Google has unveiled the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL at the Made by Google event in San Francisco this morning, with the phones now available to pre-order on the Australian Google Store.
As their latest flagship phones, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL of course run Android 8.0 “Oreo” out of the box, with Google promising a ‘minimum 3 years of OS and security updates’. Google is also launching their Google Lens feature that they announced at Google I/O earlier this year as a launch exclusive for these latest Pixel phones, but it will be coming to other devices after a time.
The design has been revamped on the Pixel 2 this year, with a smaller visor for the phones, with the fingerprint sensor sitting just below the glass visor on the rear. A new feature for the new Pixel 2 phones includes ‘Active Edge’, utilising the squeezable frame we saw introduced on the HTC U11, which will bring up Google Assistant to let you access all those features.
Hardware wise, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be available in two sizes and four colors. The Pixel 2 with a 5.0″ AMOLED display in Clearly White, Kinda Blue while the Pixel 2 XL gets a 6.0″ pOLED display and will be available in Black & White and Just Black.
Under the hood, the phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC with 4GB of RAM and come with options for either 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage. The phones get stereo front-firing speakers but unfortunately no headphone jack but will include a headphone Adapter to connect a 3.5mm jack to your Pixel.
The Pixel phones will stick with a single camera setup this year which has topped DxOMark’s mobile ratings with a score of 98. The Pixel phones feature a rear 12.2MP camera with zero shutter lag and a front-facing 8MP camera. The camera incorporates a new Portrait Mode which generates a true depth map with a single lens, with a dual pixel sensor technology offering a left and right view allowing you to take beautiful selfies that offer a background blur, it works on both people and objects.
Full specs for the phones include:
| Pixel 2 | Pixel 2 XL | Release date | — | — | Screen size | 5.0-inch | 6.0-inch | Screen technology | AMOLED | pOLED | Resolution | 1,920 x 1,080 | 2,880 x 1,440 | PPI | 441 | 538 | Rear camera | 12.2MP (1.4μm) | 12.2MP (1.4μm) | Front camera | 8MP (1.4μm) | 8MP (1.4μm) | Chipset | Snapdragon 835 | Snapdragon 835 | Core config |
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| Ram | 4GB | 4GB | Storage | 64GB/128GB | 64GB/128GB | MicroSD | No | No | Battery | 2,700 mAh | 3,250 mAh | Battery removable | — | — | Connector | USB C | USB C | Headphone Port | — | — | Headphone Location | — | — | Speaker Configuration | Stereo front-firing speakers | Stereo front-firing speakers | NFC | Yes | Yes | Android OS | Android 9.0 | Android 9.0 | Vendor skin | — | — | Dimensions | 145.7x69.7x7.8 mm | 157.9x76.7x7.9 mm | Weight | 143g | 175g | Colours |
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Availability
Both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are not yet available to pre-order on the Australian Google Store but you can join the waitlist, with prices looking quite premium. A Google Home Mini will be included with any purchase of a Pixel 2/Pixel 2XL until 31st of December (or while stocks last) to offset that premium pricing – at least a little.
Google has again partnered with Telstra as the exclusive carrier partner for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL with pre-orders going live on the 20th of October.
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will also be available through JB Hi-Fi for those wanting to walk into a retail store to purchase a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL.
Pricing for the phones looks like this:
| Pixel 2 | Pixel 2 XL | |
|---|---|---|
| 64GB | $1,079 | $1,399 |
| 128GB | $1,229 | $1549 |
Has anyone got the discount offer? Ie Meet Pixel 2
(and score a great deal)
Right now, you could get up to $410 back1 when you trade in your current Pixel for a Pixel 2. Plus, get a free Google Home Mini with your pre-order.2 Win and win.
Telstra will be launching on 31 October and the Google home mini will be bundled with device – while stocks last.
Source?
Telstra Notes from a Mate that works there.
I’m not going to complain too much about the price (the first Pixel did the same thing) but the lack of headphone jack means that both of these can get in the goddamn bin.
Those complaining about the price of the Pixel 2 need to bear in mind the guarantee from Google that these devices will receive OS and security upgrades for at least the next three years, and be the first to receive them. You can’t get that guarantee anywhere else. That’s the deal clincher for me. I’ll have a XL2, 128 GB, and run it until it is no longer eligible for OS updates, unless something truly revolutionary and “must have” comes along in the meantime. Decision made, for me.
Most people buying these phones will not keep them longer than 3 years. Being a Telstra exclusive most will get rid of them in 2 years tops when their contract runs out, and the enthusiasts buying them outright will also most likely upgrade to the latest and greatest in a year or two with the temptation of the latest and greatest. Your average smartphone user that keeps their phone for years and years will not even look at the Pixel at this price and will purchase something cheaper outright or just buy your typical iPhone as they cost the same.… Read more »
Too expensive. Sorry Google. I loved the Nexus range and brought the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 and moved on after with the ridiculously sized and priced Nexus 6.
Hopefully we see some Android One devices appearing in Australia soon as more vendors get on board. Something like a Xiaomi Mi A1 with full local band support for around $399 would be perfect for the majority of smartphone users out there.
For power users the Oneplus 5 available directly from OnePlus for $599 is the way to go.
Cheers
100% agree. Although I purchased the Nexus 6 as well and that’s where it ended for me.
I once loved the Nexus program but the price is ultimately what killed it for me. I just recently purchased a Note 8 and so glad I did.
I bet there are endless supply issues (again) and it wont be until early next year that most people will be able to get their hands on it.
Looking around the general consensus seems to be that google has jumped the shark (or rather that people have realised they have jumped the shark three years ago). The phones are overpriced and underwhelming. The Home products are insipid “me too” products, the headphones are just basic bluetooth units at a price premium, and the less said about the horribly overpriced chromebook, the better. I think the thing that best exemplifies the failure to me is the pixel camera. The V30 had twin cameras, and google took it out to put one in it’s place. That’s just dumb considering how… Read more »
As much as I would have loved to have gotten the Pixel or Pixel 2, I’m glad I got the 128GB OP5 instead ($699 Aussie stock). Coming from the Nexus 1 ($49/month on Voda), same for the Galaxy Nexus, paid ~$400 for the Nexus 4, then $500 for the Nexus 6, I can’t justify spending close to ~$1500 on a new phone. I miss the Nexus range so much, just hope that they bring Pure Nexus Rom to OP5 so I can relive those glory days.
Too expensive! No good Nexus replacements around. Arrghhhh
My decision has been made easier I rather get a V30. Same phone but will be half the price in 3 months.
seems to be a common thread here and elsewhere. The V30 does promise to be great hardware-wise (I loved the hardware on the G6) but LG don’t really “get” software/Android.
We have reached out to LG for pricing and availability
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=8720&idPhone2=8712&idPhone3=8712#*,v30-plus,*
Remove this post if it’s not as per Ausdroid rules, as it links to an external site.
The comparison between the 2XL and V30+ and V30.
There doesn’t seem to be a challenge. Barring the SW updates.