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Here’s how the Google Pixel 2 compares to the iPhone 8, Essential Phone and HTC U11

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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