Tag: google pixel xl 2

Pixel 2 XL Fingerprint Issues Reported After Android 8.1 Oreo Update

Google launched the Pixel 2 and its bigger sibling, the Pixel 2 XL back in October. The smartphones succeeded the 2016 Pixel smartphones, which were the first ever phones “Made By Google.” While the Pixel 2 phones brought in a few changes were pointed out in the original Pixel devices such as an IP67 rating and a refined design. But, ever since the launch, the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have been marred by controversial issues.

Android 8.1 Oreo stable update started rolling out a few weeks ago for the Google Pixel 2 devices and ever since then, there have been multiple instances where users have complained that the fingerprint sensor on the Google Pixel 2 XL has slowed down. It was also reported earlier this week that some Pixel owners were facing multi-touch issues after updating their phones to Android 8.1 Oreo. No new update has since been rolled out to address those issues.

A temporary fix that some users have discovered involves turning on the phone’s always on display. In theory, this feature should not consume a lot of battery since the Pixel 2 XL has an OLED panel but, if you like saving battery to the last iota, then this fix won’t help.

A Google representative on the support forum has confirmed that the team knows about the issue and that it will be reaching out to affected users to obtain bug reports so they can isolate the issue and fix it. Google has been prompt in acknowledging and addressing issues to its products and a new software update to fix these issues should be seeding soon.

December 18, 2017
Google To Fix Pixel 2’s Buzzing Noise Issue

Ever since the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were launched back in October, the two Android flagship phones have been marred with some issue or the other. While the Pixel 2 XL has faced a lot of flak for its shoddy display and extremely apparent colour shifting, the Pixel 2 has also had some minor issues that have been reported extensively online. One of them is the buzzing noise a user can hear when they put the phone to their ear during a call. Google has announced that an upcoming software update will fix this issue.

Hey all,

We’re rolling out a software update in the coming weeks which eliminates a faint buzzing sound on some Pixel 2 devices when the phone is placed to your ear during a phone call.

Thanks.

It is worth noting that the buzzing noise is different from the “clicking” noise that some Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users have experienced in the past. While an update fixed that issue, people found a way around that issue by switching off NFC.

Considering Google’s prowess in the software part of technology, it is surprising that most of the problems with the two Pixel 2 phones have been software related. On the flip side, it is a good sign that Google is taking note of every little issue reported by users and trying to actively fix them.

November 20, 2017
Google Pixel 2 XL Now Available In India

The Google Pixel 2 XL is now available to buy in India. The 64GB variant of the Pixel 2XL is price at Rs 73000 while the 128GB variant will cost you Rs 82000. The Google Pixel 2 XL has run into some issues since it launch but, Google has said that these issues can be fixed with a software update.

The smartphone has a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px POLED display which translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. Protecting the display is Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Under the hood, the Pixel 2 XL has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 2.4GHz octa core processor, Adreno 540, 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB onboard storage. The fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device but, this time around the “glass window” is smaller. Powering the device is a 3520 mAh battery which is larger than the one found in the Pixel 2.

Just like the Pixel 2, the device runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will receive the Android P update in 2018.

Google has decided to go for a single camera setup similar to last year’s Pixel phones. The rear-facing camera is a 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 micron pixel size. On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The Pixel 2 XL uses both OIS and EIS simultaneously which should ideally result in better low-light photography and stable videos.

Google has introduced new features in the camera department like the addition of AR. Google says Pixel 2 XL has greater high dynamic range, optical image stabilisation, and a portrait mode that doesn’t use a second camera but dual-sensor image technology.

November 15, 2017
DXOmark Says Google Pixel 2 Has A Better Camera Than The iPhone X

The Google Pixel 2 was launched after the iPhone X but, thanks to it being available before the iPhone X the phone was put through its paces all over the internet. DXOmark is a portal that rates the camera of a smartphone on different parameters and the Google Pixel 2 came out to be the highest rated smartphone ever. The recently launched iPhone X was tested by DXOmark and was given an overall rating of 97, which is onepoint less than the Pixel 2.

In its summary, DXOmark said:

With a Photo score of 101, the Apple iPhone X achieves the best results so far for still images, edging out the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the previous joint leaders in the Photo ranking, by one point.

Its overall score of 97 puts the iPhone X into joint second place with the Huawei Mate 10 in the current DxOMark Mobile overall rankings, just behind the Google Pixel 2 with 98 points.

It is interesting to note here that despite clicking the best still images, the iPhone X falls short of the overall score of the Pixel 2 because of its video recording capabilities. The iPhone X is the only smartphone that records 3840 x 2160 px videos at 60fps.

For video, the X doesn’t quite rise to the same high-water mark, achieving a video sub-score of 89 points.

Photos are an extremely subjective aspect of smartphones, just like sound hence, scores by DXOmark can mean everything or absolutely nothing to a consumer. Still, having the second best smartphone camera in the world is no mean feat.

The iPhone X has dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, and it’s equipped with dual optical image stabilisation. The sensors are both larger and faster, according to Apple, and the main camera is equipped with a wide angle lens and has an f/1.8 aperture while the secondary telephoto lens has an f/2.4 aperture. In between the two cameras is a quad-LED True Tone flash. Both the front and back cameras have the portrait mode. The rear cameras have the portrait lighting feature, just like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

Would you prefer the Google Pixel 2 over the iPhoneX on the sole basis of their DXOmark scores? Let us know in the comments below.

November 7, 2017
Google Tries To Fix Pixel 2 XL Display With New Update

Ever since its launch, the Google Pixel 2 XL has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The integration of software, hardware and AI by Google in the Pixel 2 smartphones has been overshadowed by the growing complaints against the Pixel 2 XL’s OLED display. In a new software update, apart from the December security patch, Google has introduced new settings in the display menu, in a bid to improve the user experience.

The software update also contains a security patch for the Wi-Fi “Krack” vulnerability.

The update also contains a fix for the faint clicking noise heard in some Pixel 2s as well as changes to the Pixel 2 XL’s display behaviour to mitigate against potential screen burn-in. About the new update, a Google community manager writes:

As we mentioned in our deeper dive, this update also brings planned UI changes which extend the life of the OLED display, including a fade out of the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen and an update to maximum brightness. These features have been carefully designed so as not to detract from the user experience. Since all OLED displays experience some degree of decay over time, we’ll continue to make enhancements which maximise the life of your Pixel screen.

With the new update, there will be a new set of three different options on both models: boosted, natural, and saturated under the Display settings option. Here is how Google described how the “saturated” setting would look:

The saturated mode puts the display into an unmanaged configuration, similar to how the Pixel 1 operates. The colors will be more saturated and vibrant, but less accurate (similar to most other smartphones which display more vibrant colors): we give consumers the option to choose the colour saturation.

Google’s definition of the saturated setting proves that even though this update has rolled out, the company still doesn’t want its users to use this setting. Google’s intentions are to keep the Pixel 2 XL looking accurate rather than eye-pleasing and unnatural.

November 7, 2017
Google Forgets To Install Android In Some Pixel 2 XL Units

Google appears to have forgotten that an Android phone needs an Android OS to function. Reports from the US claim that a few Google Pixel 2 XL were shipped to customers without an operating system. There are multiple threads on Reddit on the issue, and almost all users complain about the same message welcoming them “Can’t find valid operating system. The device will not start.” After multiple issues were reported, Google responded that it will be replacing all the devices which were shipped with this issue.

One of the Reddit users wrote in a thread:

I came home excited to unbox my new Pixel 2 XL. Upon turning on the device I was greeted with a black screen stating, “Can’t find valid operating system. The device will not start.” Spent an hour on the chat with two different customer service reps and they are wanting to send me a replacement phone. Really frustrating.

There seems to be no end to the woes of Google’s new flagship phone, the Pixel 2 XL. Even though the phone’s software and camera has been appreciated, the dismal display has been panned by critics especially considering the fact that it costs close to Rs 80000 in India. Complaints of a blue tint and screen burnout have been reported and Google did come out and clarify its stand. Google has said that a future software patch will resolve the blue tint issue and the users will be able to tweak the display settings to show more vibrant colours.

Apart from the display, some customers complained that their Pixel 2 XL boxes had a cutout for Pixelbuds but, there were no Pixelbuds to be found inside the box.

Thanks to social media, little issues can be blown out of proportion but, shipping a smartphone without an operating system seems to be a first of its kind issue. To be successful in markets where Google has not even launched the device, it needs to negate these issues and start shipping the best version of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

November 3, 2017
As The Google Pixel 2 Launch Approaches- This App Is A Must Have

Google launched the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on the 4th of October at a launch event at the Google HQ. Google talked about the integration of software, hardware and AI in their new range of products. One nifty feature that combines the three is the ‘Now Playing’ feature. When activated, it uses the always listening microphones of the Pixel 2 smartphones to detect a song in the background and display the name and artist of the song on the lock screen. In the notification window, it then displays links to buy or stream the song. The differentiating factor from Shazam here is that the phone doesn’t need to be connected to the internet for this feature to work. The music-identification feature uses an offline library of “tens of thousands” of songs to identify tracks.

You may also like – Google Pixel 2 And Pixel 2 XL To Launch In India On 27th November – Everything You Need To Know

This feature will come in handy more than you think. If you are always reaching into your pocket and struggling to open Shazam just in time for it to catch the song and show a result, this feature can be priceless. One catch though, is that what if you want to listen to a song that was played a while ago at the restaurant and now you’re in the car and you can’t recall the name of that particular song?

That’s where Now Playing History comes in, and if you are planning to buy a Pixel 2 device and music-identification is something you frequently do or need, this could be a must-have app for you. As the name suggests, Now Playing History essentially lets you view a list of songs that your Pixel 2 has been listening to. Not only does it display the exact time at which the song was recognised but it also lets you play the song via Google Play Music, YouTube, or Spotify (not yet available in India) once you click on each song. As handy as it is, the app however, is not free.

October 26, 2017
Google Pixel 2 Display Black Smearing And Speaker Volume Issues Reported

Even before going on sale in most of the countries, the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have been embroiled in hardware-related internet backlash. New issues have been reported concerning the speakers as well. To bring you up to speed with all the issues regarding the Pixel 2 phones, some tech critics found potential screen burn-in on the Pixel 2 XL. Google has since responded to these reports and said that it is actively investigating the issue. The screen burn-in reports followed previous complaints regarding the display that the colours were dull and that it may show some distortion in certain low-light situations.

Report suggests that certain Google Pixel 2 users are experiencing strange noises on their handset, while another screen-related problem has surfaced. There are multiple complaints online about the high-pitched noises and clicking from the Pixel 2 when it’s next to a person’s ear. This issue however, has appeared on Google forums which means the company is aware of the problem. Also, the issue seems to be mostly affecting the HTC-made standard Pixel 2 rather than the Pixel 2 XL. Apparently, switching off NFC helps with the clicking noise but the high pitched sound persists. It has been noted by a Google staff member that the speaker issue will be fixed in an upcoming software patch.

Another problem regarding the under-fire display is that of black smearing. This issue has been well documented on OLED panels and it looks like the Pixel 2 XL is the next device to face this issue. Now, an average consumer might not notice this but, in a statement in response to growing complaints against the display of the Pixel 2 XL, Google said:

We take all reports of issues very seriously, and our engineers investigate quickly. We will provide updates as soon as we have conclusive data.

Back smearing occurs when the screen transitions from black pixels to coloured pixels. The effect is that the black parts of the on-screen images tend to stay on for a longer period before changing to the coloured parts, making it appear as if the black area has been smeared. This was showcased in a tweet as well. If you look closely, you’ll notice a big blue blob around the black phone while scrolling.

https://twitter.com/hallstephenj/status/922666081822617600

The issues around the new Pixel 2 smartphones have been increasingly rapidly and the company must do something quickly to tackle all the bad press. The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be available for pre-orders in India from the 27th of October.

October 24, 2017
Google Pixel 2 And Pixel 2 XL To Launch In India On 27th November – Everything You Need To Know

Google launched its second iteration of the Pixel lineup on the 4th of October. As was with the Pixel and Pixel XL, India is one of the first few countries to receive the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. On the 27th of October, the two new smartphones from Google will be available to buy in India. The Pixel 2 64GB is priced at Rs 61,000, the 128GB variant at Rs 70,000, the Pixel 2 XL 64GB is priced at Rs 73,000, and the 128GB at Rs 82,000. The Pixel 2 will be available for sale from 1st of November and the Pixel 2 XL from the 15th of November.

Google made sure that it revealed that the Pixel 2 smartphones have the best cameras according to DXOmark but, steered away from the conversation regarding the omission of the beloved 3.5mm headphone jack. This time around, Google has said that it will make sure that the Pixel 2 smartphones have a strong offline presence unlike the Pixel duo from 2016. The VP of Product Management at Google has said that the team has learned a lot since the 2016 Pixel phones were launched in India:

We learnt quite a bit with the first Pixel in India and one of the things we’re doing is increasing our marketing investment, really to explain the product. We’ve expanded the channel and from a go-to-market perspective, we’ll be much more present this year compared to last year.

Pixel 2

Following the design language of last year’s Pixel phones, the smartphone features a 5 inch 1920 x 1080 px OLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top for protection. Powering the device is a 2700 mAh battery and it runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. As is with with every Google phone, the new Pixel 2 will be first in line to receive Android P update in 2018. Under the hood, the device has typical 2017 flagship specifications. It has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 2.4GHz octa core processor, Adreno 540, 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB onboard storage. The fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device but, this time around the “glass window” is smaller. The two-tone colour of the phone is also reminiscent of the original Pixel from 2016. Google claims that the fingerprint sensor is the fastest on a smartphone. The Pixel 2 is water resistant as well.

Google has decided to go for a single camera setup similar to last year’s Pixel phones. The rear-facing camera is a 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 micron pixel size. On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Google has introduced new features in the camera department like the addition of AR. You’ll be able to add 3D characters and emoji into photos and videos and see them move around as you’re capturing the scene. That includes things like a sleepy coffee cup, but also some recognisable characters. Google is going to be partnering with third parties to add in some famous faces. This year, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL use a technology called “dual-pixel” which divides every pixel into two. DXOmark has given the cameras of the Pixel 2 a score of 98, highest ever for a smartphone. Google says Pixel 2 has greater high dynamic range, optical image stabilisation, and a portrait mode that doesn’t use a second camera but dual-sensor image technology. The Pixel 2 XL uses both OIS and EIS simultaneously for better clarity and stable images and videos. The portrait mode works on both rear and font facing cameras, just like the new iPhones.

Pixel 2 XL

The Pixel 2 XL has a design similar to the Pixel 2 with a glass window at the back and the placement of the fingerprint sensor at the back is the same as well. The smartphone has a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px POLED display which translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. Protecting the display is Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Just like the Pixel 2, the device runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will receive the Android P update in 2018. Powering the device is a 3520 mAh battery which is larger than the one found in the Pixel 2. Under the hood, the Pixel 2 XL has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 2.4GHz octa core processor, Adreno 540, 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB onboard storage. The fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device but, this time around the “glass window” is smaller.

The Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 2 also have an always on display for better accessibility. Another feature is the Active Edge feature which lets you squeeze the frame of the phone to launch the Google Assistant. Google has also made some minor changes to the phone’s home screen. The most notable change is that there’s now a search box at the very bottom of the screen. Up top, there’s now an “at a glance” widget, which displays your upcoming meetings, as well as the date and temperature.

On the camera front, Google has decided to go for a single camera setup similar to last year’s Pixel phones. The rear-facing camera is a 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 micron pixel size. On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Google has introduced new features in the camera department like the addition of AR. You’ll be able to add 3D characters and emoji into photos and videos and see them move around as you’re capturing the scene. That includes things like a sleepy coffee cup, but also some recognisable characters. Google is going to be partnering with third parties to add in some famous faces. DXOmark has given the cameras of the Pixel 2 XL a score of 98, highest ever for a smartphone. Google says Pixel 2 XL has greater high dynamic range, optical image stabilisation, and a portrait mode that doesn’t use a second camera but dual-sensor image technology. The Pixel 2 XL uses both OIS and EIS simultaneously for better clarity and stable images and videos.

October 23, 2017
Google Explains The Reason Behind Ditching The Headphone Jack On The Pixel 2

Back in 2016, Apple turned quite a few heads when it launched the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus without a headphone jack, something which was standard in smartphones till that point. Apple, however, did not replace it with a UB Type C port and instead continued with the lightning USB port. This move was considered to be Apple’s first major step towards a port-less iPhone of the future. Google, on the other hand launched the Pixel and Pixel XL with a headphone jack in 2016 and took a subtle dig at Apple during the event. On October 4th, Google announced the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and didn’t get into the reason behind removing the headphone jack at that point.

Now, in a post on company’s Pixel forum, Orrin explained why the headphone jack was replaced with the USB Type C port.

The Pixel 2 still comes with a headphone jack but we have moved to USB-C, a standard that is becoming commonplace in the best phones and laptops of today. Moving to the USB-C audio port with Pixel 2 allows us to provide a better audio and digital experience, as we move towards a bezel-less future.

Notably, Orrin also listed out a list earphones that are ‘Made By Google’ or ‘Made For Google’ headphones that have been verified to be compatible with the Pixel 2. Google will include a USB Type C to 3.5mm headphone jack dongle in the retail box.

With another smartphone maker getting rid of the beloved headphone jack, it seems more than likely the headphone jack is heading towards redundancy. Is it time to replace your trusty wired headphones with bluetooth or USB Type C headphones?

October 7, 2017
Google Pixel 2 Will Not Disturb You With Notifications While You’re Driving

The new Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were unveiled on October 4th during the Google Launch Event. Sundar Pichai kicked off the event with Google’s growing focus on AI. When the Pixel 2 devices were unveiled, Google said that the device incorporates three key components – AI, software and hardware. The Pixel 2 devices have a lot of smart features and make use of the Google Assistant’s tight integration with the Pixel ecosystem. One more very useful feature is the Do not Disturb mode. It is not a new feature by any means but, what Google has done is that it eliminates your role of activating the feature. When the Pixel 2 phone senses that its in a moving vehicle, the feature gets automatically enabled.

You may also like – Pixel 2 Vs The Competition

The new feature was found in the screenshots posted with the Pixel Ambient Services app, which is now available in the Google Play Store. The screenshot of the menu option says that this feature, when enabled, is automatically turned on when the phone senses it is in a moving vehicle. It uses the phone’s motion sensors, along with Bluetooth connections, to make that determination.

One thing to factor in before enabling this feature is that the phone won’t distinguish if you’re the one driving the vehicle or if you’re just a passenger. The feature will be triggered as soon as the phone senses it is in motion. So, if you are someone who commutes via bus or a cab and doesn’t drive, it is best to disable this feature.

You may also like – Pixel 2 Duo Will Have A Stronger Offline Presence In India

The Pixel Ambient Services app will also be used to enable the active listening feature and as of now, the app is a Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL exclusive only. But, more devices might receive a compatible app update in the coming months.

October 7, 2017
The Pixel 2 Duo Will Have A Stronger Offline Presence In India : Google

Google has launched the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. India is one of the first few countries to receive Google’s 2017 flagship smartphones, and Google has promised that the this time around, the two phones will ave a stronger presence in the Indian market. The launch of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL was preceded with a lot of fan fare and the claims about the camera and software integration made Google during the launch has certainly hyped the phones even more.

Last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL, even though they received great reviews for their camera and software performance, didn’t perform all that well in India. At a starting price of Rs 61000, the Pixel 2 duo is already costlier than the Samsung Galaxy S8. Compared to the US$649 starting price of the Pixel 2, the price in India is inflated by almost US$300. But, the VP of Product Management at Google has said that the team has learned a lot since the 2016 Pixel phones were launched in India:

We learnt quite a bit with the first Pixel in India and one of the things we’re doing is increasing our marketing investment, really to explain the product. We’ve expanded the channel and from a go-to-market perspective, we’ll be much more present this year compared to last year.

You may also like : Google Pixel 2 Vs The Competition

The company concedes that one of the main drawbacks of the Pixel and Pixel XL of 2016 was its failure to capture the offline market. According to Google, consumers in India generally prefer to purchase premium, high-end smartphones after having experienced them in-person. The company’s investment in marketing might not necessarily persuade a majority of the Indian consumer market to splash such cash on a second-generation Android flagship. Although it will be interesting to see the strategy that Google adopts for the Indian market.

You may also like : Google Pixel 2 XL Vs The Competition

The Pixel 2 in India starts at a price of Rs 61000 for the 64GB variant and goes up to Rs 70000 for the 128GB variant. The bigger sibling, Pixel 2 XL costs Rs 73000 for the 64GB variant and Rs 81000 for the 128GB storage variant. The iPhone X, when released in India will cost Rs 84000 for the 64GB variant while the Galaxy Note8 retails for Rs 67900 in India right now. What’s your choice of flagship for the next year or so? Let us know in the comments below!

October 6, 2017

Google Pixel 2 XL Vs The Competition

The Google Pixel 2 was launched on October 4th as the marquee Pixel device for 2017. It strays away a little from the thick bezels that the Pixel 2 has but, still incorporates the front-firing speakers in relatively thinner bezels. Just like the Pixel 2, there is a tight integration with Google Assistant in Google’s attempt to harmonise AI, software and hardware. So, how does the bigger Google flagship stack up against the competition? let’s find out:

Google Pixel 2 XL

The smartphone has a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px POLED display which translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. Protecting the display is Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Just like the Pixel 2, the device runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will receive the Android P update in 2018. Powering the device is a 3520 mAh battery which is larger than the one found in the Pixel 2. Under the hood, the Pixel 2 XL has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 2.4GHz octa core processor, Adreno 540, 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB onboard storage. The fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device but, this time around the “glass window” is smaller.

On the camera front, Google has decided to go for a single camera setup similar to last year’s Pixel phones. The rear-facing camera is a 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 micron pixel size. On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Google has introduced new features in the camera department like the addition of AR. Google says Pixel 2 XL has greater high dynamic range, optical image stabilisation, and a portrait mode that doesn’t use a second camera but dual-sensor image technology. The Pixel 2 XL uses both OIS and EIS simultaneously for better clarity and stable images and videos.

Samsung Galaxy S8+

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ has a 6.2 inch 2960×1440 px Super AMOLED display with a 570ppi. Powering the device is a 3000 mAh battery and it runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. Under the hood, the smartphone has Exynos 8895 chipset, 64GB or 128GB onboard storage options which is expandable up to 256GB via microSD card and 4GB RAM or 6GB RAM variants. The Galaxy S8+ is also water and dust resistant. The Galaxy S8 has a glass black which means it is wireless charging compatible. The smartphone has an awkwardly placed fingerprint sensor right next to the camera.

For cameras, both phones get a main Dual Pixel 12MP OIS (F1.7), Front: 8MP AF (F1.7). While the battery on the Galaxy S8 is 3000 man, the S8plus has a 3500 mAh battery. Both support fast charging and wireless charging as well.

Apple iPhone X

The iPhone X has a 5.8-inch 2436 x 1125 px OLED True Tone Super Retina display with minimal bezels around it. The phone runs iOS 11 and is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery which charges through the Apple signature lightning port placed at the bottom of the phone. Because of the all-glass design, the iPhone 8 also has wireless charging. Under the hood, the smartphone has the Apple A11 Bionic chipset with a neural engine, a hexacore processor, 3GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB, and 256GB. Apple has also gotten rid of TouchID and replaced it with facial recognition called FaceID which Apple claims has a security breach chances of 1 in a million.

On the optics front, the iPhone X has dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, and it’s equipped with dual optical image stabilization. The main camera is equipped with a wide angle lens and has an f/1.8 aperture while the secondary telephoto lens has an f/2.4 aperture.

Samsung Galaxy Note8

The Galaxy Note8 has a 6.3 inch 2960 x 1440 px Super AMOLED display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, which is the same aspect ratio found on the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery which is smaller than the 3500 mAh battery found on the Galaxy Note7 with wireless charging capabilities, and runs Android Nougat 7.1.1 with Samsung’s custom skin on top. The device has the Exynos 8895 chipset, 2.3GHz Quad-Core (Custom CPU) + 1.7GHz Quad-Core (Cortex-A53) processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage, which is expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. The graphics are handled by the Mali-G71 MP20 GPU.

The new Note8 has a 12MP dual-camera setup, one of which has a wide lens and the other a telephoto. The telephoto lens allows a user to zoom in losslessly for an up to 2x magnification. The use of dual camera allows for the ability to blur out the background for professional looking bokeh effect shots, something that seems to be common in smartphones in 2017. The Galaxy Note8, Samsung claims, is the first smartphone to feature OIS in both the cameras at the back.

Specifications	Google Pixel 2 XL	Samsung Galaxy S8+	Apple iPhone X	Samsung Galaxy Note8
Price	Rs 73000 for the 64GB variant	Rs 64900 for the 64GB variant	Rs 89000 for the 64GB variant	Rs 67900
Display Size and Type	6 inch POLED display	6.2 inch Super AMOLED	5.8 inch Super Retina Display	6.3 inch Super AMOLED
Display Resolution	2880 x 1440 px	2960 x 1440 px	2436 x 1125 px OLED True Tone	2960 x 1440 px
Dimension	157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm	159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm	143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm	162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm
Weight	175 grams	173 grams	174 grams	195 grams
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Exynos 8895	A11 Bionic Chipset	Exynos 8895
Processor	2.4GHz 8x Qualcomm Kryo 280	Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10 nm process	Hexacore processor with 2 high performing and 4 low cores	Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10 nm process
RAM	4GB	4GB or 6GB	3GB	6GB
Storage	64GB 128GB	64GB 128GB	64GB 256GB	64GB
Storage Expandability	No	Yes up to 256GB	No	Yes up to 256GB
Primary Camera	12.2MP with an f/1.8 aperture Dual pixel technology	Dual Pixel 12MP with an f/1.7 aperture	12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras Wide-angle: ƒ/1.8 aperture Telephoto: ƒ/2.4 aperture	Dual 12MP camera Wide-angle: ƒ/1.7 aperture Telephoto: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Primary Camera Features	Simultaneous OIS and EISPortrait mode	OIS PDAF	Portrait mode Portrait Lighting (beta) Dual optical image stabilization Six?element lens Quad-LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync	PDAF 2X lossless optical zoom Bokeh Effect Dual OIS
Secondary Camera	8MP with an f/2.4 aperture	8MP AF (F1.7)	7MP camera f/2.2 aperture	8MP with an f/1.7 aperture
Colours	Black and White, All Black	Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Orchid Grey	Space Gray, Silver	Midnight Black, Maple Gold

October 6, 2017

Google Pixel 2 Has The Best Camera In A Smartphone : DXOmark

On October 4th, Google presented its strategy for the future. Google wants the perfect harmony of AI, software and hardware for its upcoming devices. All eyes were on the announcement of the much awaited Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. The announcement of the two phones was succeeded with their DXOmar scores. DXOmark is a portal that rates the camera of a smartphone on different parameters. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have a score of 98 on DXOmark which makes the Pixel 2 camera as the best smartphone camera in the world right now. In September, it was announced that the iPhone 8 has the best smartphone camera in the world.

Photos are an extremely subjective, just like sound. Hence, scores by DXOmark can mean everything or absolutely nothing to a consumer but, having the best smartphone camera in the market doesn’t hurt.

The Google Pixel 2 not only takes the DxOMark Mobile scoring crown with a stunning Overall score of 98, but its video performance improves by 5 points over the original Pixel, putting it at 96 and at the top of our video ranking. The Pixel 2’s photo performance is really impressive at 99, and just one point short of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which scored an amazing 100 in our photo category.

In terms of optics, Google decided to go with a tried and testing route of a single camera of the back instead of the now-trending dual-cameras. Both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have a 12.2MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture and feature a “dual-pixel” technology. What this basically does is that it literally divides every pixel into two. Even though the phones have a single camera, you can still take portrait style photos from both the front and the back camera thanks to Google’s software processing. On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. On the video front, the rear-facing camera uses both OIS and EIS for stable videos and records 4K videos at 30FPS.

Would you consider buying a phone just because of its superior DXOmark scores? Let us know in the comments below.

October 6, 2017
Google Launches The Pixel 2 XL For US$849

Google has finally unveiled the new Pixel 2 XL during its launch event. The Pixel 2 XL is priced at Rs 73000 for the 64GB variant. Google will also bundle a Google Home Mini with every order of a Pixel 2 XL for a limited time.

The Pixel 2 XL has a design similar to the Pixel 2 with a glass window at the back and the placement of the fingerprint sensor at the back is the same as well. The smartphone has a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px POLED display which translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. Protecting the display is Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Just like the Pixel 2, the device runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will receive the Android P update in 2018. Powering the device is a 3520 mAh battery which is larger than the one found in the Pixel 2. Under the hood, the Pixel 2 XL has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 2.4GHz octa core processor, Adreno 540, 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB onboard storage. The fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device but, this time around the “glass window” is smaller.

A new addition is front-firing dual stereo speakers. The big omission is the much talked about 3.5 headphone jack. The Pixel 2 XL also has an always on display for better accessibility. Another feature is the Active Edge feature which lets you squeeze the frame of the phone to launch the Google Assistant. Google has also made some minor changes to the phone’s home screen. The most notable change is that there’s now a search box at the very bottom of the screen. Up top, there’s now an “at a glance” widget, which displays your upcoming meetings, as well as the date and temperature.

On the camera front, Google has decided to go for a single camera setup similar to last year’s Pixel phones. The rear-facing camera is a 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 micron pixel size. On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Google has introduced new features in the camera department like the addition of AR. You’ll be able to add 3D characters and emoji into photos and videos and see them move around as you’re capturing the scene. That includes things like a sleepy coffee cup, but also some recognisable characters. Google is going to be partnering with third parties to add in some famous faces. DXOmark has given the cameras of the Pixel 2 XL a score of 98, highest ever for a smartphone. Google says Pixel 2 XL has greater high dynamic range, optical image stabilisation, and a portrait mode that doesn’t use a second camera but dual-sensor image technology. The Pixel 2 XL uses both OIS and EIS simultaneously for better clarity and stable images and videos.

The Pixel 2 XL will be available online on Flipkart exclusively and at select offline retail outlets. As far as pricing is concerned, the Pixel 2 64GB is priced at Rs 61,000, the 128GB variant at Rs 70,000, the Pixel 2 XL 64GB is priced at Rs 73,000, and the 128GB at Rs 82,000. Pre-orders in India begin from 26th October 2017, the Pixel 2 will be available for sale from November 1 and the Pixel 2 XL from 15th November.

October 4, 2017