Ok Google! Pixel 2 just arrived, it’s kinda new and it’s clearly here to stay

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Ok Google! Pixel 2 just arrived, it’s kinda new and it’s clearly here to stay

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Google has finally launched its next generation Pixel phone, Pixel 2. It was just last year that Google launched it’s made by Google phone for the first time. The first Pixel did manage to get some rave reviews so naturally expectations are high for the Pixel 2. And of course, we can’t tell you just yet if it can meet them all but we can tell you that Google is pretty serious about its Pixel phones, afterall it can be a perfect medium for them to showcase their AI breakthroughs.

Well, it looks like Google has certainly packed in a lot more in the Pixel 2 in order for consumers to feel it’s an upgrade. The camera gets an upgrade, battery gets an upgrade, and the assistant too gets an upgrade.

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Looking at the design, not much has changed for the two phones, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Pixel 2 retains the 5-inch screen and Pixel 2 XL is 6-inch. And the main difference between the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is size. Neither is more "advanced" than the other. It’s just that Pixel 2 XL has a higher screen resolution and pixel density. It also has a bigger battery to accommodate the larger screen.

The back still has a two-tone design with aluminium and glass but it has improved and looks a lot sleeker with only a small patch of glass at the very top. The finger print sensor is yet again bang in the centre at the back of the phone. Pixel 2 packs an AMOLED display but with ample bezel that does seem a bit dated when all others are trying to give more screen space on the phones. Pixel 2 XL however is almost bezel-less with P-OLED display that is rounded at the corners.

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Every smartphone brand is trying to outdo one another on the camera front, whether it is by actually making it better or by gimmicky marketing spins. And the latest trend is to go far a dual camera set up, but it looks like Google is only looking at outdoing its very own Pixel camera, which was a pretty good camera anyway. It did not give in to the dual camera trend and stuck with its one camera, and even with one camera Pixel 2 promises crisp, and detailed photos even in low light, smooth videos even if you are on the move and perfect portrait shots from both front and back cameras, something that many smartphone makers told us was only possible with a dual camera. And of course, Google is once again providing free unlimited storage for photos and videos taken on Pixel, in the highest resolution.

In addition, both Assistant and the camera's Photo app are integrated with Google Lens. Similar to Samsung’s Bixby Vision app on Galaxy S8, Lens scans what it sees through your camera lens to tell you more about the world around you. Just take a picture, hit the Lens icon to get all info about the image. So far, it works on art, landmarks, books.

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The Google Assistant seems to have learnt a lot more; it is apparently a lot faster and a lot more personal to the user. With Pixel 2, Google has also introduced a new feature called Active Edge that wakes the Assistant by simply squeezing your phone, this feature could make the experience completely handsfree for user.

Another change that is fairly basic but extremely important is the battery upgrade, Pixel 2 comes with 2,700mAh and Pixel 2 XL with 3,520mAh. And Google claims that it can charge up to seven hours in just 15 minutes.

Unlike Pixel, Pixel 2 is water- and dust- resistant to the IP67 standard. A feature that may seem a bit too little, too late but in this case we are glad that it’s finally here.

Another thing that’s not there in the Pixel 2 is the headphone jack! It’s even more surprising to see it gone particularly because Google pulled a fast one on iPhone the last time around for losing its headphone jack. Well, even iPhone had to face quite a bit of backlash for skipping the headphone jack we’ll have to see how users react to Pixel 2.

In terms of availability, as it was in the case of first Pixel phones, India is one of the first five markets to get Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL along with U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, and Australia.

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In India, the Pixel 2 will be priced as: Pixel 2 64GB (Rs 61,000), Pixel 2 128GB (Rs 70,000), Pixel 2 XL 64GB (Rs 73,000), Pixel 2 XL 128GB (Rs 82,000). Pre-orders commence on 26th October 2017, and Pixel 2 will be available for sales in the stores across the country and online starting November 1st and Pixel 2 XL will be available for sales in stores and online starting November 15th 2017. Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL will be available online, exclusively on Flipkart.

Google is only at its second generation Pixel phones, and it has to face fierce competition from iPhone 8, iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and even mid-price champs like OnePlus 5. With ample amount of good Android phones out there and new iPhones just out, it’s going to be a tough fight for Google but it is going to be extremely important for Pixel 2 to succeed in order for Google to cement its space in the smartphone market.

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