It appears that maybe we were premature to declare there was a bit of fuss about nothing to do with the Pixel 2 XL display. While I stand by the blue tint “issue” being a bit of a non-issue, the image burn-in reported yesterday is a bit more worrying. Today’s discovery that the pixels themselves are slow to activate causing awful scrolling effects is even worse.
Here’s a great example of what we’re talking about:
https://twitter.com/hallstephenj/status/922329787389104128
As you can see, when the brightness is lower than about half (which, let’s face it, might be fairly often), black pixels take a while to activate and this is most prominent when scrolling, and equally, take a while to deactivate too. What this means is you get a jelly-scrolling type effect, and it’s rather noticeable. I hadn’t noticed this myself as my brightness sits around 50% most of the time, but like the sound of a friend eating noisily, once you see it, you can’t unsee it, and you notice it everywhere.
It’s just one more issue with an already embattled display, and Google’s assurances of active investigation may not offer a lot of comfort to those who’ve already pre-ordered, or who’ve already bought their Pixel 2 XL somewhere else.
While customers don’t have them in Australia yet, the feedback on our coverage has been pretty one-sided: a good many people are considering their pre-orders and looking at something else.
Its interesting the Pixel 2 XL has the same low light scrolling issue as the OnePlus 5 yet Ausdroid called it the phone of the year… Can’t be all too bad then!
When you could buy a 1+5 for $599 you can overlook more flaws than a $1399 device.
I had a thorough play with a Pixel 2 XL in a Telstra shop today and compared it side by side with my Galaxy S8, and this all seems pretty overblown IMO. Both screens have a blue tint when viewed at an angle (the P2XL is slightly bluer), I couldn’t see much evidence of image retention or screen burn in on the P2XL when using the grey test image (I’ve experienced image retention on my S8) and I didn’t test the low light scrolling muddiness. But from everything I’ve seen, the reported P2XL screen issues are really only noticeable if… Read more »
Ok thanks Chris. I can’t seem to reply to posts on here as I get ‘invalid captcha’ notification, even though it’s just a ‘I am not a robot’ checkbox which gets the green tick when I click it. Not sure what the issue is. I might confirm with Google first before I buy from JB. I was all for getting the Pixel 2 XL but these burn in and slow pixel activation stuff does have me concerned. Not sure if there was a bad screen batch that went out to early reviewers or if the screens do have inherent issues.… Read more »
I had the same issue with the OLED on my Nexus 6P. Seems like other manufacturers have some work to catch up to Samsung when it comes to OLED displays. I’d still choose an OLED with flaws over any LCD screen though.
Nexus 6P is not OLED and it’s not the same issue because the Nexus 6P screen works differently to OLED tech.
The Nexus 6p is definitely AMOLED, what makes you think it is different?
What are the odds these are initial teething issues that will change at the end of november? Meh, I’ll keep my pre-order for the moment. Especially because I can cancel up until shipping with no issues.
If I bought the phone from JB Hi Fi and had issues with it, could I deal directly with Google for a replacement/return or would I have to deal with JB?
I know Google offer 15 day return policy and JB doesn’t.
Consumer law allows you to deal with the retailer or the manufacturer at your election, but whether Google would apply the same terms to its direct customers as it would to those sold via retail channels is unclear. From a customer relations standpoint, you’d certainly hope so.
Google have much better return policies, buy from them.
Looks like google left EVERYTHING to do with the hardware to LG, I wonder who’s brilliant idea that was.
Google needs to take hardware more seriously because it’s their name on the phone now, not the company they pay to manufacture it.
In recent times, LG’s mobile hardware division has kind of demonstrated that they’re not quite up to the task of making (what should be) the best mobile device around.
Wow. What a disaster. This is so sad. It could’ve been the perfect phone. Shame on you LG (and Google too, for picking them and not doing enough QC).
As much as I feel the phone’s display is disappointing, the overall experience remains pretty good.
But I’m not paying $1400 for “pretty good”. For $1400 it needs to be near flawless, and it just isn’t.
If only they hadn’t decided to gouge Australians, people might be more willing to overlook the flaws if the devices were $200-300 cheaper.
For $1400 i think a phone shouldn’t be near flawless, it should be totally and utterly flawless!