, you’ll get around 7 hours of battery with just 15 minutes of charging. Unfortunately, the aluminum design means there’s no wireless charging, which wasn’t that big of a deal last year. But when Apple starts adopting the technology, you know you’re behind.

Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/reviews/google-pixel-2-review/