Google just announced its much-awaited second generation of Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. And while they look almost exactly the same as their predecessors, there are a tonne of changes and additions.
The Pixel 2 still has its 5-inch display from last year, with the thick bezels, almost identical to the previous model. The Pixel 2 XL meanwhile is now bumped up from a 5.5-inch display to a 6-inch screen. In addition, the bezels are much thinner this time around with an almost edge-to-edge display. The smaller Pixel 2 has a full HD (1920x1280) OLED display, while the Pixel 2 XL screen has QHD+ (2880x1440) display. The display will also have an always on feature this year, displaying key info in a low power state.
Both feature an all-aluminium body, but one change both smartphones share is that the glass panel highlighting the top of the rear panel has now been shrunk down to exclude the fingerprint sensor. The device¡¯s camera lens has also gotten a wee bit larger with an oh so slight bump on the rear.
Neither the Pixel 2 nor the 2 XL feature a dual camera: instead they have something called ¡°dual pixel¡± technology. This new technology lets the device do things like provide a portrait mode with the blurred background similar to what¡¯s offered by the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, but without the secondary camera. To clarify, Google says its Pixel 2 camera got a record-setting score of 98 from DXO (an independent image processing lab), while the iPhone 8 Plus received a 94.
The device is also getting iPhone¡¯s Live Photos feature, that captures a small time frame of action before and after your short. Here, it¡¯s called Motion Photos, recording a three-second clip surrounding each photo so you can pick the best shot. Of course, you don¡¯t need to worry about the space that¡¯ll take up, because all Pixel owners are still allowed to save all of their photos and videos in original quality? forever on Google Photos. At least one immediately tangible point where the PIxel¡¯s photography beats out the iPhone¡¯s.
The device is also getting new augmented reality features, including animated AR stickers that you can plop down in your living room. They¡¯re 3D characters you can put into your scene and then move around to fully capture them.
Notable, the device also feature what¡¯s being called ¡°Active Edge¡± a feature rumoured long ago. Basically, you can configure your Pixel to carry out an action when you squeeze the sides of the phone. For instance, you can just grip and squeeze to take a selfie.
There are a few changes to the home screen as well. The search box is not at the bottom of the screen, even below the app dock, to make it easier to quickly reach one-handed. There¡¯s also an ¡°at a glance¡± widget at the top that displays things like upcoming items from your calendar, or the weather, etc.
Oh yeah, and they got rid of the headphone jack and implemented wireless headphones too. Bummer.
The Pixel 2 will be available in Just Black, Clearly White, and Kinda Blue, with preorders starting today. They¡¯re priced at $649 (approximately Rs 42200)for the 64GB model, while the 128GB model costs $749 (approximately Rs 48700).
The Pixel 2 XL will have only two colours, Just Black, and ¡°Black and White¡±. The 64GB model is $849 (approximately Rs 55200) while the 128GB model is priced at $949 (approximately Rs 61700). In addition, you¡¯ll also get a free Google Home Mini with your purchase when it launches. Of course, reflecting for import duties and the like, expect the prices to be more like Rs 61,000 to Rs 70,000 for the Pixel 2, and Rs 73,000 to Rs 82,000 for the Pixel 2 XL.