Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 xl Full Review and Price in Nigeria

Last Updated on July 22, 2018 by TM

When Google launched her first flagship phone in 2016, i wondered why they named it “pixel”; little did i know they were working towards building the best camera on a smartphone. The new google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl have really demonstrated why google named her phone Pixel. The google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl is Google’s second stock android flagship phone in Nigeria, it was officially launched in October 4th and released in october 19th 2017.

Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl is a light weight android phone with refined software, stella performance, pixel exclusive google assistance, now playing feature, fast fingerprint scanner, android oreo 8.0 operating system, large camera sensor and currently has the best camera on a smartphone in 2017 with no competition to measure up.

What’s new in the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl is well spotted out in the following:

 

Design

The Google pixel 2 has a smaller and convenient size, easy grip dimension, incredibly light weight (143grams) and has a large bezels with an amazing camera to compensate; while the google pixel 2 xl on the other hand has a larger size, light weight(about 175grams) and a tiny bezels at the top and buttom of the phone.

Both the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl are the first set of android phones with eSIM technology which is available only in U.S but you can also use sim card on them if you reside in Nigeria. The new design on the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl look’s kinda cool and functional in Nigeria, they both have refined glass and metallic design at the back, albeit with glass around the top and an aluminium chassis on the rest part of it.

Google also did a fantastic job on the position of the speakers of the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl this time by introducing the dual full front facing stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the phone. Making audio, video and gaming sounds clearer and awesome for high-end users in Nigeria. I kinda love the position of these new set of speakers because you can conveniently listen to quality sounds without having to turn down your phone.

The speaker design is a unique feature you don’t get to see in most smartphones in Nigeria in 2017. The finger print scanner on both the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl have both been modified this time around; it is now located on the aluminium side at the back of the pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl while the camera is still positioned on the glass part of it.

 

Display

The display on Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl 5.0 and 6.0inch full HD and quad HD display is superb and colorfilled. Picture to picture implementation for the youtube app on the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl is fantastic. The wallpaper on the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl is even more active and vibrant than most wallpapers i have seen in any smartphone in Nigeria before.

Each wallpaper kinda have something moving inside of it; you get to see either cars, waves or even hot air ballons moving on a wallpaper when closely observed. These wallpapers can also work on other android phones in Nigeria when you download backdrop app on google play store.

The google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl also have always-on-display to show you the date, time and notifications when the phone is not actively in use. You can now double tap to activate the screen and see full details about your notifications.

The notification display on the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl have also been stepped up this time. When the notification is dragged from the top of the screen, you get to see a bigger notifications displayed around the top part of it for recent and more important things while smaller notifications are also displayed at the bottom for less important stuffs.

The music app wasn’t left out to; when listening to music on your music app, the notification for that app changes color by adapting the same color as the one on your music app. Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl also display notification on app icons. No more weather and pill widgets at the top of the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl display this time, the search bar is now placed under the docked icons with calendar, time and date information embedded around the top of the screen.

Google assistance can now be easily activated in seconds by squeezing either the google pixel 2 or pixel 2 xl which is quite faster than previous methods of activating assistance. You also don’t have to worry about squeezing either the google pixel 2 or pixel 2 xl accidentally because the squeeze sensitivity can either be increased or reduced when you tap on active edge on the settings.

 

Camera

Dx Omark claims the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl cameras are in a league of their own. The single lens 12.2MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and 8MP front selfie camera with f/2.4 aperture is unargueablely the best part of these phone period. There is absolutely no competition standing on it’s way as regards the camera quality of the pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl. It scored 98% which is higher than that of iphone 8 and samsung note 8 with 94%.

The photo quality are now the leader among smartphone cameras in 2017. It is indeed the best feature in the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl. Google also introduced a new feature called Google lens which is an image recognition software and is best at identifying things with text on them and search base on image recognition. It also give you relevant links to the image search.

If you are out there looking for the best camera in a smartphone, you definately won’t be disappointed buying the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl in Nigeria. Google decided to drive to a whole new direction this time by developing a smartphone with a single lens camera at the back with magical picture and video result.

The front and back camera have background-blurring portrait mode, 24 ofps that shows motion videos, an optical image stabilization and an enhanced camera settings.

Google driving towards AI have decided to introduce AI to the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl which now help you automatically perfects pictures without worrying about which mode is best for every shot, you can now snap wonderful pictures and let google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl decide which picture mode is best for every picture.

Photos on google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl photos are constantly on point, vibrant and true to life. Video recording is also excellent as well, if you are into Photography in Nigeria; get this phone.

 

Software and Performance

Google Pixel 2 and pixel 2 xL also comes with the latest pre-installed android operating system (8.0 Oreo) which has an improved user interface and runs perfectly well. The settings has been redesigned and cleaned up, the uninterrupted little floating youtube app box keeps playing videos on the background even as you navigate around the phone (you can still watch youtube videos and still do other things at the same time).

The now playing feature is also a new feature on the pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl which has the ability to continously listen to audio songs playing around you, display it on the always on display screen and then provide you with relevant links on were to download the song when you tap the screen. It work’s most times but not always.

Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl performance is also great as well. The finger print sensor on the Pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl is very fast and responsive, Google Cliams the finger print sensor unlock faster than any other smartphone in 2017. The IP67 waterproof can allow both smartphones to stay under water for up to 1 metre or 3.5 feet down for an hour.

The google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl will also be among the first android phones to get Android P and Q updates when they arrive. Google also offered unlimited cloud storage for pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl owners which may likely expire in early 2021 (all thanks to Google).

The snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB ram runs smoothly on the goolge pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl which is perfectly okay to handle anything (multitasking) you throw at it. Boot time is now 10 seconds which is awesome.

 

Battery Performance

Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl 2,700mAh and 3,520mAh have great battery life and the battery capacity is perfectly okay too. The battery of the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl can last for up to 5 hours on heavy usage and 24 hours on moderate usage. The battery saving mode option can also help extend the battery life performance when activated. Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl also have quick charging feature as well.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 xl Specification

General

Google Pixel 2


Color:Just black, black and white


Dimension:145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8mm


Weight:143g


Battery:2,700mAh

Googel Pixel 2 XL


Color:Just black, black and white


Dimension:157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9mm


Weight:175g


Battery:3,520mAh

Display

Google Pixel 2


Resolution:1,920 x 1,080


Screen Size:5.0inch full HD OLED

Google Pixel 2 XL


Resolution:2,880 x 1,440


Screen Size:6.0inch Quad HD pOLED

Software

Google Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL


Operating System:Android 8.0 Oreo

Storage & CPU

Google Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL

RAM:4GB


Internal Storage:64GB / 128GB


External Storage:No


Processor:Octa-core 2.35GHz


GPU:Adreno 540

Camera

Goolge Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL

Rear:12.2 mega pixel


Front:8 mega pixel


Flash:available

Connectivity

Google Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL

WIFI:Available


Quick Charge:Yes


Bluetooth 5.0:Available


Sim Slot:Single Sim


Sim type:nano & e-sim


GSM/CDMA/3G/4GLTE:All Available


USB-C Port:Available

Sensor

Google Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL

Proximity Sensor:Available


Ambient Light Sensor:Available


Barometer:Available


Accelerometer:Available


Active edge:Available


Android Sensor Hub:Available


Fingerprint Sensor:Available


Advanced X-axis Haptics:Available

Inside the box

Items include: Power Wall Adaptor, USB Type-C cable, USB-C 3.5mm headphone adaptor, User guide and Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 xl

View price

 

What’s the Difference

Even though the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl looked very much alike, there are still a few differenciating factors that make them distinct from each other.

  • The number one most noticeable difference is at the front. While the google pixel 2 spots a 5.0inch OLED 1920 x 1080 display with a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio,the google pixel 2 xl on the other hand spots a 6.0inch pOLED 2,880 x 1,440 display with an 18:9 aspect ratio
  • Google pixel 2 has a large bezels at the top and buttom while the google pixel 2 xl has a very slim bezels around it’s screen.
  • There is also a noticeable difference in battery capacity. Google pixel 2 battery capacity stands at 2700mAh which is perfectly okay with respect to it’s screen size. The google pixel 2 xl battery capacity is 3,520mAh which is alittle bit higher.
  • Price of both phones are also different. Google pixel 2 cost about ₦346,000 for the 64GB and about ₦396,000 for the 128GB. The google pixel 2 xl on the other hand cost about ₦ 400,000 for the 64GB and about ₦448,000 for the 128GB. See today’s price

 

 

My thoughts:

Despite the fact that there have been alot of hype for the google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl in Nigeria, there are still a few observable issues i would like to share about these phones.

1. No headphone jack: Google last year’s pixel and pixel xl in Nigeria had no headphone jack and was largely criticised by many. This time, they came back with pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl and decided not to include headphone jack one more time. Connecting your headphone to either the google pixel 2 or pixel 2 xl can only be done using the USB-C 3.5mm headphone adaptor or Google pixel airpod which is sold seperately.

2. The Pixel 2 design: Majority of the flagship phones we saw coming into Nigeria in 2017 had little or no bezels which seem to be like the trend this year. Unfortunately, the design of the google pixel 2 don’t seem to be in that league, this phone has large bezels on both the top and buttom which doesn’t look like a 2017 kind of phone. The design of the pixel 2 to me is odd but that doesn’t seem to be much of a deal-breaker in Nigeria.

3. No micro SD card slot: Google pixel 2 and pixel 2 xl storage size can not be expanded, only 64GB and 128GB optional storage space are available, many android users in Nigeria won’t find this funny at all.

4. No display for battery life percentage: when charging either the google pixel 2 or pixel 2 xl when switched off, it becomes impossible to see if it is either 2% or 40%. You only get to see the battery percent level when the phone is turn on.

2 thoughts on “Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 xl Full Review and Price in Nigeria”

  1. Its such as you read my thoughts! You appear to understand so much about this, like you wrote the
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    a few p.c. to force the message home a bit, but other than that,
    this is great blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.

    Reply

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