Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL: Here's how they stack up against premium flagship smartphones

At the Made by Google event held in San Francisco, the brand had plenty to show with about eight new hardware products launched. Among the connected speakers, laptops and VR headsets, Google also announced the all-important successor to the Pixel smartphone called the Pixel 2.[caption id="attachment_4111543" align="alignleft" width="380"] The Google Pixel 2 in Black[/caption]Just like last year, the Pixel 2 arrives in two models, the standard Pixel 2 and the bigger Pixel 2 XL. Since plenty had already leaked out (including accurate press renders) through various sources in the past, the new designs were barely a surprise. But as with every Google-made smartphone in the past, hardware counts for just half of the experience, because with Google, software is king.Google has included machine learning in almost every single app, feature and product it launched at the event. On the smartphone, Google's machine learning efforts are visible from the camera which uses a single camera sensor (instead of a dual camera system) to deliver a portrait mode with an enhanced depth of field. The same is also used to deliver a similar level of software trickery using the front-facing camera. Indeed Google is taking its software skills to the maximum with its smartphone, but how do the hardware specifications compare to the current crop of Android and iOS flagships available in the Indian market? Let's find out.

Smartphone	Google Pixel 2	Google Pixel 2 XL	Samsung Note 8	Nokia 8	Sony Xperia XZ1	HTC U11	Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Display Size (inch)	5	6	6.3	5.3	5.2	5.5	5.5
Resolution (pixels)	1,080 x 1,920	1,440 x 2,880	1,440 x 2,960	1,440 x 2,560	1,080 x 1,920	1,440 x 2,560	1,080 x 1,920
Pixel Density (PPI)	441	538	521	554	424	534	401
Display Type	AMOLED	pOLED	Super AMOLED	IPS LCD	IPS LCD	Super LCD5	LCD IPS Retina HD
Dimensions(mm)	145.7 × 69.7 × 7.8	157.9 × 76.7 × 7.9	159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1	151.5 x 73.7 x 7.9	148 x 73.4 x 7.4	153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9	158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5
Weight (gm)	143	175	173	160	155	169	202
Dual SIM	No	No	Yes (Variant)	Yes	Yes (Variant)	Yes	No
SIM Type	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835/ Exynos 8895	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
CPU Cores	Octa-core	Octa-core	Octa-core/Octa-core	Octa-core	Octa-core	Octa-core	Hexa-core 4 x effieciency cores + 2 Performance cores
CPU Clock Speed (GHz)	4x Kryo 280 @ 2.35 & 4x Kryo 280 @ 1.9	4x Kryo 280 @ 2.35 & 4x Kryo 280 @ 1.9	4x Kryo 280 @ 2.35 & 4x Kryo 280 @ 1.9 / 4x Cortex A73 @ 2.3 & 4x Cortex A53 @ 1.7	4x Kryo @ 2.45 GHz & 4x Kryo @ 1.9 GHz	4x Kryo @ 2.45 GHz and 4x Kryo @1.9 GHz	4x Kryo 280 @ 2.45 & 4x Kryo 280 @ 1.9	NA
GPU	Adreno 540	Adreno 540	Adreno 540 / Mali G71MP20	Adreno 540	Adreno 540	Adreno 540	NA
RAM	4 GB	4 GB	4 GB, 6 GB	6 GB, 4 GB	4 GB	4 GB, 6 GB	3 GB
Ruggedness	IP67	IP67	IP68	IP54	IP68	IP67	IP67 under IEC standard 60529
On-Board Memory	64 GB or 128 GB	64 GB or 128 GB	64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB	64 GB, 128 GB	64 GB	64 GB, 128 GB	64 GB, 256 GB
Expandable Memory	No	No	Yes, up to 256GB	Yes, up to 256 GB	Yes, up to 256 GB	Yes, up to 256 GB	No
Sensors	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Active Edge, Magnetometer, Hall effect	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Active Edge, Magnetometer, Hall effect	Iris scanner, fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Heart-rate, SpO2	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Heart rate	Fingerprint reader (side mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, barometer, compass	Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass	Touch ID fingerprint sensor Barometer Three-axis gyro Accelerometer Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor
Primary Camera	12.2 MP, f/1.8	12.2 MP, f/1.8	12MP, f/1.7 + 12MP, f/1.7	13 MP, f/2.0 + 13 MP, f/2.0	19 MP, f/2.0	12 MP, f/1.7	12 MP f/1.8 + 12 MP f/2.8
Optical Image Stabilization	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Camera Array	Single Camera	Single Camera	Dual Camera	Dual Camera	Single Camera	Single Camera	Dual Camera
Autofocus System	Laser + Dual-Pixel Phase detection	Laser + Dual-Pixel Phase detection	Phase detection, Laser Autofocus	Phase detection, Laser Autofocus	Laser and Phase detection	Phase detection	Autofocus with Focus Pixels
Secondary Camera	8MP, f/2.4	8MP, f/2.4	8MP, f/1.7	13 MP	13 MP f/2.0	16 MP, f/2.0	7 MP, f/2.2
Video Capture	4K	4K	4K	4K	4K@30 fps, HD@960 fps	4K@30 fps	4K@60 fps, FHD@240 fps
Flash	Dual-LED	Dual-LED	Dual-LED	Dual-LED	LED flash	Dual-LED	Quad-LED
OS Version	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 7.1.1 Nougat	Android 7.1 Nougat	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 7.1 Nougat	iOS 11
AI (Smart Assistant)	Google Assistant	Google Assistant	Bixby	Google Assistant	Google Assistant	Google Assistant	Siri
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual, band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual, band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot, AirDrop
Bluetooth	v5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	v5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	v5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX	v5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE	v5.0, A2DP, aptX	v5.0
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fingerprint Scanner	Yes, Rear button	Yes, Rear button	Yes, Rear button	Yes, Home button	Yes, Power button	Yes, Home button	Yes, Home button
3.5 mm jack	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
USB Type	USB Type-C connector	USB Type-C connector	USB Type-C connector	USB Type-C connector	USB Type-C connector	USB Type-C connector	Lightning connector
USB Standard	USB 2.0	USB 2.0	USB 3.1	USB 3.1	USB 3.1	USB 3.1	Lightning
Battery (mAh)	2,700	3,520	3,300	3,090	2,700	3,000	2,691
Fast charging	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Colours	Kinda Blue, Just Black, Clearly White	Black & White, Just Black	Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Deep Sea Blue, Maple Gold	Tempered Blue, Polished Blue, Steel, Polished Copper	Moonlit Blue, Black, Warm Silver, Venus Pink	Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, Solar Red	Gold, Silver, Space Gray
Prices in India	Starting Rs 61,000	Starting Rs 73,000	Rs 67,900	Rs 36,999	Rs 44,990	Rs 51,990	Starting Rs 73,000

It's easy to point out from the above hardware comparison that Google's new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will bring you great hardware along with the latest software updates. The only other smartphone that comes close on the software front is the Sony Xperia XZ1 that also packs in Android 8.0 Oreo, but it too comes with a few customisations.[caption id="attachment_4111055" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Google Pixel 2XL alongside the Pixelbook.[/caption]Google's emphasis on AI and machine learning seem to be the main features of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but will the consumer even notice this in the photos and videos? Or will they just ignore Google's new smartphones in comparison to Samsung's shiny and curvy Galaxy S8, or give in to the allure of the iPhone X? For now, Google's new Pixel smartphones should appeal to previous Pixel owners and Nexus upgraders who have been waiting for something new to arrive from Google. But wait until our full review is out before you think of taking the leap as Google's new offerings don't come cheap and the pricing is on par with Apple's iPhones this year.