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Google Pixel 2 Smartphone Review

Small, but powerful! The smallish Pixel 2 smartphone features a 5-inch 16:9 display. In addition to being slightly cheaper, this is the only difference when compared with its bigger brother. The camera has managed to impress us but battery life is a little on the short side.

For the original German article, see here.

Google’s Pixel 2 follows its predecessor’s form factor and features a 5-inch 16:9 display, the exact same resolution as before, and even a battery that is once again 2,700 mAh in capacity. Its upgrades include more storage space on the base model, a new camera, and a fast Snapdragon 835 SoC. Regarding communication, its Wi-Fi (ac) and LTE (Cat. 15) modems are top-of-the line and leave nothing to be desired. As before, Google has forgone the MicroSD card slot for quick and affordable expandability. The two front-facing stereo speakers are a welcome change, and they work particularly well in landscape mode. Prices for the 5-inch Pixel 2 start at $649 (64 GB) with a $100 premium for the 128 GB model. As before, the Pixel 2 includes unlimited Google Drive cloud storage for full-size photos and videos taken with the device. Unlike before, this offer is now only temporary. The larger model called Pixel 2 XL differs mainly in display size and battery capacity, otherwise it is identical to the Pixel 2.

The Pixel 2’s competition is fierce and numerous. Among others, it competes with the Samsung Galaxy S8Huawei P10Apple iPhone 8, LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ, and Xiaomi Mi 6.

Google Pixel 2 (Pixel 2 Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998) 8 x 2.5 GHz, Kryo 280
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
, LPDDR4x
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 441 PPI, capacitive, AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash, 64 GB 
, 55.05 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, Audio Connections: USB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Active Edge, proximity sensor, hall effect sensor, accelerometer, Android and G-sensors, barometer, magnetometer, Wifi Direct, BeiDou, Galileo, eSIM
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM/GPRS/Edge (850, 900, 1,800, and 1,900 MHz), CDMA EVDO Rev A ( BC0/BC1/BC10), UMTS/HSPA+ (bands 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8), LTE Cat. 15 (bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66 (FDD); 38, 40, 41 (TDD)), LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.8 x 145.7 x 69.7 ( = 0.31 x 5.74 x 2.74 in)
Battery
2700 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Android 8.1 Oreo
Camera
Primary Camera: 12.2 MPix (1.4 μm, f/1.8, OIS and EIS, auto focus with laser and dual pixel phase detection, 2160p video)
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix (fix focus, 1.4 μm, f/2.4, 1080p video, EIS)
Additional features
Speakers: front-facing stereo speakers, Keyboard: virtual, charger, quick switch, USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter, quick start guide, Google Lens, 24 Months Warranty, USB Type-C, IP67 certified, aptX HD, unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos, fanless
Weight
143 g ( = 5.04 oz / 0.32 pounds), Power Supply: 82 g ( = 2.89 oz / 0.18 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

In addition to weighing in at only 143 g (the lightest device in our test group), the 5-inch Google Pixel 2 appeared to be surprisingly small. The rear of the aluminum alloy case is partly covered with glass while at the front we find Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

The smartphone’s overall build quality is very high, and it turned out to be very rigid and resisted torsional forces with ease. Thanks to its underlying OLED technology, applying pressure to the display results in no visible ripple effect whatsoever. Gaps are consistent and tiny, and the device’s overall look and feel is impressive. Unfortunately, unlike on the XL the Pixel 2’s screen-to-body ratio is rather poor.

The NanoSIM slot sits flush with the case, and the smartphone is IP67 certified (dust tight, water-resistant). Strictly speaking, this means the phone can survive for up to 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water. Consequently, the battery is not user-replaceable.

The Pixel 2 ships in three different colors: Black, White, and Blue. The latter comes with the same turquoise-colored power button we are already familiar with from the Huawei P10. Whether or not you like it is certainly going to be purely a matter of taste, but we did like it a lot.

Size Comparison

148.9 mm / 5.86 inch 68.1 mm / 2.68 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 155 g0.3417 lbs148.9 mm / 5.86 inch 71.9 mm / 2.83 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 163 g0.3594 lbs146 mm / 5.75 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 8.1 mm / 0.3189 inch 161 g0.3549 lbs145.7 mm / 5.74 inch 69.7 mm / 2.74 inch 7.8 mm / 0.3071 inch 143 g0.3153 lbs145.2 mm / 5.72 inch 70.5 mm / 2.78 inch 7.5 mm / 0.2953 inch 168 g0.3704 lbs145.3 mm / 5.72 inch 69.3 mm / 2.73 inch 6.98 mm / 0.2748 inch 144 g0.3175 lbs138.4 mm / 5.45 inch 67.3 mm / 2.65 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 148 g0.3263 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

In addition to the USB 3.1 Gen.1 Type-C port the Pixel 2 also supports NFC and Bluetooth 5.0. The latter includes support for aptX and aptX HD high-definition audio content.

As before, both Google smartphones come with unlimited Google Drive cloud storage for full-size photos and videos taken with the devices. Unlike before, this offer is temporary though, and it expires on January 15, 2021. After that you will be limited to high quality instead of full-size. According to Google, this offer renders MicroSD expansion futile, and for that reason, the phone lacks a MicroSD expansion slot.

Some other features it also lacks: infrared emitter/sensor, support for radio, and wireless charging.

Top: Microphone
Top: Microphone
Left side: SIM slot
Left side: SIM slot
Right side: Power, volume
Right side: Power, volume
Bottom: USB, microphone
Bottom: USB, microphone

Software

The Pixel 2 ships with Android 8.0 Oreo and will receive software and security updates through October 2020.

Additionally, the two new Pixel 2 phones are also the first ever to support Google Lens, which will be made available to other manufacturers at a later time as well. Lens uses Google’s massive server and computing infrastructure to analyze photos in order to recognize buildings, sceneries, works of art, books, and CD covers and provide you with additional information via Google Assistant. In addition, it also supports recognition of email addresses, postal addresses, and phone numbers off of flyers.

The phone also actively listens to its environment and presents you with singer and song title on its always-on display in case it detects and recognizes a song; a feature which can be disabled, though. Generally speaking, Google has plans to integrate its Google Assistant much deeper into the general Android user experience. For example, just like on the HTC U11, Google Assistant can be launched on the Pixel 2 by simply squeezing the phone.

The update to Android 8.1 Oreo is available since December 5th 2017.

Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2

Communication and GPS

Mobile Internet connections on the Google Pixel 2 are established via LTE Cat. 15 and numerous bands are supported. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is currently the best smartphone in this respect if you require even more coverage. We used the Pixel 2 in the mobile networks of O2 as well as Vodafone, and we did not encounter any issues.

The smartphone supports the IEEE 802.11 standards a/b/g/n/ac in 2.4 as well as 5.0 GHz mobile networks. We can determine decent transfer rates in combination with our reference router Linksys EA8500, but the manufacturer waived the MIMO antenna technology this time, so the Pixel 2 cannot keep up with most of the rivals. This is hard to understand when you consider the high price. The dampening fluctuates between -34 and -44 dBm (2.4 GHz) and is increased to -79 up to -85 dBm (5.0 GHz) two storeys higher, but HD video streaming from YouTube was still smooth.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy S8
Mali-G71 MP20, Exynos 8895, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
651 MBit/s +171%
Xiaomi Mi 6
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
500 MBit/s +108%
Sony Xperia XZ1
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
500 MBit/s +108%
Apple iPhone 8
A11 Bionic GPU, A11 Bionic, Apple 256 GB (iPhone 8 / Plus)
354 MBit/s +48%
Huawei P10
Mali-G71 MP8, Kirin 960, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
343 (154min) MBit/s +43%
Google Pixel 2
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
240 MBit/s
LG G6
Adreno 530, SD 821, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
220 MBit/s -8%
iperf3 receive AX12
Apple iPhone 8
A11 Bionic GPU, A11 Bionic, Apple 256 GB (iPhone 8 / Plus)
915 MBit/s +219%
Xiaomi Mi 6
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
574 MBit/s +100%
Sony Xperia XZ1
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
489 MBit/s +70%
Samsung Galaxy S8
Mali-G71 MP20, Exynos 8895, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
329 MBit/s +15%
LG G6
Adreno 530, SD 821, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
325 MBit/s +13%
Huawei P10
Mali-G71 MP8, Kirin 960, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
308 (48.8min) MBit/s +7%
Google Pixel 2
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
287 MBit/s
GPS Test: Outdoors
GPS Test: Outdoors
GPS Test: In the basement
GPS Test: In the basement

The spec sheet of the Google Pixel 2 lists support for the satellite networks GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, and Galileo. The satellite fix at the basement window did not work, but we got a signal within a couple of seconds outdoors with an accuracy down to 3 meters.

We had to perform our practical test by foot this time due to the bad weather, but we still compared the performance of the smartphone with the Garmin Edge 500. The overall deviation is surprisingly high at around 180 meters, and both devices are slightly next to the actual track in the area with many houses. A closer look at the recorded data shows the Pixel 2 does not locate the position as often as the professional device, so the accuracy drops. This is particularly noticeable around the lake, but there should not be any limitations for everyday navigation purposes.

Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2

Telephone Functions and Voice Quality

Phone app of the Google Pixel 2
Phone app of the Google Pixel 2

Google's phone app has a simple structure and not many features. The Pixel 2 also supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or Voice over WiFi (VoWifi), respectively, in general, but it requires support from the provider. This was not the case for O2 at the time of the review.

Subjectively, the voice quality is identical to the bigger Pixel 2 XL. It works well when you hold the smartphone to your ear: The voice of the other person is clear and easy to understand, while the Pixel user is a bit too quiet and appears to be quite far away. This impression is even enhanced when the speaker is active, which introduces some echoes. The sound from the Pixel is more artificial and less clear as well, so the overall impression is just average. The noise suppression is pretty reliable.

Cameras

Portrait mode front camera Pixel 2
Front camera

The cameras are identical on both new Pixel 2 phones. At the front we find an 8 MP shooter with fixed focus and electronic image stabilization. Its nominal aperture of f/2.4 is quite common for front-facing cameras, however its large pixel size of 1.4 µm promises decent light sensitivity; which we found to be accurate during our tests at the launch event. Fortunately, the Pixel 2 supports its portrait mode feature that applies a bokeh effect to the background for selfies as well. The images are actually pretty convincing, even though the Portrait is quickly at its limit if the contours are uneven. The pictures are comparatively detailed and sharp.

The phone’s main rear-facing camera is referred to by Google as the best smartphone camera ever. Its 12.2 MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture and 1.4 µm large pixels is supported by laser autofocus and dual-pixel phase detection. The latter not only results in blazingly fast focusing - in combination with Google’s own machine learning algorithm it also means that portrait mode is supported despite the lack of a second camera. The results of the main camera are better for the portrait mode compared to the front cam. The daylight pictures generally capture many details with a decent dynamic range. The sharpness is on par with the Mate 10 Pro, while the iPhone X falls a bit behind. The Pixel 2 also performs well in low-light conditions and beats the two rivals noticeably; it performs even slightly better than the Galaxy Note 8. There is no criticism for the fast trigger speed, but the camera could include more features. You do not get a manual mode for the camera, and you cannot take RAW pictures, either.

The video mode is also light in terms of features. Users can only choose between three resolutions (UltraHD, FullHD, HD), all the other settings are handled by the camera. You get an optical as well as electronic image stabilization in return, which ensures smooth camera pans in particular.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images
ColorChecker Passport: The target color is displayed in the lower half of each patch.
ColorChecker Passport: The target color is displayed in the lower half of each patch.

We had a closer look at the camera performance of the Google Pixel 2 under controlled lighting conditions. We check the color performance with the ColorChecker Passport. Many colors are over-saturated, while the field for the light skin color suffers from a slight red hue.

The picture of the Test chart supports our impression of the sharp and detailed pictures. There is not much fray at the dark letters on the dark background, either, and the overall sharpness only takes a small hit towards the edges. All in all, the camera performance is very good.

Accessories, Warranty & Daydream View

Google ships the Pixel 2 with a two-year warranty, which cannot be extended. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information. The cope of delivery includes a so called Quick-Switch cable, which is supposed to make the smartphone switch easier, a modular power adapter (USB-C, 18W), a SIM tool as well as an audio adapter from USB to 3.5 mm stereo jack.

Google offers additional accessories for the smartphone on its website, especially covers, cables, and power adapters. We also received the current Google Daydream View (2017) for the review. Similar to all other VR headsets, it is important to put them directly in front of your eyes to avoid blurry areas. This works pretty well with the Daydream View after some practice, but you have to attach it firmly, otherwise it can easily move. The set-up is easy and the compact controller is comfortable to use. However, we would appreciate more content. The VR headset is not only compatible with the Pixel models, but also smartphones from other manufacturers. Google provides a list of compatible devices on its website.

Input Devices & Handling

Compared to the XL model, we actually prefer the gliding capabilities of the Google Pixel 2's 5-inch touchscreen, which recognizes up to ten inputs simultaneously. Inputs are executed quickly and very precisely. Google unsurprisingly uses its own GBoard keyboard layout, but you can also download and install any other layout from the Play Store.

The physical buttons for the volume as well as the power button are made of metal and they are sitting firmly in the chassis. Travel is short and the pressure points crisp, but the tactile feel is unfortunately identical except for the different size.

The fingerprint scanner at the back unlocks the smartphone reliably, but moist fingers will affect the detection rate. The input surface does not support additional gestures.

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

Google equips the Pixel 2 with a comparatively small 5.0-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels in a conventional 16:9 aspect ratio. The AMOLED screen is slightly darker than the POLED in the Pixel 2 XL, but the brightness distribution is better in return.

The display of the Pixel 2 is the darkest among the comparison, and the measurement with an even distribution of dark and bright surfaces (APL 50) does not change that, even though the result is better at 455 cd/m². Especially the Galaxy S8 (up to 800 cd/m²) and the Sony Xperia XZ1 are much brighter. You also get a blue light filter to protect the eyes as well as an always-on display.

The brightness of OLED panels is controlled via pulse-width modulation (PWM), and this is also the case for the Google Pixel 2. The amplitude characteristics is flat, but there can quickly be eye strain or even headaches for sensitive users.

390
cd/m²
401
cd/m²
425
cd/m²
386
cd/m²
396
cd/m²
425
cd/m²
387
cd/m²
402
cd/m²
426
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 426 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 404.2 cd/m² Minimum: 6.61 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 396 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.3
Google Pixel 2
AMOLED, 1920x1080, 5.00
Google Pixel 2 XL
P-OLED, 2880x1440, 6.00
Samsung Galaxy S8
Super AMOLED, 2960x1440, 5.80
Apple iPhone 8
IPS True Tone, 1334x750, 4.70
Sony Xperia XZ1
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.20
Xiaomi Mi 6
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.15
LG G6
IPS LCD, 2880x1440, 5.70
Huawei P10
LTPS, 1920x1080, 5.10
Screen
-36%
-24%
24%
-47%
-85%
-87%
-80%
Brightness middle
396
415
5%
566
43%
604
53%
620
57%
620
57%
646
63%
547
38%
Brightness
404
420
4%
564
40%
580
44%
610
51%
586
45%
611
51%
556
38%
Brightness Distribution
91
87
-4%
94
3%
91
0%
93
2%
89
-2%
89
-2%
86
-5%
Black Level *
0.44
0.79
0.28
0.23
0.43
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.7
2.7
-59%
2.7
-59%
1.2
29%
4.2
-147%
4.8
-182%
4.5
-165%
4.8
-182%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4
4.3
-8%
5.4
-35%
2.3
42%
5.8
-45%
8.8
-120%
8.3
-108%
8.8
-120%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.3
3.3
-154%
3.1
-138%
1.6
-23%
3.9
-200%
5.3
-308%
6
-362%
4.5
-246%
Gamma
2.3 96%
2.36 93%
2.15 102%
2.25 98%
2.02 109%
2.25 98%
2.27 97%
2.39 92%
CCT
6483 100%
6787 96%
6335 103%
6688 97%
7086 92%
7473 87%
7996 81%
7194 90%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
81.57
67.74
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99.87
99.05
Contrast
1373
785
2214
2809
1272

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 245.1 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 245.1 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 245.1 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

We check the display performance of the OLED panel in the Google Pixel 2 with the spectrophotometer and the professional software CalMAN. The measurements reveal accurate results for the colors and the grayscale, but the respective ideal results cannot be displayed simultaneously. The best color accuracy is available in the profile Natural, while the grayscale is ideal in the base setting (profile: Saturated). However, the picture quality of the Pixel 2 is also good in the other profiles. We can also determine the highest color gamut in the default setting.

Grayscale (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
Grayscale (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
ColorChecker (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
ColorChecker (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
Colorspace (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
Colorspace (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (Profile: Saturated, target color space: AdobeRGB)
Grayscale (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
Grayscale (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (Profile: Natural, target color space: sRGB)
Grayscale (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
Grayscale (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (Profile: Boosted, target color space: sRGB)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2 ms rise
↘ 2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
5.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2.8 ms rise
↘ 2.8 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 12 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The ALOMED screen of the Google Pixel 2 leaves a good impression outdoors as long as it is not too bright. The polarizing glass in particular reduces reflections on the surface, but we would have preferred a brighter panel for sunny days.

Google Pixel 2 outdoors (overcast)
Google Pixel 2 outdoors (overcast)

The viewing angle stability of the Google Pixel 2 is noticeably better than compared to the XL model and the visible color cast appears later, but is still visible. There are no color inversions and the brightness drop from flat viewing angles is not too bad.

Viewing angles Google Pixel 2
Viewing angles Google Pixel 2

Performance

Google's Pixel 2 is equipped with Qualcomm's current high-end SoC: the Snapdragon 835. It is supported by 4 GB LPDDR4x RAM and you can choose between 64 or 128 GB internal storage. Graphics calculations are handled by the Qualcomm Adreno 540.

The test model is particularly impressive in the system benchmarks and beats all the rivals including the bigger sibling in PCMark. The vanilla Android solution has a positive effect and ensures a very fast system launch (just seven seconds) since version 8.1 Oreo. The CPU performance is on the expected level, just like the results in the GPU benchmarks. There are no major outliers and the test model is only clearly beaten by the iPhone in some tests.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
166939 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
166151 Points 0%
Huawei P10
140084 Points -16%
Samsung Galaxy S8
171884 Points +3%
LG G6
151751 Points -9%
Apple iPhone 8
204270 Points +22%
Xiaomi Mi 6
181909 Points +9%
Sony Xperia XZ1
167748 Points 0%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
8550 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
8258 Points -3%
Huawei P10
7341 Points -14%
Samsung Galaxy S8
6035 Points -29%
LG G6
5703 Points -33%
Xiaomi Mi 6
7548 Points -12%
Sony Xperia XZ1
7056 Points -17%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
7223 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
6994 Points -3%
Huawei P10
6206 Points -14%
Samsung Galaxy S8
5370 Points -26%
LG G6
5152 Points -29%
Xiaomi Mi 6
6686 Points -7%
Sony Xperia XZ1
6443 Points -11%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
3360 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
3351 Points 0%
Huawei P10
2621 Points -22%
Samsung Galaxy S8
3277 Points -2%
LG G6
2496 Points -26%
Xiaomi Mi 6
3694 Points +10%
Sony Xperia XZ1
2909 Points -13%
System (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
5918 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
5914 Points 0%
Huawei P10
3830 Points -35%
Samsung Galaxy S8
5386 Points -9%
LG G6
3646 Points -38%
Xiaomi Mi 6
5857 Points -1%
Sony Xperia XZ1
5840 Points -1%
Memory (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
2942 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
2927 Points -1%
Huawei P10
2778 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy S8
3039 Points +3%
LG G6
1930 Points -34%
Xiaomi Mi 6
4054 Points +38%
Sony Xperia XZ1
1752 Points -40%
Graphics (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
6052 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
6142 Points +1%
Huawei P10
4115 Points -32%
Samsung Galaxy S8
6096 Points +1%
LG G6
5138 Points -15%
Xiaomi Mi 6
6206 Points +3%
Sony Xperia XZ1
5923 Points -2%
Web (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
1210 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
1186 Points -2%
Huawei P10
1077 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy S8
1156 Points -4%
LG G6
1073 Points -11%
Xiaomi Mi 6
1263 Points +4%
Sony Xperia XZ1
1181 Points -2%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
1924 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
1916 Points 0%
Huawei P10
1899 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy S8
1997 Points +4%
LG G6
1831 Points -5%
Apple iPhone 8
4162 Points +116%
Xiaomi Mi 6
1938 Points +1%
Sony Xperia XZ1
1856 Points -4%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
6256 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
6253 Points 0%
Huawei P10
6521 Points +4%
Samsung Galaxy S8
6711 Points +7%
LG G6
4369 Points -30%
Apple iPhone 8
10380 Points +66%
Xiaomi Mi 6
6714 Points +7%
Sony Xperia XZ1
6493 Points +4%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
7462 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
7568 Points +1%
Huawei P10
9492 Points +27%
Samsung Galaxy S8
8490 Points +14%
LG G6
7080 Points -5%
Sony Xperia XZ1
7979 Points +7%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
40116 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
39456 Points -2%
Huawei P10
27692 Points -31%
Samsung Galaxy S8
31532 Points -21%
LG G6
29276 Points -27%
Apple iPhone 8
62006 Points +55%
Xiaomi Mi 6
41172 Points +3%
Sony Xperia XZ1
31618 Points -21%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
55247 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
54156 Points -2%
Huawei P10
35964 Points -35%
Samsung Galaxy S8
36347 Points -34%
LG G6
32128 Points -42%
Apple iPhone 8
112424 Points +103%
Xiaomi Mi 6
58228 Points +5%
Sony Xperia XZ1
47857 Points -13%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
20482 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
20233 Points -1%
Huawei P10
15341 Points -25%
Samsung Galaxy S8
21543 Points +5%
LG G6
22335 Points +9%
Apple iPhone 8
24131 Points +18%
Xiaomi Mi 6
20330 Points -1%
Sony Xperia XZ1
23046 Points +13%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
4977 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
4831 Points -3%
Huawei P10
2649 Points -47%
Samsung Galaxy S8
4015 Points -19%
LG G6
3282 Points -34%
Xiaomi Mi 6
4978 Points 0%
Sony Xperia XZ1
4649 Points -7%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
6040 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
5856 Points -3%
Huawei P10
2816 Points -53%
Samsung Galaxy S8
4923 Points -18%
LG G6
4121 Points -32%
Xiaomi Mi 6
6231 Points +3%
Sony Xperia XZ1
6057 Points 0%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
3080 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
2995 Points -3%
Huawei P10
2193 Points -29%
Samsung Galaxy S8
2440 Points -21%
LG G6
1961 Points -36%
Apple iPhone 8
1774 Points -42%
Xiaomi Mi 6
2921 Points -5%
Sony Xperia XZ1
2564 Points -17%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
3733 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
3646 Points -2%
Huawei P10
2274 Points -39%
Samsung Galaxy S8
3194 Points -14%
LG G6
2669 Points -29%
Apple iPhone 8
2421 Points -35%
Xiaomi Mi 6
3775 Points +1%
Sony Xperia XZ1
3673 Points -2%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
3974 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
3872 Points -3%
Huawei P10
2409 Points -39%
Samsung Galaxy S8
3472 Points -13%
LG G6
2980 Points -25%
Apple iPhone 8
2581 Points -35%
Xiaomi Mi 6
4072 Points +2%
Sony Xperia XZ1
3961 Points 0%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
3078 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
3028 Points -2%
Huawei P10
1902 Points -38%
Samsung Galaxy S8
2494 Points -19%
LG G6
1955 Points -36%
Apple iPhone 8
1989 Points -35%
Xiaomi Mi 6
3007 Points -2%
Sony Xperia XZ1
2928 Points -5%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
59 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
59 fps 0%
Huawei P10
55 fps -7%
Samsung Galaxy S8
60 fps +2%
LG G6
46 fps -22%
Apple iPhone 8
119.8 fps +103%
Xiaomi Mi 6
60 fps +2%
Sony Xperia XZ1
60 fps +2%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
112 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
112 fps 0%
Huawei P10
69 fps -38%
Samsung Galaxy S8
121 fps +8%
LG G6
75 fps -33%
Apple iPhone 8
161.3 fps +44%
Xiaomi Mi 6
119 fps +6%
Sony Xperia XZ1
111 fps -1%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
54 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
35 fps -35%
Huawei P10
32 fps -41%
Samsung Galaxy S8
41 fps -24%
LG G6
27 fps -50%
Apple iPhone 8
114.5 fps +112%
Xiaomi Mi 6
56 fps +4%
Sony Xperia XZ1
52 fps -4%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
52 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
59 fps +13%
Huawei P10
30 fps -42%
Samsung Galaxy S8
62 fps +19%
LG G6
38 fps -27%
Apple iPhone 8
70.8 fps +36%
Xiaomi Mi 6
63 fps +21%
Sony Xperia XZ1
56 fps +8%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
40 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
20 fps -50%
Huawei P10
25 fps -37%
Samsung Galaxy S8
23 fps -42%
LG G6
16 fps -60%
Apple iPhone 8
109.7 fps +174%
Xiaomi Mi 6
42 fps +5%
Sony Xperia XZ1
42 fps +5%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
31 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
41 fps +32%
Huawei P10
24 fps -23%
Samsung Galaxy S8
24 fps -23%
LG G6
29 fps -6%
Apple iPhone 8
54 fps +74%
Xiaomi Mi 6
43 fps +39%
Sony Xperia XZ1
41 fps +32%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
25 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
13 fps -48%
Huawei P10
16 fps -36%
Samsung Galaxy S8
13 fps -48%
LG G6
11 fps -56%
Xiaomi Mi 6
26 fps +4%
Sony Xperia XZ1
25 fps 0%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
24 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
24 fps 0%
Huawei P10
15 fps -37%
Samsung Galaxy S8
25 fps +4%
LG G6
20 fps -17%
Xiaomi Mi 6
26 fps +8%
Sony Xperia XZ1
24 fps 0%
Lightmark - 1920x1080 1080p (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
38.4 fps
Google Pixel 2 XL
37.71 fps -2%
Huawei P10
23.56 fps -39%
Samsung Galaxy S8
30.64 fps -20%
LG G6
24.34 fps -37%
Xiaomi Mi 6
32.14 fps -16%
Basemark X 1.1
Medium Quality (sort by value)
Huawei P10
43782 Points
Samsung Galaxy S8
43852 Points
LG G6
37621 Points
High Quality (sort by value)
Huawei P10
37968 Points
Samsung Galaxy S8
42183 Points
LG G6
35449 Points
Xiaomi Mi 6
38773 Points
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score (sort by value)
Google Pixel 2
836 Points
Google Pixel 2 XL
853 Points +2%
Huawei P10
664 Points -21%
Samsung Galaxy S8
1276 Points +53%
LG G6
647 Points -23%
Xiaomi Mi 6
733 Points -12%
Epic Citadel - Ultra High Quality (sort by value)
Huawei P10
60.5 fps
Samsung Galaxy S8
59.8 fps
LG G6
59 fps
Xiaomi Mi 6
60.1 fps

Legend

 
Google Pixel 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Google Pixel 2 XL Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Huawei P10 HiSilicon Kirin 960, ARM Mali-G71 MP8, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa, ARM Mali-G71 MP20, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
LG G6 Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 Pro, Qualcomm Adreno 530, 32 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
 
Apple iPhone 8 Apple A11 Bionic, Apple A11 Bionic GPU, Apple 256 GB (iPhone 8 / Plus)
 
Xiaomi Mi 6 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Sony Xperia XZ1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash

Web browsing is a smooth experience on the Google Pixel 2 and even complex websites are quickly loaded. The benchmark results are average, only the Mozilla Kraken score is comparatively low and at the bottom of the comparison group.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 8
206.7 Points +219%
Xiaomi Mi 6 (Chrome Version 58)
70.5 Points +9%
Samsung Galaxy S8 (Samsung Browser 5.2)
65.8 Points +2%
Google Pixel 2 (Chrome 62)
64.8 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
61.3 Points -5%
Huawei P10 (Chrome 56)
57.9 Points -11%
LG G6 (Chrome 57)
56.6 Points -13%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 8
34163 Points +200%
Samsung Galaxy S8 (Samsung Browser 5.2)
12941 Points +14%
Xiaomi Mi 6 (Chrome Version 58)
11909 Points +5%
Google Pixel 2 (Chrome 62)
11380 Points
Huawei P10 (Chrome 56)
10236 Points -10%
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
10096 Points -11%
LG G6 (Chrome 57)
9113 Points -20%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Google Pixel 2 (Chrome 62)
3415 ms *
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
3268 ms * +4%
Huawei P10 (Chrome 56)
3129 ms * +8%
Xiaomi Mi 6 (Chrome Version 58)
2668 ms * +22%
LG G6 (Chrome 57)
2464 ms * +28%
Samsung Galaxy S8 (Samsung Browser 5.2)
1887 ms * +45%
Apple iPhone 8
731 ms * +79%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Apple iPhone 8
359 Points +89%
Samsung Galaxy S8 (Samsung Browser 5.2)
194 Points +2%
Google Pixel 2 (Chrome 62)
190 Points
Sony Xperia XZ1 (Chrome 61)
170 Points -11%
Huawei P10 (Chrome 56)
136 Points -28%
LG G6 (Chrome 57)
122 Points -36%

* ... smaller is better

Google's Pixel 2 is shipped with modern UFS 2.1 storage. All the benchmark results are very good, only the writing performance of small data blocks is not so great. Especially the Huawei P10 is better in this respect. 

You can either get a 64 or 128 GB version of the Google Pixel 2. After the initial launch of our 64 GB model, we still had about 55 GB at our disposal. Similar to the previous model, you get unlimited storage for your own pictures and videos in Google's cloud. However, this service is a bit limited by now and only allows the storage of original quality pictures until January 15th 2021. All pictures will be limited to "high quality" after this date.

Google Pixel 2Huawei P10Samsung Galaxy S8LG G6Xiaomi Mi 6Sony Xperia XZ1
AndroBench 3-5
184%
-10%
-33%
5%
-8%
Sequential Read 256KB
758
738
-3%
793
5%
428.7
-43%
728
-4%
679
-10%
Sequential Write 256KB
196.2
189.8
-3%
193.2
-2%
122.8
-37%
196.7
0%
204.4
4%
Random Read 4KB
173.1
168.4
-3%
127.2
-27%
95.2
-45%
143.5
-17%
156.6
-10%
Random Write 4KB
18.03
152.3
745%
15.25
-15%
16.58
-8%
25.19
40%
14.93
-17%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
54.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
63.9 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
77.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
65.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
32.19 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
53.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
53.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
47.71 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)

Games

The graphics unit Adreno 540 in the Google Pixel 2 is very fast and supports all modern graphics APIs. All titles from the Play Store run smoothly at the highest quality settings, which is supported by our benchmarks.

The two front-facing speakers are well positioned, but you can easily cover them with the hands in landscape mode. Both the sensors as well as the touchscreen are very precise and do not cause any criticism.

Asphalt 8: Airborne
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Hitman | Sniper
Hitman | Sniper
Asphalt 8: Airborne
 SettingsValue
 high30 fps
 very low30 fps
Dead Trigger 2
 SettingsValue
 high60 fps

Emissions

Temperature

GFXBench Battery Test: T-Rex (OpenGL ES 2.0)
T-Rex
GFXBench Battery Test: Manhattan (OpenGL ES 3.1)
Manhattan

The surface temperatures of the Google Pixel 2 are very low and completely uncritical (mostly lukewarm) even under load. Only a couple of spots surpass 38 °C.

Inside, however, the situation is more heated during the GFXBench battery test. The T-Rex test, which uses the graphics API OpenGL ES 2.0, does not show any. This changes in the more challenging Manhattan test. The performance already drops after four runs by up to 22%, but the limitations should not be perceptible in practice.

Max. Load
 38.1 °C
101 F
37 °C
99 F
34.5 °C
94 F
 
 38.2 °C
101 F
37.2 °C
99 F
35 °C
95 F
 
 36.9 °C
98 F
37.7 °C
100 F
33.8 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 38.2 °C = 101 F
Average: 36.5 °C = 98 F
34.1 °C
93 F
35.2 °C
95 F
36.8 °C
98 F
33.8 °C
93 F
34.9 °C
95 F
36.9 °C
98 F
33.7 °C
93 F
35.7 °C
96 F
36.7 °C
98 F
Maximum: 36.9 °C = 98 F
Average: 35.3 °C = 96 F
Power Supply (max.)  29.9 °C = 86 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.5 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.2 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.9 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.3 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

Similar to the Pixel 2 XL, our test model has two front-facing speakers, which are supposed to create high-quality stereo sound. The specs are identical to the speakers in the XL, but our Pink Noise measurement shows that the speakers of the Google Pixel 2 are not as balanced as on the bigger sibling. They still sound pretty good in practice and can become really loud at up to 89 dB(A).

There is unfortunately no stereo jack, so you either need USB-C headphones or the provided adapter for wired headphones. A pair of Bluetooth headphones is the better solution because the Pixel models support aptX HD.

Google Pixel 2: Pink Noise curves
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.242.82532.938.83137.236.14031.7385039.642.16328.335.18027.334.110026.932.812526.734.71602441.320020.949.925020.954.731519.558.240018.562.850017.566.363017.567.580015.766.8100015.871.1125016.675.2160015.878.9200015.480.8250015.581.731501675.8400015.879.550001675.4630016.375.8800016.3781000016.276.51250016.472.31600016.457.4SPL28.689.4N1.175.8median 16.4median 72.3Delta2.29.535.234.832.932.637.230.531.73139.635.128.329.927.32826.922.626.723.32426.120.934.120.940.719.550.518.557.217.56417.565.115.768.215.869.416.668.215.867.915.473.715.572.71670.615.8651666.616.364.116.364.716.263.616.460.916.455.228.680.91.146.3median 16.4median 64.12.210.231.639.125.437.625.336.932.940.833.635.231.633.328.433.82733.520.842.82250.821.351.520.849.821.253.919.45619.558.717.761.617.962.917.866.217.368.217.468.416.768.517.267.318.26817.969.817.668.817.767.517.861.717.959.118.160.618.256.23078.41.343.6median 17.9median 61.61.48hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseGoogle Pixel 2Sony Xperia XZ1Apple iPhone 8
Google Pixel 2 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.6% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 25% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 9% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Sony Xperia XZ1 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 42% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 69% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple iPhone 8 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 12% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 80% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 33% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 59% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency Comparison (Checkboxes select/deselectable!)

Battery Runtime

Power Consumption

The Google Pixel 2 has a 2700 mAh battery, which can be charged within 106 minutes with the provided power adapter. Qualcomm's QuickCharge is supported, but wireless charging is not.

Similar to the Pixel 2 XL, the power consumption is high while idling. The smartphone pulls about 1W from the power adapter when all consumers are deactivated and the display is dimmed. The Xperia XZ1 only consumed about half of that, so Google still has some work to do here.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.02 / 0.42 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.99 / 1.35 / 1.37 Watt
Load midlight 3.25 / 8.56 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Google Pixel 2
2700 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S8
3000 mAh
Apple iPhone 8
1821 mAh
LG G6
3300 mAh
Huawei P10
3200 mAh
Sony Xperia XZ1
2700 mAh
Xiaomi Mi 6
3350 mAh
Power Consumption
13%
5%
-14%
-42%
-42%
-3%
Idle Minimum *
0.99
0.78
21%
0.54
45%
0.62
37%
0.83
16%
0.51
48%
0.45
55%
Idle Average *
1.35
1.1
19%
1.63
-21%
1.43
-6%
2.1
-56%
2.16
-60%
1.67
-24%
Idle Maximum *
1.37
1.16
15%
1.67
-22%
1.48
-8%
2.18
-59%
2.23
-63%
1.69
-23%
Load Average *
3.25
4.15
-28%
2.74
16%
5.52
-70%
6.57
-102%
7.45
-129%
4.07
-25%
Load Maximum *
8.56
5.12
40%
7.78
9%
10.47
-22%
9.32
-9%
9.28
-8%
8.54
-0%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

As expected, the battery runtime is not great, but you should still be able to cover one day with a full charge. However, you will have to charge it sooner if you take a lot of pictures or play the occasional game.

The Google Pixel 2 is at the back of the comparison group and the runtime is much lower compared to the Pixel 2 XL, especially under load. We also had the chance to test the Google Pixel 2 with both Oreo versions. We used the WLAN test for a direct comparison, which is executed at an adjusted luminance of 150 nits. The Pixel 2 actually manages almost the same runtime running Android 8.1 Oreo and only loses 13 minutes compared to the old version.

Once the battery runs low, you can activate the power-save mode (manually or automatically), which will limit the functionality of the smartphone to the essentials.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
24h 17min
WiFi Websurfing
9h 35min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
9h 24min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 41min
Google Pixel 2
2700 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S8
3000 mAh
Apple iPhone 8
1821 mAh
Huawei P10
3200 mAh
LG G6
3300 mAh
Xiaomi Mi 6
3350 mAh
Sony Xperia XZ1
2700 mAh
Battery Runtime
35%
16%
22%
35%
29%
7%
Reader / Idle
1457
1667
14%
1629
12%
1540
6%
1789
23%
1612
11%
H.264
564
771
37%
698
24%
582
3%
779
38%
580
3%
WiFi v1.3
575
719
25%
585
2%
966
68%
692
20%
739
29%
601
5%
Load
161
264
64%
202
25%
176
9%
252
57%
172
7%
PCMark for Android - Work 2.0 battery life
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
596 min +2%
Google Pixel 2
585 min
Google Pixel 2 XL
567 min -3%
Samsung Galaxy S8
527 min -10%
HTC U11
476 min -19%

Pros

+ fast SoC
+ modern Android with long update cycle
+ excellent camera
+ good speakers
+ fast LTE
+ aptX HD
+ free cloud storage for pictures and videos
+ IP67

Cons

- display could be brighter
- no dual-SIM
- no microSD slot
- PWM
- no more MIMO-WLAN

Verdict

In review: Google Pixel 2. Test model courtesy of Google Germany.
In review: Google Pixel 2. Test model courtesy of Google Germany.

Google’s focus for and main selling point of its latest smartphones is the combination of hardware, software, and artificial intelligence that these two constitute. The Google Pixel 2 is certainly a very good smartphone, even though the design is a little bit outdated.

Contrary to the XL model, the smartphone provides decent viewing angles. However, this display is also comparatively dark, which cannot be compensated by the excellent contrast on bright days. We cannot understand why Google dropped the MIMO technology for the 2017 models, either, because the WLAN performance is much lower as a result.

The Google Pixel 2 has a slightly outdated design, but comes with a lot of great technology. 

One of the highlights is the camera of the Pixel 2, which leaves a great impression in all lighting conditions and Google Lens is a great additional feature. It is also laudable that the smaller model does not get a worse camera sensor. The rating is a bit lower due to the missing Pro mode and the lack of video features, but we think the pure picture quality of the Pixel 2 is even slightly ahead of Samsung's Galaxy S8 models.

The long update cycle (until October 2020) of the new Pixel models is another major advantage. If you plan on using the device for a long time and want a compact smartphone with a modern OS, the Pixel 2 is hard to ignore.

Google Pixel 2 - 12/20/2017 v6(old)
Daniel Schmidt

Chassis
85%
Keyboard
70 / 75 → 94%
Pointing Device
96%
Connectivity
42 / 60 → 70%
Weight
93%
Battery
91%
Display
90%
Games Performance
64 / 63 → 100%
Application Performance
68 / 70 → 97%
Temperature
92%
Noise
100%
Audio
68 / 91 → 75%
Camera
87%
Average
80%
90%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Daniel Schmidt, 2017-10- 6 (Update: 2020-05-19)