After the initial issues with the Pixel 2 line (primarily around the Pixel 2 XL’s display and its quirks), it seems like there’s another issue cropping up, this time with random reboots according to 9to5Google.
We’ve not experienced this locally with any of the Pixel 2 handsets in our hands, but it seems a good number have elsewhere. One such user, Nader Babbili, has taken to Google’s Pixel product forums and identified that the LTE modem in the Pixel 2 line may be the cause:
I KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING!!!  It’s from being in a low signal area and LTE – for example when I’m at home on wifi it rarely happens, once I leave my wifi area (low signal area, LTE comes and goes)  reboots happen constantly . . .  So I went into Settings -> Network and Internet -> Mobile Network and change Preferred network type to only use 3G = NO MORE REBOOTS! Can someone else please confirm this? Obviously leaving LTE off is not feasible, but hopefully it points Google in the right direction for fixing this . . . . .
I’ve narrowed it down even more . . .  the area that it continuously reboots with LTE has a Wilson Cell Amplifier in the area, I got access to be able to unplug it temporarily . . . . and low and behold LTE is on, and no more reboots . . . . so the Amplifier is the culprit . . . . either the phone doesn’t know how to work with a boosted signal or the booster doesn’t know how to work with Pixel . . .
Android Police has observed that the problem likely means the LTE modem is causing a kernel panic of some kind when the device is in LTE and in particular use cases. At this stage, it doesn’t seem that whatever the issue is has been fixed in Android 8.1, or in replacement devices sent to affected users.
I guess we’re rather fortunate we’ve not seen these issues here, and as my phone lives on LTE virtually all the time, if it was going to happen I guess it would’ve.
It hasn’t happened to my 2 XL at this stage. Purchased from Google, had it 2 weeks. At home, the 4G signal varies a lot, sometimes drops to 3G.
My personal experience, so far, is it’s a brilliant device in every way. I flew to NZ today. I don’t know if that’s relevant, but it’s working perfectly here too. It’s blazing fast and smooth as butter.
Had my pixel 2 for 3 weeks now and zero issues so far. Battery life is excellent and the camera is as good as I hoped.
Couldn’t agree more. The battery life on my Pixel 2 XL is just amazing
Google just can’t catch a break with the Pixel 2 line can they?
Nope. High expectations and hype leads to closer scrutiny.
I haven’t experienced any reboots yet but I have had a few moments when the display freezes and becomes unresponsive to touch.
I’ve had a few random reboots. As much as I’m enjoying the phone, it seems to have launched without enough testing in the field.
I am so glad I never purchased a Pixel 2. Not a week goes by where there isn’t several new issues with them.
My 6P used to do this after the September Oreo security patch. We get barely any reception at home and it would reboot at least once a night.
My Pixel 2 XL hasn’t had this problem though.
My Pixel 2 XL has rebooted randomly a handful of times. Maybe this is the cause!