Google's Pixel 2 XL May Have Another Widespread Issue. It Won't Stop Smudging Like Crazy!
This is the second issue with the device, just weeks after it's release.
The Pixel 2 XL is not having a great time on the market. Shortly after it was launched, users reported issues of screen burn-in, among other problems with the display, and now it seems that there¡¯s one more.
Some Pixel 2 XL owners are now complaining on Google¡¯s Product forums that their screens are smudging excessively, without a way to stop it from happening.
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After further inspection, people on the forum as well as others on Reddit say they believe the issue is with the device¡¯s oleophobic coating. This is applied to smartphone screens to act as a protective barrier against the oil in your fingerprints. Sure, your fingerprints might appear on the display, but this coating lets you easily clean it off. Eventually, after a long period of use, your constant swiping and tapping will wear this off.
In this particular case, that oleophobic coating is wearing off far too quickly, leaving Pixel 2 XL owners with an incredibly smudge-prone device, and no way to properly clean it. Once more, just like the screen burn-in, this is a problem only affecting the PIxel 2 XL, and not the Pixel 2. Even worse, this obviously isn¡¯t something you can fix with a software patch.
It¡¯s still unclear just how widespread the problem is. It¡¯s either limited to a small batch of the devices, or other owners just haven¡¯t noticed the problem yet. Either way, it means Google is going to have a take another look at the quality control in its manufacturing process. One issue with a phone is already too much. Two issues risks breaking your fans¡¯ trust.