Pixel 2 Review Update
Supposedly Google has started emailing out the codes for the free Google Home Mini's, and since I pre-ordered my phone, it means I've had the phone now for quite a few weeks. I felt it was time to give the final update review on the device.
Not much has changed. But more a few opinions have or at least deserve an update.
I still feel that the Nexus 6p had a better camera. And unfortunately, I feel like the gulf between the two has widened, not shrank with increased usage. I'm hoping, with time and updates that the camera on the Pixel 2 delivers better results. It has that dedicated imaging chip after all and a lot of what a camera can do can be improved with software. You can't change the lens, but then, this thing scored like a monster and gets rave reviews. So I can't think that the lens is the problem. Maybe I just have a bad unit. I'll need to compare with my wife at some point.
Basically, on default settings with flash off or in moderately lit conditions with flash on auto any motion whatsoever results in a blurry picture. Also, every picture regardless of lighting conditions looks grainy compared anything I ever shot on my 6P. Basically, on my Nexus 6P almost every shot would turn out fine and I'd simply discard the shots that didn't catch the moment. On the Pixel 2 I'm happy if I just get a picture which turns out well enough to keep.
That being said, it really is just comparatively bad. It isn't a bad camera and isn't resulting in any remorse on my part. Especially not since I dropped a giant paper weight on my 6P and smashed the screen. I didn't know it at the time I ordered, but I needed a new phone :).
Battery is definitely better than the 6P. I have basically all the same apps, and then a few more on the Pixel 2. It lasts longer despite more apps. Period.
I've turned the "always on" feature on and off a few times. I think it will remain off at this point. At least for the foreseeable future. While the phones battery life is still competitive with my last phone with it on, I don't find I need it all that much. I can double tap the screen to get the time and pulling it out of my pocket results in the screen lighting up. It also turns on when I get a notification. So, the rare times I'd look at my phone and it wouldn't be on already have solutions. And, I'm anal about my battery life staying super high. So, losing 5-10% over the course of the day while not in use bothers me more than it probably should.
I still maintain though, the average person probably wouldn't/shouldn't care about leaving the always on functionality there if they feel it adds value. Google has taken steps to avoid burn in problems with this feature and the battery life on this phone is so good all around that while it may drop more rapidly when not in use compared to other phones with this on, in average usage it still outperforms the phone I'm used to using easily.
And, since I use my phones rather lightly compared to others, the impact should be even less noticeable to the average user. I put in probably 1-3 hours of screen on time or less between charges. I'm usually back on the charger before I drop below 60% (and often times a lot higher than that). The more you actually use your phone above my stats, the less you'll be able to notice/measure the impact from having the display always on. If you use your phone even less than I do somehow then there is a chance it will make a big difference to you.
Still no screen issues. But then, I am not using the XL. Oddly, I haven't received any security updates on the phone. It still has the September Patch, by now I'd have expected to receive both the October and November patches. Not sure what is going on there. I'll wait until 8.1 is supposed to be available to the devices before I worry too much.
So yeah, that is really all I had to add. Camera impressions got worse. Battery impressions got better. Some additional thoughts on "always on" and no screen issues.
Not much has changed. But more a few opinions have or at least deserve an update.
I still feel that the Nexus 6p had a better camera. And unfortunately, I feel like the gulf between the two has widened, not shrank with increased usage. I'm hoping, with time and updates that the camera on the Pixel 2 delivers better results. It has that dedicated imaging chip after all and a lot of what a camera can do can be improved with software. You can't change the lens, but then, this thing scored like a monster and gets rave reviews. So I can't think that the lens is the problem. Maybe I just have a bad unit. I'll need to compare with my wife at some point.
Basically, on default settings with flash off or in moderately lit conditions with flash on auto any motion whatsoever results in a blurry picture. Also, every picture regardless of lighting conditions looks grainy compared anything I ever shot on my 6P. Basically, on my Nexus 6P almost every shot would turn out fine and I'd simply discard the shots that didn't catch the moment. On the Pixel 2 I'm happy if I just get a picture which turns out well enough to keep.
That being said, it really is just comparatively bad. It isn't a bad camera and isn't resulting in any remorse on my part. Especially not since I dropped a giant paper weight on my 6P and smashed the screen. I didn't know it at the time I ordered, but I needed a new phone :).
Battery is definitely better than the 6P. I have basically all the same apps, and then a few more on the Pixel 2. It lasts longer despite more apps. Period.
I've turned the "always on" feature on and off a few times. I think it will remain off at this point. At least for the foreseeable future. While the phones battery life is still competitive with my last phone with it on, I don't find I need it all that much. I can double tap the screen to get the time and pulling it out of my pocket results in the screen lighting up. It also turns on when I get a notification. So, the rare times I'd look at my phone and it wouldn't be on already have solutions. And, I'm anal about my battery life staying super high. So, losing 5-10% over the course of the day while not in use bothers me more than it probably should.
I still maintain though, the average person probably wouldn't/shouldn't care about leaving the always on functionality there if they feel it adds value. Google has taken steps to avoid burn in problems with this feature and the battery life on this phone is so good all around that while it may drop more rapidly when not in use compared to other phones with this on, in average usage it still outperforms the phone I'm used to using easily.
And, since I use my phones rather lightly compared to others, the impact should be even less noticeable to the average user. I put in probably 1-3 hours of screen on time or less between charges. I'm usually back on the charger before I drop below 60% (and often times a lot higher than that). The more you actually use your phone above my stats, the less you'll be able to notice/measure the impact from having the display always on. If you use your phone even less than I do somehow then there is a chance it will make a big difference to you.
Still no screen issues. But then, I am not using the XL. Oddly, I haven't received any security updates on the phone. It still has the September Patch, by now I'd have expected to receive both the October and November patches. Not sure what is going on there. I'll wait until 8.1 is supposed to be available to the devices before I worry too much.
So yeah, that is really all I had to add. Camera impressions got worse. Battery impressions got better. Some additional thoughts on "always on" and no screen issues.
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