Don't buy Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones just yet
2017 has been the year of premium flagship phones. Over the past few months, we've seen a number of Android flagships lighting up the market with their sparkling designs and features, but arguably, the best of the lot have been Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices announced by Google on October 4.
Unveiled alongside a range of other devices – a premium Pixelbook, two new Google Home speakers, smart earbuds that can translate in realtime, a hands-free camera, and a new VR headset – this year's Pixel range of smartphones came with the promise of reliability and ease of use that all "Made by Google" devices bring with them. However, if initial reviews and reports are to be believed, the promise appears to have been broken.
The Pixel 2 and especially the LG made Pixel 2 XL are devices that have exposed the frailties of Google's Pixel program in its current state. The two devices have been reported to be riddled with bugs and issues that will not just pose as slight inconveniences, but look to be problems that may doom the future of the two phones.
As the two phones go on pre-orders in India, here's why you should stay away from buying Google's latest and greatest phones for at least a while longer.
Inaccurate, washed out colours on Pixel 2 XL display
The Pixel 2 comes bearing a bezel ridden 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, while the Pixel 2 XL sports 6-inch 2880 x 1440 (QHD) pOLED display that has considerably thinner bezels for a more modern edge-to-edge feel, but the move to a state-of-the-art pOLED display on the Pixel 2 XL has brought more headaches than laurels for the phone's manufacturers.
Reviewers have found the display on the Pixel 2 XL to be muted, washed out, and have a weird blue/green tint to it. The Verge in an article went as far as calling the phone's display an "inexcusable disaster".
Though Google has defended the display by claiming that the screen has been calibrated to reproduce natural tones, it appears to be an argument built on shaky ground.
"We designed the Pixel display to have a more natural and accurate rendition of colours this year but we know some people prefer more vivid colours so we've added an option to boost colours by 10 per cent for a more saturated display. We're always looking at people's responses to Pixel and we will look at adding more colour options through a software update if we see a lot of feedback."
Pixel 2 XL's screen burn-in, ghosting issues
If inaccurate colour reproduction isn't a deal breaker, the other major problem with the display will surely make you think twice before ordering the phone. According to a report published by Android Central, some users have reported serious screen burn-in issues with the new device.
That's some pretty wild OLED burn-in on the Pixel 2 XL after maybe 7 days of full-time use pic.twitter.com/EPJTs6D0Kg
— Alex Dobie (@alexdobie) October 22, 2017
Screen burn-in happens when the display has an image on screen long enough to cause a ghost image of it to hang around even after you move to a new image. Unfourtunately, this is a serious issue and usually shows up on OLED panels only after months and years of usage.
Even though screen-burn in issues are covered under warranty, to have your new phone develop serious problems such as these in just the first few weeks of use can never be a good sign.
Pixel 2's constant clicking bug
Though not as serious as the Pixel 2 XL's display problems, the Pixel 2 also comes with its own set of issues that can ruin the experience of using this year's Pixel phone.
Users have reported the smaller Pixel 2 to produce a "high pitch frequency sound and clicking" when the phone is held up to a user's ear.
Multiple users in a Pixel 2 community page have complained of "experiencing high-pitched whirling noises when the phone is up to ear in calls," and have said that the noise can still be heard even when a call isn't being placed.
No wireless charging or 3.5mm headphone jack
For many years, wireless charging has been touted as a convenient solution to charging phones without using clunky cables, and for forward-looking phones such as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL to miss the bus and not come equipped with the tech is a bit of a bummer.
But more than just being a negative on the spec sheet comparison, the move also gives birth to issues that dampen the experience of using the phone.
The phone also skips on a 3.5mm headphone jack, and routes all charging and music listening work – in case you are not using Bluetooth headsets – through the phone's USB Type-C jack, thus ensuring that the user cannot carry out basic tasks like charging their phones and using their headphones at the same time.