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Google Pixel 2 XL Vs. iPhone X: Over Long-Haul One Big Surprise

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Credit: Google

Which of two great phones squeaks out a win over the long haul and which delivers an upside surprise? Read on.

I've been using -- with varying regularity -- the iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, and Pixel 2 since the fall of 2017.  In this short review I'll focus on three metrics of the two flagships, the iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL, that impress over the long term. (This is not a comprehensive review but focuses, as a retrospect, very briefly on 3 key features: display, software, and value .)

Display -- Let's talk about the Pixel 2 XL (surprise): 

I've had three builds of the Pixel 2 XL over the last six months (the Pixel 2 was announced in October). Why? Because I didn't like the OLED display (made by LG): colors were muted and there was a so-called "blue shift," i.e., a blue tint when viewed from an angle on white backgrounds.

My most recent build is January 25, 2018. That's more than three months after it was released and four months since the early builds. The upshot: I have been pleasantly surprised. I don't think it's my imagination when I say that the display quality has improved since the two early builds. The colors are no longer muted and the blue tint¹, while still there, isn't glaring enough to bother me (though I can’t speak for others). But, again, the most important thing is that the colors are deeper, more vibrant, i.e., it now looks like a high-quality OLED display (see notes at bottom²).

iPhone X: Apple's first iPhone with an OLED display (made by Samsung) is even better than the excellent LCD on the iPhone 8 (which I've also been using). That's saying a lot. When looking at photos, the X's OLED display is tuned so it's not quite as garish as the saturated colors on Samsung's Galaxy phones. In short, no complaints.

Credit: Apple

Software:

Apps: an even match. Granted, there are some exceptions (like video editing, which tends to favor the iPhone) but generally there's parity between the two platforms. In fact, most apps are indistinguishable between iOS and Android.

AI: This isn't breaking news but Google Assistant on the Pixel is superior to Apple's Siri. I don't use Google Assistant or Siri very much but if you do, go with the Pixel. Google has invested more resources in AI (and for a longer time) than Apple and it shows.

Integration with Mac: Apple is better at synching iOS features with the MacBook out of the box. That includes call features and FaceTime. I also use a Pixelbook (made by Google) with the Pixel 2 XL but, aside from the obvious things like Chrome, Photos, Docs, and Calendar, there isn't the deeper level of integration that iOS and the macOS have.

Value: 

Apple has an amazing phone but loses this one because, starting at $999 with 64GB, it is about $100 too much. On the other hand, the Pixel 2 XL with 64GB and a considerably larger 6-inch OLED display (both taller and wider than the 5.8-inch on the X) starts at $849.

Other upsides: the Pixel is the best pure Android experience, the XL 2 is incredibly fast (zero lag), has a gorgeous display (on the later builds), a camera that's the iPhone X's equal, and feels great for a big phone in the hand.

Overall: Platform preference aside³, the Pixel 2 XL is a better value and boasts quality equal to the iPhone X.

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¹About the blue tint: I've updated this with a photo (below) that compares the Pixel 2 XL's display as seen straight on and from an angle. Note, however, that this image (reproduction) tends to exaggerate the actual blue shift (tint). More importantly, the overall quality of the Pixel 2 XL's OLED display in the latest build is excellent and I'm completely satisfied now. Also note that my iPhone X exhibits blue shift but less so than the Pixel 2 XL. Also: See this YouTube video, which comes pretty close to reflecting my experience. 

²The colors appear much less muted even with "Saturated" toggled off (this is done in the "Display" settings under "Advanced"). I have chosen to keep Saturated turned on, which I did not do on the earlier builds because I thought it looked too artificial. That's not the case now.

³Admittedly, this is a decisive factor for many buyers.

Credit: Brooke Crothers