Avoid the Pixel 2 XL while Google investigates screen issues

In our own testing, we noticed the blue cast mentioned by other Pixel 2 XL users, especially when viewing the display at different angles. The screen’s saturation, meanwhile, is calibrated much differently compared to something like the iPhone 8—when viewing the same photo side-by-side, the image on the Pixel 2 XL looks much darker, like it has been edited.

A more pressing concern than color, and one that may be indicative of a deeper issue, is OLED burn-in, which is already appearing on units after just a few days of use. A Pixel 2 XL used by Android Central’s Alex Dobie exhibits clear signs of burn-in, with the onscreen navigation buttons appearing as ghostly images.

In a statement to The Verge, Google said it’s “actively investigating” reports about OLED burn-in—an issue that’s common, but only after several months of use. Seeing the problem appear shortly after the device launched is very disconcerting.

For what it’s worth, we haven’t seen any signs of burn-in on the Pixel 2 XL unit we have in the office, but we’ll update if that changes.

The more problems the Pixel 2 XL encounters, the harder it becomes to recommend, especially at $849. As the weeks go on, who’s to say what else will crop up—things have already gone from bad to worse for the device. Worst case scenario, Google halts production as it investigates the issue.

If production is halted, it could prove to be a death knell of sorts, especially with the iPhone X just around the corner. Having used the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, I actually prefer the smaller form factor despite there being no edge-to-edge display. Perhaps consider the Pixel 2 if the larger device’s screen troubles persist.

We’ll keep a close eye on how things develop over the coming days.

Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2017/10/23/avoid-the-pixel-2-xl-while-google-investigates-screen-issues/