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Google Editor's Choice 2017

Pixel 2 XL

Google Pixel 2 XL — P-OLED Computational Photography Pioneer Review

Display 1440 x 2880 pixels 18:9 ratio (~538 ppi density)
Camera 1080p at 30fps
Performance Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835...
Battery 18W fast charging USB Power Delivery 2.0
Expert Score
4.5
92% Confidence
Community Score
3.8
0% Confidence
AI Score
4.5
91% Confidence
Final Score
4.3
92% Confidence
Storage
RAM
Color
Regional
In Stock
$849 – $949

Lowest $110 Best: Amazon Refurbished

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Category Scores

Overall hardware score: 91/100 — industry-leading single-lens computational photography, clean stock Android software, front-facing stereo speakers, and durable aluminum unibody build.

87
87
Performance Great

Snapdragon 835 processor ensures snappy, respons...

88
Display Great

6.0-inch QHD+ P-OLED screen with immersive 18:9...

98
Camera Excellent

Pioneering single-lens computational photography...

84
Battery Great

3520 mAh battery offers dependable all-day endur...

86
Gaming Great

Adreno 540 graphics handle mobile games smoothly...

94
AI Excellent

Pixel Visual Core coprocessor accelerates machin...

90
Security Excellent

Rear-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor.

86
Value for Money Great

Exceptional long-term legacy value due to pure s...

90
Design Excellent

Durable hybrid coated aluminum unibody with a gl...

60
Repairability Good

Screen replacement requires careful adhesive sep...

90
Software Support Excellent

Pure unadulterated stock Android experience with...

88
Connectivity Great

4G LTE, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC support...

90
Audio Excellent

Loud front-facing stereo speakers (omits 3.5mm h...

92
Durability Excellent

IP67 water and dust resistance with Gorilla Glas...

82
Charging Great

18W fast wired charging via USB Power Delivery 2...

Specifications

Display 4
Size 6.0 inches
Type P-OLED, HDR
Resolution 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~538 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor 3
Chipset Key Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
GPU Key Adreno 540
Memory 2
RAM Key 4GB
Type LPDDR4X
Storage 3
Internal 64GB / 128GB
Expandable No
Standard UFS 2.1
Battery 2
Capacity 3520 mAh non-removable
Wired charging 18W fast charging, USB Power Delivery 2.0
Camera 1
Main 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 27mm, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Front Camera 2
Sensor 8 MP, f/2.4, 27mm, 1/4"
Video 1080p at 30fps
Video 1
Max resolution 4K at 30fps, 1080p at up to 120fps, gyro-EIS
Connectivity 4
Network 4G LTE, HSPA, CDMA, GSM
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
USB USB Type-C 3.1
Sensors 2
Fingerprint Rear-mounted capacitive
Gestures Active Edge squeeze-to-launch assistant
Dimensions 3
Height 157.9 mm
Width 76.7 mm
Depth 7.9 mm
Weight 1
Weight 175 g
Materials 3
Frame Key Aluminum frame with premium coating
Back Aluminum unibody with glass visor window
Water resistance IP67 dust and water resistant
Colors 1
Options Just Black, Black & White
Operating System 1
OS Android 8.0 Oreo, upgradable to Android 10

Expert Review

By Mutwassim

Design

The Pixel 2 XL features a durable hybrid coated aluminum unibody back with a glass visor window, an IP67 water resistance rating, and squeeze-to-activate Active Edge sides.

Display

It packs an expansive 6.0-inch QHD+ P-OLED display (1440 x 2880 pixels) with an 18:9 aspect ratio and front stereo speakers.

Performance

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB RAM, delivering fluid everyday application execution.

Gaming

Adreno 630 graphics handle mobile gaming titles smoothly.

Camera

Equipped with a single 12.2MP rear camera featuring dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, and advanced machine learning HDR+ processing powered by the custom Pixel Visual Core chip.

Battery

The 3520 mAh battery delivers solid working-day endurance supported by 18W USB-PD fast charging.

Software

Runs clean, unadulterated stock Android with seamless Google Assistant integration.

Ai

Pixel Visual Core and Google machine learning models handle real-time computational photography pipelines.

Pros

  • Industry-defining single-lens computational photography with HDR+ and Pixel Visual Core
  • Loud and clear front-facing stereo speakers
  • Durable coated aluminum unibody build with IP67 water resistance
  • Clean, bloat-free stock Android software experience
  • Reliable all-day battery endurance from the 3520 mAh cell

Cons

  • Omitted the 3.5mm headphone jack and wireless charging support
  • P-OLED display suffered from notable blue shift and viewing angle tinting at launch
  • RAM is capped at 4GB
The Google Pixel 2 XL cemented Google's dominance in computational photography, leveraging its single 12.2MP rear sensor and specialized Pixel Visual Core chip to produce breathtaking HDR+ imagery and early portrait depth effects without requiring dual camera hardware. Powered by the Snapdragon 835 processor, it featured a 6.0-inch QHD+ P-OLED display, front-facing stereo speakers, IP67 water resistance, and an iconic dual-texture metal-and-glass back.

Verdict

The Google Pixel 2 XL stands out as a computational photography milestone that redefined smartphone camera benchmarks with a single lens.

Final: 4.3/10 Best for: Value seekers Segment: Premium

Product Intelligence

6.0-inch QHD+ P-OLED Display with 18:9 Aspect Ratio Pioneering Single-Lens Computational Photography with Pixel Visual Core Front-Facing Stereo Speakers & Active Edge Squeeze Gestures Durable Coated Aluminum Unibody with IP67 Water Resistance Clean, Bloat-Free Stock Android OS with Extended Support

Who Should Buy

Stock Android purists, mobile photography enthusiasts, and users looking for front stereo speakers and reliable battery life in an aluminum build.

Who Should Avoid

Buyers seeking high-end OLED panel consistency (noting initial blue shift reports), wireless charging, or a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Key Takeaways

  • Demonstrated that a single camera lens backed by machine learning could outperform multi-lens competitors
  • Features distinctive 'Panda' Black & White and Just Black coated aluminum aesthetics
  • Cult-classic device among Android enthusiasts

Buying Recommendation

A beloved legacy flagship for photography fans and stock Android purists.

Competitor Comparison

DeviceScorePriceNotes
Samsung Galaxy S8+

Upgrade Path

Upgrade From Google Pixel XL
Benefits
  • Massive jump to 18:9 P-OLED display
  • stereo front speakers
  • IP67 water resistance
  • and Active Edge squeeze controls

Downgrade Path

Downgrade To Google Pixel
Benefits
  • Retained 3.5mm headphone jack

Pricing & Price Intelligence

In Stock
Current $849 – $949
Lowest $110
Highest $949
Historical Low $849
Launch $849
Average $190
Confidence 40%
Trend Stable

Price Analytics

Best Deal Amazon Refurbished $130
Best Value Amazon Refurbished
Stability High
Buy Timing Fair market price

Pricing is stable. Shop Amazon Refurbished for the lowest listed price and set a price alert for drops.

Regional Pricing

US $849

Store Comparison

Store Price Shipping Availability Rating
Amazon Refurbished $130 In Stock Buy

Variant Pricing

Colors

  • Just Black $849 – $949
  • Black & White $849 – $949

Storage

  • 64GB $849
  • 128GB $949

Ram

  • 4GB $849 – $949
Low: 849 High: 849 Avg: 849 Volatility: 0%

Historical data will populate as prices are tracked.

Track Price

Alternatives

Google Pixel 2

Smaller 5.0-inch screen form factor with larger physical front bezels

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