This might be the moment all of us are waiting for. Google has officially announced the Pixel 2 series, live from its event at San Francisco. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the first ever refresh of Google’s Pixel smartphones, making them the second generation Pixels since the company switched from the Nexus branding.
As seen above, you probably won’t find the design of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL alien if you’ve come across the countless leaks and renders of these handsets. The glass accent on the back panel of the Pixel 2 is smaller compared to the Pixel. On the front is where you’ll see the difference between the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. The Pixel 2 features a 5-inch display with standard sized bezels while its larger sibling sports a near bezel-less 6-inch display. It doesn’t look as impressive as most full screen smartphones in the market right now as the bezels house the dual front firing speakers.
Apart from the difference in the display, the rest of the features and specs should remain the same throughout the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. It has been claimed during the event that both phones should be the same in terms of features and performance, plus there shouldn’t be one better phone, as part of taking a jab at Apple’s iPhone lineup this year.
Google has also boasted that the Pixel 2 does not require an extra camera to produce blurred background shots. This is thanks to the dual pixel sensor of the Pixel 2’s rear camera, which is capable of producing impressive portrait images without the need of a secondary camera. The feature even extends to the front facing camera, enabling it to take similar bokeh shots like the rear camera.
When it comes to video recording, unlike other smartphones, the Pixel’s camera will make use of both OIS and EIS at the same time for unparalleled stabilization in videos. Google too flaunted the DxOMark score of the Pixel 2’s camera at 98, 4 points higher than the iPhone 8 Plus. Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users will enjoy unlimited photo storage in original size on Google Photos like the original Pixel and Pixel XL.
Other features include Active Edge, which allows users to squeeze the Pixel 2 to trigger Google Assistant, or to silence incoming calls. Google Lens, which was introduced a couple of months yet, will roll out first to the Pixel 2. Google Lens will bring out information of things around us when the camera is pointed towards them, ranging from WiFi passwords, objects, phone numbers and more through computer learning.
The Pixel 2 will come in Black, White and Kinda Blue color options while the larger Pixel 2 XL will come in both Black and White. Both the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL are now available for pre-order at select regions for prices of $649 and $849 respectively.
