Google Pixel 2 XL

• Verdict

It’s hard to believe that the world of smartphones is just a decade old. In such a short span of time, the way people communicate has changed, and for a large chunk of people, smartphones are their only way of accessing the world wide web. While Apple claims that its latest, the iPhone X (first impressions) – represents the future of smartphones, I believe Google has managed to play catch up fairly quickly. In just its second generation, the Pixel 2 XL solves many of the issues we had with the first-gen offerings. The best part is that the search juggernaut is following Apple’s playboo... Read Full Verdict

It’s hard to believe that the world of smartphones is just a decade old. In such a short span of time, the way people communicate has changed, and for a large chunk of people, smartphones are their only way of accessing the world wide web. While Apple claims that its latest, the iPhone X (first impressions) – represents the future of smartphones, I believe Google has managed to play catch up fairly quickly. In just its second generation, the Pixel 2 XL solves many of the issues we had with the first-gen offerings. The best part is that the search juggernaut is following Apple’s playbook – combining both hardware and software to deliver a seamless experience.Related read: Google Pixel 2 XL vs Samsung Galaxy Note8 vs Apple iPhone X: which is the best flagship this year?However, with prices starting at Rs 73,000, there’s no denying the fact that the Google Pixel 2 XL is an expensive proposition. What’s more difficult is that apart from its cameras, there`s no defining characteristic in the smartphone that’s not available with the competition, since its software features would be rolled out to other Android devices sooner than later (Google Assistant has already started recognising songs playing near you, although you need to activate it with your voice). The Samsung Galaxy Note8 (review) isn’t just cheaper by almost Rs 7,000, but also offers S Pen and dual cameras. Apple’s iPhone X is also a tough rival, boasting similar features such as a bezel-less display and stereo speakers, and while it’s expensive, the fact that it’s already out of stock at most places suggest that it would set cash registers ringing for the brand. In a way, Google’s latest offering also faces competition from devices such as the OnePlus 5 (review), which provides similar hardware at almost half the price, and would soon get an iterative upgrade in the form of the 5T, which will be joining the bezel-less bandwagon. On top of that, the Pixel 2 XL is riddled with quality control issues (apart from the things mentioned above, several consumers reported that their units shipped without any OS).So where does all that leaves us? While it might be difficult to recommend the Google Pixel 2 XL wholeheartedly, it’s a perfect example of a smartphone that stands out on its own without needing to follow the competition blindly. The phone is worth considering if you’re looking for a premium offering which doesn’t compromise on many aspects. Add to it the fact that the phone comes with a two-year warranty…. which certainly trumps the competition offering the standard one year warranty.