Google has officially announced its new Pixel smartphones, as well as a whole slate of other devices, and there’s certainly a lot to be excited about. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL look like worthy successors to 2016’s Pixel devices, and just like last year, most of the differences between the smaller and larger variant are cosmetic.
That being said, in a smartphone market otherwise saturated with premium-tier flagship smartphones that are all worth buying, how does the Pixel 2 compare to some of its fellow competitors?
All in all, quite well actually.
Google Pixel 2
iPhone 8
Essential Phone (PH-1)
HTC U11
Display
5.0-inch AMOLED display, 1080 x 1920 pixels
4.7-inch, Retina HD, IPS LCD display, 1334 x 750 pixels
5.71-inches, IPS LCD display, 2560 x 1312 pixels, 19:10 aspect ratio
5.5-inch Super LCD5 display, 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Snapdragon 835
A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
Snapdragon 835
Snapdragon 835
RAM
4GB
2GB
4GB of RAM
4GB of RAM
Storage
64GB, 128GB (non-expandable)
64GB, 256GB (non expandable)
128GB
64GB, 128GB (expandable up to 256GB)
Dimensions (in.)
145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8mm
138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm
153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9mm
Weight
143g
148g
185g
169g
Rear Facing Camera
12.2-megapixel ( f/1.8, OIS, EIS, AF)
12-megapixel (OIS, f/1.8)
13-megapixel, (f/1.85)
12-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, AF) dual-LED flash
Front Facing Camera
8-Megapixel (f/2.4, fixed focus)
7-megapixel (f/2.2)
8-megapixel, (f/2.2)
16-megapixel (f/2.0)
OS
Android 8.1 Oreo
iOS 11
Android 8.1.1 Oreo
Android 7.1
Battery
2700mAh (non-removable)
2,150mAh (non-removable)
3,040mAh
3,000mAh
Network Connectivity
GSM / HSPA / LTE/ Band 66
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Sensors
Active Edge, Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Barometer, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor
Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Edge Sensor, Sensor Hub, Motion G-senor, Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
SIM Type
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM,
Launch Date
October 17, 2017
September 22, 2017
May 30, 2017
May 16, 2017
Misc
Colours: Just Black, Clearly White, Kinda Blue | Bluetooth 5.0, IP67 water/dust resistant , Always-on display
Colours: silver, space grey, and gold| IP76 dust/water resistant, made of aerospace-grade aluminum, 3D touch; stereo speakers; Qi wireless charging
Colours: Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths | Modularity, USB Type-C, No headphone jack, Bezel-less, Titanium build
Colour: Brilliant Black, Sapphire Blue, Amazing Silver, Solar Red | Edge Sensor, IP67 water/dust resistant, USB Type-C, HTC Ultra Pixel 3 with 1.4μm pixel
Display
Google Pixel 2
5.0-inch AMOLED display, 1080 x 1920 pixels
iPhone 8
4.7-inch, Retina HD, IPS LCD display, 1334 x 750 pixels
Essential Phone (PH-1)
5.71-inches, IPS LCD display, 2560 x 1312 pixels, 19:10 aspect ratio
HTC U11
5.5-inch Super LCD5 display, 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Google Pixel 2
Snapdragon 835
iPhone 8
A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Snapdragon 835
HTC U11
Snapdragon 835
RAM
Google Pixel 2
4GB
iPhone 8
2GB
Essential Phone (PH-1)
4GB of RAM
HTC U11
4GB of RAM
Storage
Google Pixel 2
64GB, 128GB (non-expandable)
iPhone 8
64GB, 256GB (non expandable)
Essential Phone (PH-1)
128GB
HTC U11
64GB, 128GB (expandable up to 256GB)
Dimensions (in.)
Google Pixel 2
145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8mm
iPhone 8
138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm
Essential Phone (PH-1)
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm
HTC U11
153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9mm
Weight
Google Pixel 2
143g
iPhone 8
148g
Essential Phone (PH-1)
185g
HTC U11
169g
Rear Facing Camera
Google Pixel 2
12.2-megapixel ( f/1.8, OIS, EIS, AF)
iPhone 8
12-megapixel (OIS, f/1.8)
Essential Phone (PH-1)
13-megapixel, (f/1.85)
HTC U11
12-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, AF) dual-LED flash
Front Facing Camera
Google Pixel 2
8-Megapixel (f/2.4, fixed focus)
iPhone 8
7-megapixel (f/2.2)
Essential Phone (PH-1)
8-megapixel, (f/2.2)
HTC U11
16-megapixel (f/2.0)
OS
Google Pixel 2
Android 8.1 Oreo
iPhone 8
iOS 11
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Android 8.1.1 Oreo
HTC U11
Android 7.1
Battery
Google Pixel 2
2700mAh (non-removable)
iPhone 8
2,150mAh (non-removable)
Essential Phone (PH-1)
3,040mAh
HTC U11
3,000mAh
Network Connectivity
Google Pixel 2
GSM / HSPA / LTE/ Band 66
iPhone 8
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
Essential Phone (PH-1)
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
HTC U11
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Sensors
Google Pixel 2
Active Edge, Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
iPhone 8
Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Barometer, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
HTC U11
Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Edge Sensor, Sensor Hub, Motion G-senor, Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
SIM Type
Google Pixel 2
Nano SIM
iPhone 8
Nano SIM
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Nano SIM
HTC U11
Nano SIM,
Launch Date
Google Pixel 2
October 17, 2017
iPhone 8
September 22, 2017
Essential Phone (PH-1)
May 30, 2017
HTC U11
May 16, 2017
Misc
Google Pixel 2
Colours: Just Black, Clearly White, Kinda Blue | Bluetooth 5.0, IP67 water/dust resistant , Always-on display
iPhone 8
Colours: silver, space grey, and gold| IP76 dust/water resistant, made of aerospace-grade aluminum, 3D touch; stereo speakers; Qi wireless charging
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Colours: Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths | Modularity, USB Type-C, No headphone jack, Bezel-less, Titanium build
HTC U11
Colour: Brilliant Black, Sapphire Blue, Amazing Silver, Solar Red | Edge Sensor, IP67 water/dust resistant, USB Type-C, HTC Ultra Pixel 3 with 1.4μm pixel
It’s not the size that counts
I think it’s safe to say that 2017 was the year that major device manufacturers started doing away with noticeable top and bottom bezels. However, that’s not a design progression that Google took to heart with its Pixel 2 smartphone. Luckily, no one told HTC or Apple that nearly bezel-less devices are in this year. The Pixel 2, HTC U11 and iPhone 8 all feature noticeable top and bottom bezels. As such, of these four devices, the Essential Phone is the only one that is defined by its bezel-less aesthetic.
It’s also important to note that the Pixel 2’s screen is undeniably on the smaller side. The Pixel 2’s 5-inch Full HD display is larger than the iPhone 8’s 4.7-inch screen, but it’s still smaller than the U11’s 5.5-inch screen and the Essential Phone’s screen. We’ll need to spend a little bit more time with the Pixel 2 to determine how bright and colour-accurate its screen really is, but suffice it to say, between the Essential Phone, iPhone 8 and HTC U11, competition is definitely tight.
Turn the devices over, and you’ll notice that the Pixel 2 is certainly among friends with its single camera lens. Of these four devices, the Essential Phone is the only one with a dual-camera setup, but a lack of a second rear-facing camera might not necessarily be a nail in the Pixel 2’s coffin.
MobileSyrup‘s Igor Bonifacic has written extensively about the Essential Phone’s less-than-exemplary cameras; MobileSyrup‘s Dean Daley praised the U11’s single rear-facing camera; and MobileSyrup‘s Patrick O’Rourke commended the iPhone 8 for its camera, even though it too only has one rear-facing camera.
Additionally, Google boasted about the Pixel 2’s DxOMark score of 98, so there’s no doubt that the Pixel 2 — just like its 2016 predecessor — will pack a wallop where its camera is concerned. Once again, we’ll need to spend more time with the Pixel 2 before we’re ready to make a definitive statement on its camera quality.
Modern inner beauty
While the Pixel’s large forehead and chin might date its design, the phone’s internal specs are undeniably modern. The phone comes with 4GB of RAM, either 64GB or 128GB or internal storage, as well as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 to power the whole device. There’s also a 2,700mAh that Google claims will get you all-day use out of the phone.
In contrast, the iPhone 8 comes with 2GB of RAM, the Essential Phone has 4GB of Ram and the HTC U11 features 6GB of RAM. The Pixel 2’s battery is also definitely mid-range, in comparison. The iPhone 8 has a 1,821mAh battery, while the U11 packs 3,000mAh and the Essential Phone comes with 3,040mAh. Just like the screen, we’ll need to spend more time with the Pixel 2 to determine how long it lasts, as well as how powerful it really is.
Everything else
At this point, complaining about a missing headphone jack is a bit like screaming into a silent void, but I’m going to point it out nonetheless. Just like the iPhone 8, the Essential Phone and the HTC U11, the Pixel 2 is missing a headphone jack.
Otherwise, the Pixel 2 is IP67 water and dust resistant. like the U11 and the iPhone 8, but unlike the Essential Phone, which isn’t IP rated at all.
Finally, the Pixel 2 takes a feature first introduced in the HTC U11: squeeze-to-activate. Similar to Edge Sense, Pixel 2 users can squeeze the phone to trigger ‘Active Edge.’ As of right now, Google says that Active Edge only really works with the Google Assistant. We’ll have to wait and see whether more apps will work with Active Edge.
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