Google · Pixel

Pixel 2 XL

Released October 2017

Google's larger 2017 flagship combines a 6-inch OLED, stabilised main camera and stereo speakers with a 3520 mAh battery.

Model history · 2 models, 2016–2017

2016Pixel XL Compare
2017Pixel 2 XL

Screen: 6″
Display: OLED
Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB – 128 GB
Main camera: 12.2 MP
Zoom: –
Battery: 3,520 mAh
Weight: 175 g

Compact

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised the camera, responsive software and stereo speakers, and found battery life sufficient for a full day. Both highlighted the high price and missing headphone jack and wireless charging. Both raised display concerns, with Notebookcheck criticising brightness and off-angle colour shifts.

From notebookcheck.net, techradar.com, techradar.com, techradar.com and techradar.com

Specifications

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Display

Screen size: 6″
Resolution: 2880 × 1440
Sharpness: 537 pixels per inch
Panel: OLED
Display type: pOLED; 18:9 aspect ratio
Pixel density: 538 ppi
Always-on display: Always-on display; Now Playing identifies music locally
Screen protection: 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Display features: Maker claims 100% DCI-P3 coverage; 100,000:1 contrast ratio; true black; 24-bit colour; 16.77 million colours

Performance

Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB, 128 GB
CPU: 64-bit octa-core CPU; 2.35 GHz + 1.9 GHz; security module
GPU: Adreno 540
Storage type: 4 GB LPDDR4x RAM; UFS 2.1 storage identified by Notebookcheck; no microSD slot

Cameras

Main camera: 12.2 MP
Ultra wide camera: None
Telephoto camera: None
Optical zoom: None
Front camera: 8 MP
Main camera: Laser and dual-pixel phase-detection autofocus; f/1.8; 1.4 μm pixels; optical and electronic image stabilisation
Front camera: f/2.4; 1.4 μm pixels; fixed focus
Video recording: Rear 4K at 30 fps; 1080p at 30/60/120 fps; 720p at 30/60/240 fps
Front video: 1080p, 720p or 480p at 30 fps
Camera features: Portrait mode on rear and front cameras; Motion Photos; Google Lens preview in Google Photos at launch

Battery and charging

Battery: 3,520 mAh
Wireless charging: None
Wired charging: Supplied USB-C 18 W power adaptor; maker claims up to seven hours of mixed use from 15 minutes of charging, with always-on display off; actual results vary

Design

Type: Standard
Weight: 175 g
Thickness: 7.9 mm
Height × width: 157.9 × 76.7 mm
Water and dust resistance: IP67
Materials: Aluminium unibody with hybrid coating; Gorilla Glass 5
Colours: Just Black and Black and White
Buttons: Power button and volume controls; Active Edge squeeze gesture
Biometrics: Pixel Imprint rear fingerprint sensor
Sensors: Proximity and ambient light; accelerometer; gyrometer; magnetometer; barometer; Hall effect; Android Sensor Hub; advanced x-axis haptics
Speakers: Stereo front-firing speakers
Microphones: Three microphones with noise suppression

Software

Operating system: Android
Software at launch: Android 8.0 Oreo
Software updates: No longer receives Android version or security updates according to Google's current support policy; original promise was three years
AI features: Google Assistant activated with Active Edge; Google Lens preview identified objects, text and landmarks in photos
In the box: USB-C 18 W power adaptor; USB-C cable rated USB 2.0; Quick Switch adaptor; 3.5 mm audio adaptor; SIM tool; quick-start packet

Connectivity

Mobile network: LTE Cat 15 download up to 800 Mbps and upload up to 75 Mbps; three-carrier aggregation; 4x4 MIMO; 256-QAM downlink and 64-QAM uplink; operator dependent; no 5G
SIM: One nano-SIM; eSIM hardware; operator support required
Wi-Fi: Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; Google's hardware specification lists 2x2 MIMO, while Notebookcheck reports no MIMO
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 + LE; LDAC, aptX and aptX HD
NFC: NFC; Google Cast
USB: USB-C 3.1 Gen 1; supplied adaptor for a 3.5 mm headphone connection
Positioning: GPS and GLONASS; BeiDou and Galileo outside the US and Puerto Rico

Storage options

Storage
64 GB
128 GB

Pros and cons

Pros

High-resolution 6-inch OLED
Optical and electronic camera stabilisation
Stereo front-firing speakers and IP67 rating

Cons

No headphone jack or microSD slot
No wireless charging or optical telephoto camera
Android and security updates have ended

Closest rivals

Model	Screen	Display	Chip	Memory	Storage	Main camera	Zoom	Battery	Weight	Released
SamsungGalaxy S8	5.8″	OLED, 60 Hz	Exynos 8895	4 GB	64 GB	12 MP	–	3,000 mAh	155 g	Apr 2017
SamsungGalaxy S8+	6.2″	OLED, 60 Hz	Exynos 8895	4 GB	64 GB	12 MP	–	3,500 mAh	173 g	Apr 2017
SamsungGalaxy A7 (2018)	6″	OLED	Exynos 7885	4 GB	64 GB	24 MP	–	3,300 mAh	168 g	Sept 2018

Previous model: Pixel XL. Newer model: Pixel 3 XL.

Sources

Photo: Google official Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL shared launch photograph; depicted size/configuration is unspecified where the shared image does not distinguish it. Complete supplied framing and background retained.

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