Google Pixel 2 “Made by Google”

Google Pixel 2

“Made by Google”

 
 Precisely a year after launching the first Pixel phones, Google is back with its second generation. Once again there are two sizes to choose from and we've gone hands-on with the Pixel 2 at the  launch event.

Like Microsoft, Google continues is foray into the hardware market with a bumper crop of devices for 2017 including Android Oreo smartphones, smart home and more. The firm today also announced the Google Home Mini and Pixelbook.

Another new feature for the Pixel 2 has been plucked straight from the HTC U11. Like HTC’s current flagship, the sides of the Pixel 2 are pressure-sensitive, so pressing on them with greater force opens up the Google Assistant. I found this feature surprisingly useful on the U11.

Google maintains that power, speed and style are identical across both its new Pixel handsets, but the larger 6-inch XL version will likely draw the most interest when it finally appears in the UK on November 15.

Google Pixel 2 Design

Google has continued with the glass/metal combination it used on the original Pixel with the Pixel 2, which at first had us a little disappointed, as the combination on the original Pixel didn't exactly wow.

However, on the Pixel 2 the merging of the glass and metal is far more subtle, making for an attractive finish which looks and feels great in the hand.

Google has moved the fingerprint scanner down on the Pixel 2, taking it out of the glass block and onto the main metal body.

It's a good move too, as it reduces the number of fingerprint smudges you get on the rear glass, something which was very noticeable on the black version of original Pixel.

While you may not be completely sold on the look of the back of the phone, we can confirm that it looks great in real life, and would encourage you to check it out in a phone store.

In the hand it looks premium, and the smaller screen size versus the larger Pixel 2 XL means the new Google Pixel 2 can be easily held, and used with one hand.

Google has opted to stick with large bezels above and below the display on the front, which doesn't give the phone the futuristic, eye-catching look of the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG V30 or iPhone X – which is a bit of shame.

On the plus side though, the extra space provides room for dual front-facing speakers, which should improve audio playback, especially for gaming and video.

Give the sides a squeeze, and like on the HTC U11, the Pixel 2 will trigger Google Assistant, giving you access to the voice-enabled AI.

It's quick and easy to setup – just squeeze the sides of the phone with one hand and you'll be taken to the setup screen. From here you can adjust the pressure required to trigger the Assistant, to make it just right for you.

The squeeze motion itself feels natural, and we didn't experience any accidental triggering of the Assistant during our time with the Pixel 2.

The power/lock and volume keys on the right fall nicely under thumb and finger, while you charge the handset via a USB-C port on the base of the phone.

There is, however, no headphone jack. That means if you want to continue using your trusty pair of wired headphones you'll have to use an adapter to go through the USB-C port.

Google Pixel 2 Display

At 5in, the Pixel 2 has the same screen size as its predecessor and it's one of the smallest you'll find on a flagship phone. That's good for some users, but bear in mind that the bezel-free designs of late mean much larger displays without the device being much or, in some cases, any bigger.

Google is still using AMOLED technology here and the resolution remains at Full HD (1080x1920), which is fairly low for a flagship but does have advantages when it comes to graphics performance and battery life.

In terms of aspect ratio, the Pixel 2 uses the traditional 16:9 so the Pixel 2 XL couldn't be much more different in the display department. It's 6in, pOLED, Quad HD+ and has an aspect ratio of 18:9.

Google touts some clever features including intelligently switching off some pixels when they're not needed to they stay black. The Pixel 2 screen is also always-on so you get information whenever you need it, including a feature called Now Playing (exclusive to the Pixel) which can detect what music you're listening to from a database of 10,000 songs without the need to contact Google over the internet.

Google Pixel 2  Hardware and Specs

The Pixel's basic specs are par for the course for a 2017 flagship smartphone. You get a 5-inch, 1080p screen; 1080p might sound unimpressive, but it looks fine because the screen is smaller. As a 16:9 phone, though, it's the same width (2.7 inches) as the Samsung Galaxy S8, which has a much bigger screen; the S8 is taller and narrower, and lacks the large top and bottom bezels on the Pixel 2. The Pixel 2 looks a bit behind the times.

The matte metal-and-glass back feels like a warm ceramic, with a pleasant interplay of textures. The phone comes in black, white, or a blue-gray.

It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage. It's also IP67 water resistant and supports fast charging, with a 2,700mAh battery on board.

There are a few features missing that power users might want, but they aren't surprises: There's no expandable memory, no headphone jack, and no dual-SIM version. There's a USB-C port on the bottom, and dual front-facing speakers on the front. The front-facing speakers are more about clear sound than volume: we couldn't get either the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL to pump up to a volume that sounded decent in Google's super-noisy demo room.

In terms of LTE speed, this is a Cat 15, 800Mbps phone with support for all the US carriers' bands except T-Mobile's new Band 71. It has 4x4 MIMO on all the carriers except Sprint, to improve signal strength. You can buy it unlocked or on Verizon.

Google Pixel 2 OS

The speed carries over to the software - Android Oreo - which Google has pre-loaded onto both Pixels. These "Made by Google" phones are flag bearers for the OS and so you would expect it to be running at its best.

Without the time to intricately delve through the various submenus and apps, the broad strokes are that this feels just as fast as any other phone on the market.

Google has improved on software as well - one of the big downsides of the Google Assistant was that it couldn't recognise songs in the same way as Siri or Shazam. Now it will not only recognise what song is playing around you but display it on the lock screen.

Google Pixel 2 Camera

There's a 12MP rear-facing camera on the Google Pixel 2, and it boasts a portrait mode to rival the one found on the likes of the iPhone 8 Plus. However, instead of using two cameras to get the blurred background effect, the Pixel 2 manages it with just the single sensor.

Portrait mode also works on the front-facing 8MP camera, and we were impressed with the quality of photos and effects the Pixel 2 managed in the demo considering the less than ideal lighting.

The Pixel 2 autofocus and shutter speed is found to be very responsive, and the camera is decent snapping in the low light of the demo area.

Google says the Pixel 2 performs really well in low light, and we're inclined to agree for the time being.

Google Pixel 2 Speakers

If you want to play any music, you can take advantage of the dual speakers that - we are assured - produce some pretty impressive volume.

Of course, you won't be able to plug in your favourite headphones unless they're accompanied by the dongle - something that is a continued frustration on other phones and is likely to be just as irksome here.

If you haven't made the switch to wireless Bluetooth headphones yet, you may well be forced to soon.

Google Pixel 2 Battery

A breakthrough in battery tech is arguably the most sought after in the phone world and doesn't appear to be here yet. Like almost every phone out there, the Pixel 2 has a reasonable size battery but it's unlikely to last anyone longer than a day of average usage. This is our initial impression which we'll test out of course. Google says it offers 'all-day' performance.

Once again you'll charge via USB-C and fast charging will get you 7 hours of battery life from a 15 minute charge. As mentioned earlier, there's no wireless charging here should that be a deal breaker.

Verdict

Once again, Google is leading the charge when it comes to Android handsets. It might be sticking with same uninspired design as last year's – and lacks the bezel-less display of its supersized sibling – but a much-needed processor upgrade and camera improvements should see the Pixel 2 rocket to the top of our smartphone hierarchy.

Here’s hoping the Pixel 2 makes the same lasting impression as last year’s effort. One thing’s for sure, we won’t have long to find out.