Google Pixel 2

Key Features

Review Price: £629
5-inch 1080p display
Android 8.0 Oreo
Snapdragon 835
4GB RAM
64GB storage

What is the Google Pixel 2?

The Pixel 2 is Google’s second attempt at creating an Android version of the iPhone 8 and a proper competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S9

Instead of focusing solely on top-end specs and including every feature imaginable, it aims to aims to offer users the cleanest Android experience possible.

For the most part this means you’re getting the best of Google in a phone; however, there remain a few areas where improvement is still needed.

Pixel 2 – Design

The smaller of the two Pixel devices is made by HTC – to a Google design, of course – but there’s very little of the Taiwanese firm’s DNA in this phone. Actually, the Google Pixel 2 feels very different to any other Android phone I’ve used recently.

Even though it’s constructed from aluminium, the back has a stoney-like finish. It’s harsh and textured; strange at first but, ultimately, super-nice. It’s far grippier in the hand than shiny aluminium and isn’t as slippery when sat on a table the same way a glass back is. Neither does it appear to pick up fingerprints. It does give the impression that it might scratch off over time, but we’ll have to wait and see if that becomes an issue.

Like the previous Pixel, there’s a glass ‘shade’ just above the metal covering the camera sensor and flash. Aside from adding contrast to the metal, this is where all the cellular and Wi-Fi antennas live. Giving them plenty of space should help connectivity, but it also means there are no antenna bands elsewhere. Hopefully this glass panel will be less prone to scratching – which was a real issue with the first device.

It seems odd that Google has taken this design route, especially since more and more device makers are opting for a bezel-less look. At least Google has used that extra space on both ends of the phone to add dual front-facing stereo speakers – but it’s still hard to forgive.

Like most flagship phones, the Pixel 2 is IP67-rated for water-resistance. Another, less desirable, trend Google has decided to follow is the removal of the headphone jack. I can only assume the decision was taken to enable waterproofing, but it’s a shame. And even though you get a USB-C to 3.5mm port dongle in the box and there are plenty of ‘Made for Google’ USB-C headphones coming soon, it’s annoying nevertheless.

There isn’t a whole lot to get excited about with regards to the Pixel 2’s screen. As in the first iteration of the device, it’s a 5-inch, 1080p AMOLED panel that looks good but is far short of stunning.

AMOLED panels are renowned for offering more saturated colours, perfect blacks and better contrast over their LCD counterparts. But I’m sure that the main reason Google opts for these panels is because OLED is necessary for Daydream VR to work – which, of course, is a big push for Google.

I’m a huge fan of AMOLED displays, but they’re not perfect. The panel on the Pixel 2 edges towards the warm side, so you’ll likely find that whites will have a slightly orangey tinge. Note that Google doesn’t offer any capability to adjust colours on the display, which is annoying if you prefer a slightly cooler screen.

Probably the single biggest feature lacking from the panels on both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is support for high dynamic range, or HDR. The ability to playback HDR10 and Dolby Vision content from the likes of Amazon and Netflix is available on the Galaxy Note 8, LG G7 and Apple’s iPhone X – but it isn’t available on the Pixel 2. This is by no means a deal-breaker, but it’s an odd feature to leave out when Google Play Movies and YouTube offer HDR support.

Google Pixel 2 – Camera

The single biggest reason to choose the Pixel 2 over any other handset is the camera. On paper, the 12-megapixel f/1.8 unit sounds fairly pedestrian. In use, however, it captures some wonderfully detailed images that are often much better than those produced by the competition.

A great camera shouldn’t be a surprise; the original Pixel is still one of the best around, after all. However, the range of improvements Google has added take it to another level. These include optically stabilising the camera for less shaky shots, widening the aperture to let more light into the sensor, and improving the processing that goes on after you’ve pressed the shutter button.

Pictures from the Pixel 2 aren’t like those from a Samsung Galaxy S9 or iPhone 8; they’re less saturated with deep colours and look more lifelike. I do love the rich hues of images captured on a Samsung device, but they’re unmistakably from a phone camera. Shots taken with the Pixel 2 transcend this and look all the better for it. Colours are vibrant, but greens don’t have that fluorescent glow and it doesn’t make flowers look artificial.

Where the Pixel 2 really shines is in the level of detail crammed into the picture. Everything from pollen inside a flower to writing on a sign in the distance makes the frame, and you can even crop in on a picture without it turning into a blurry mess.

Clearly, many of these tricks are a result of Google’s excellent software and optimisations. Auto-HDR+ mode is on by default; you’ll need to bury down into the settings to actually turn on an option to disable it. Google is confident its processing tricks are the way forward, and on seeing the results, it’s hard to argue. Shots taken with Auto-HDR+ enabled display some of the best dynamic range I’ve ever seen in an image taken on a phone – meaning you’ll have a lovely contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of the photo. This is particularly noticeable in landscape shots, where you really want that feeling of depth and scale. Auto-HDR+ also levels out exposure, ensuring a bright sky doesn’t blow-out the picture.

Most flagship phones in 2018 take excellent photos in sunny conditions, but the Pixel 2 really impresses when lighting isn’t quite so ideal. Low-light photos are bright, have good exposure and still manage to capture subtle colours and shadows. Even portraits taken with the flash enabled are usable. Probably the only phone to take better low light shots than the Pixel 2 is the Huawei P20.

Even though both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL forego the now common dual-sensor setup, Google continues to include a portrait mode for blurring the background and keeping the subject in sharp focus. This works with both the rear and front-facing 8-megapixel cameras, producing surprisingly good results. The blur effects easily match Huawei’s efforts in the P20 and Mate 10; however, like the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, it struggles with intricate details such as hair.

Video capture is excellent. The camera now uses both EIS (electronic image stabilisation) and OIS (optical image stabilisation) to help avoid jankiness, resulting in a smoother image. Footage is recorded up to 4K 30fps (no 4K 60 here), but you’ll probably want to stick to 1080p at 60fps if you’re shooting anything with a lot of motion.