Google Pixel 2 XL panda Full Specifications, Review & more

Google Pixel 2 XL panda Overview

The Google Pixel 2 XL panda sports a unibody aluminum chassis with a unique coating that provides a good grip and conceals the antenna bands. The 6-inch pOLED display offers a QHD+ resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The colors are a little dull, but Google will be releasing a patch for this soon. The blue tinge, on the other hand, is rather unpleasant. It is a single SIM phone with no microSD card slot. You also get stereo speakers that sound decent and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor that works well. It is powered by a Snapdragon 835 SoC and runs Android 8 Oreo. App speed is excellent, and Google has introduced new features such as Now Playing, Active Edge, and a redesigned home screen and launcher. There’s a new portrait mode for the front and rear sensors that do a good job given it’s all software-based. The battery life is also quite decent.

Google Pixel 2 XL panda Full Specifications

Google Pixel 2 XL panda review

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL panda have identical and amazing cameras, processors, and software. The primary distinctions between the two are pricing (obviously), size, bezel width, and screen technology. We enjoyed our initial experience with the Pixel 2 XL, but any potential purchasers should be aware of several issues with the phone’s screen that has surfaced since our initial review, as well as the planned software upgrade Google claims will address them.

Photos from the Pixel 2 and 2 XL panda: feast your eyes

The Pixel 2 XL panda sports a larger 6-inch display with a greater resolution than the 5-inch Pixel 2. However, it employs new technology, a plastic-OLED (POLED) display, whereas the Pixel 2 employs a more typical AMOLED screen.

There have been instances of the Pixel 2 XL display exhibiting screen burn-in, which occurs when vestiges of previous images stay on the screen even when the device is not actively shown, during the first week of its release. We found evidence of screen burn-in in two of the five Pixel 2 XL panda we tested.

When I displayed a grey color swatch on my review unit, I observed outlines of the notification bar (which includes the time and battery status) and the navigational hotkeys at the bottom of the display. These faint lines remained after the display was turned off overnight and after running a screen burn-in fix video, indicating that this issue is more persistent than image retention (a temporary form of screen burn-in).

Screen burn-in is a well-known problem that affects numerous types of displays when visuals, such as on-screen navigation buttons, remain in the same place for an extended period of time. Similar concerns were noticed with the Nexus 6, which has an AMOLED screen. But it generally happens after a while, and the fact that it’s happening so soon on a phone as pricey as the Pixel 2 XL panda is alarming. We haven’t encountered burn-in concerns with the smaller Pixel 2, the LG V30 (which also has a POLED display), or the Galaxy S8.

Keep in mind that when we repeated the identical grey swatch test on three other Pixel 2 XLs, we didn’t detect any burn-in symptoms – at least not yet.

When I tested it on YouTube videos, an app that occupies the entire display of the phone, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. When I began hunting for the hotkeys, though, I could see ghostly outlines of them. They appeared whenever a movie displayed light colors on the right side of the screen for more than a few seconds.

Putting the Pixel 2’s outstanding camera to the test

Those who purchased the Pixel 2 XL panda through the Google Store have 15 calendar days from the date they received it to return it. Users of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, in particular, are eligible for a two-year worldwide guarantee (up from one year as of Oct. 26), as long as the phone was purchased from an approved retailer.

It should be noted, however, that the Google Store generally offers more lenient return policies than other shops. That’s why it’s best to buy Pixel phones there rather than from a carrier or another store. We contacted Verizon about its return policy for the Pixel 2 XL panda. In the meantime, contact your local Verizon outlet to initiate a return.

Another, little screen issue. Google has purposefully adjusted the Pixel 2 XL panda display to appear more muted and washed-out than the Galaxy S8. When tilting the phone at different angles, a bluish tint appears (this is known as a blue shift).

While the Pixel 2 XL’s screen isn’t as vibrant as some of its competitors, I don’t consider this a deal-breaker. The display is still brilliant and bright, and the only difference between these phones is when they are compared side by side. It all comes down to personal preference: if you want to see more vibrant colors (that aren’t always realistic), go with the Galaxy S8. Otherwise, the Pixel 2 XL panda is quite adequate. The blue shift is a hardware fault that may be found on most phones if you tilt the screen far enough. The width of the tilting window is determined by your tolerance.

What’s CNET’s view on it?

Pixel peepers – anyone who values screen quality and color accuracy – may find these issues vexing, and if having a spectacular screen is a priority for you (and that’s perfectly fine if it is), I’ve included a few excellent options below. This includes the smaller Pixel 2, which has the same camera functions, software delights, and processing speeds as the Pixel 2 XL panda but has a different AMOLED screen.

Meanwhile, we’re keeping a watch on our other Pixel 2 XLs to see how they hold up over time with everyday use. Right now, we don’t know how serious or pervasive the burn-in issue is (are these anecdotal concerns with an early batch of displays or are they symptomatic of an endemic problem with the product? ), or how successfully Google’s upcoming software patches will help alleviate the problem.

As a result, we are not revising our review rating for the time being, but we reserve the right to do so in the future if ongoing testing or third-party reports merit it.

If the Pixel 2 XL’s large size, regularly updated Android OS, and peak performance don’t deter you, the phone is still fantastic. It’s also possible that your unit will be trouble-free.

If you choose with the XL, we recommend seeing it in person to make sure you like the color palette on the screen and comparing it to the basic Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy phones. When making a purchase, check the vendor’s return policy (again, the Google Store is the best bet) and pay close attention to the screen during the 15-day return period.

Price and release date for the Pixel 2 XL panda

The phone is available from Verizon, the Google Store, Project Fi, and Best Buy. The Pixel 2 XL is available in two color options: just black and black and white (which resembles a tuxedo/penguin/panda) and costs $849 (64GB) and $949 (64GB) (128GB).

Google Pixel 2xl panda camera review

The Google Pixel 2xl panda camera is the best-performing mobile device camera we’ve tested, with a record-breaking total score of 98. It accomplishes this despite having “just” a single-camera design for its main camera. Its top ratings in most of our traditional photo and video categories pushed it ahead of our previous (tied) leaders, the Apple iPhone 8 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, despite the Pixel 2 scoring lower in the new Zoom and Bokeh categories. The Pixel 2 is also a significant improvement over the Pixel (which was our top scorer when it was debuted a year ago), improving from 90 to 98.

Key camera specifications:

1/2.6-inch 12MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture
Dual-Pixel Autofocus Optical Image Stabilization
HDR+ technology New Portrait Mode software solution
DxOMark Mobile tests: DxOMark engineers capture and analyze over 1500 test photos and more than 2 hours of video in both controlled lab situations and natural indoor and outdoor scenes for scoring and analysis in our smartphone camera reviews. This article is intended to highlight the most noteworthy findings from the testing. For additional information on the DxOMark Mobile test protocol, please visit this page.

Summary of the examination

The Google Pixel 2 not only wins the DxOMark Mobile scoring title with a remarkable Overall score of 98, but its video performance improves by 5 points over the first Pixel, putting it at 96 and at the top of our video ranking. The Pixel 2’s camera performance is quite good at 99, falling just one point short of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which achieved an incredible 100 in our photo category.

A bright light

In strong light, the Google Pixel 2 has good clarity, excellent color rendering, and a very impressive dynamic range, making it an excellent camera for capturing high-contrast images. With well-controlled noise levels, details are maintained in both highlights and shadows.

The autofocus performance is also good. Overall, the Pixel 2’s skills in high light make it excellent for a wide range of outdoor photographers, from image aficionados hunting for the perfect landscape or cityscape to those capturing sporting events or family trips.

Even when compared to one of our other top Photo performers, the HTC U11 (click on an image to view a full-resolution version), the Pixel 2 renders detail in both bright and dark portions of tough scenes:

Flash and low light

In low-light circumstances, the Google Pixel 2 camera does an excellent job of keeping fine detail, albeit at the expense of some luminance noise. In addition, there is some detail loss in brightly illuminated indoor scenes. In terms of dynamic range and focusing performance, the Pixel is also extremely good in low light, and color rendition is very good, with the exception of some color non-uniformity in indoor situations and lower light.

Those who enjoy taking pictures in low light and in social situations will be pleased to learn that the Pixel 2 is also one of the finest all-around performers when utilizing a flash. Phone cameras often shine when the flash is the only source of light or when there is help from ambient light, but the Pixel 2 excels in both circumstances. As a result, the Pixel 2 is a terrific choice for recording family or group portraits indoors and in low light.

Zoom and Bokeh

Because the Pixel 2 only has a single main camera, the software is responsible for generating Zoom, Depth Effect, Portrait Mode, and Bokeh from one or more frames acquired with that camera. The Pixel 2’s software performs admirably in all of these areas, but with minor limitations.

Our Zoom tests range from 2x to 8x. When compared to a true telephoto lens, the Pixel 2 obviously loses detail at mid to long-range. However, the loss is lower than in most other single-camera configurations. At 4x, the Pixel 2 does a good job of suppressing noise, but it loses a lot of detail. Images with zoom ratios greater than 4x were not usable.

Our Bokeh sub-score assesses several aspects of image quality, including how well the camera depicts the limited depth of field (sometimes referred to as “Depth Effect”), its ability to do so specifically for portraits (sometimes referred to as “Portrait Mode”), and Bokeh itself — the shape and aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas. The indoor portrait image comparison below shows that the Pixel 2 outperforms the Pixel, although the background blur and bokeh are not as natural as those produced by the iPhone 8 Plus’s dual-camera setup.

Video

With a score of 96, the Pixel 2 is the current leader in our video ranking and boasts an amazing video performance with only a few minor shortcomings. Exposure is good in almost all lighting settings, with rapid changes between illumination levels. Autofocus is extremely fast, smooth, and reliable, including subject tracking. The Pixel 2 also does a fantastic job of balancing detail retention with noise reduction, ranking among the finest we’ve seen.

The original Google Pixel had great video stabilisation, which has been improved even more with the current model. The Pixel 2 video mode, in particular, provides a high level of stability with fewer artifacts in both indoor and bright light circumstances.

Photo scores are explained.

The Google Pixel 2 receives a total Photo score of 99, which is a mixture of a number of category sub-scores. The Pixel 2 set new high watermarks in several of them, although it was only beaten out by the Samsung Note 8 in the overall Photo category. In this section, we’ll take a deeper look at these image quality sub-scores.

The Pixel 2 has highly consistent exposures in strong light and is very excellent when compared to other smartphones indoors and in low light. The Pixel 2 depicts strong light scenes a little brighter than is physically appropriate, although this may be a better fit for how the photographer remembers the picture.

Texture/Detail (73)

While the Pixel 2 does a fantastic job of maintaining image detail, it does not break any new ground in this area. However, in our low-light laboratory environment, the Pixel 2 outperforms the iPhone 8 Plus and the Note 8, as shown in this comparison of the complete image and a full-resolution crop of the cash in the scene below (captured at 5 Lux).