Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything You Need to Know

Tech giant Google just unveiled the company’s latest flagship smartphones, namely the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL at the “Made by Google” event which was held in San Francisco. Both of the new smartphones are quite identical in terms of hardware and features, but there are some key differences that might affect your purchase decision altogether. There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the new Pixel smartphones, as Google didn’t really put the effort in clearly differentiating between these devices during the event. People have been quite doubtful regarding which variant of the phone to actually go for and if you’re one of them, you might be interested in clearing all your queries about the new Google flagships. This is exactly why we’ve decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions and make it easier for you guys. In this article, we’ll be focusing completely on the Pixel 2, which is the smaller variant of the two. So, here is Google Pixel 2 FAQ:

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything You Need to Know

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: General

• How much does the Pixel 2 cost?

The new Google Pixel 2 can be purchased from the Google store for a price tag starting at $649 for the factory unlocked version. It can also be purchased for $27.04/month  for 24 months with 0% APR, thanks to Google Store Financing.

• What are the available storage options?

The Pixel 2 will be available for purchase in 64 GB and 128 GB storage variants. However, the 128 GB variant costs a hundred dollars more than the base variant ($749).

• Is the Pixel 2 costlier than the original Pixel?

Not really, the Pixel 2 has the same launch price as that of the original Pixel. However, this time around, the storage space has been doubled for the base variant that costs $649. So, you are getting more bang for your buck.

• When can I buy the Google Pixel 2?

The Google Pixel 2 is currently available for preorder on the Google online store, but it will start shipping on October 19th in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. If you’re living in India, you won’t be able to get your hands on Google’s latest flagship until November.

• What are the available color options?

The new Google Pixel 2 will be available in three different color options, namely “Just Black”, “Clearly White”, and “Kinda Blue”.

• Can I buy the factory unlocked version of the Google Pixel 2?

Yes, you can go ahead and purchase the factory unlocked or sim-free version of Google’s newest flagship smartphone.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Design and Build

• What is the Google Pixel 2 made of?

Google’s new flagship has an all-aluminium body with a premium hybrid coating that gives the smartphone a clean and sleek profile. The glass accent on the top that gives the Pixel smartphones an iconic look has been shrunken down and looks great.

• Does the Pixel 2 have a bezel-less display?

No, the Pixel 2 doesn’t boast a bezel-less screen. In fact, it has a big chin and forehead just like its predecessor.

• Is the Google Pixel 2 waterproof?

The new Google pixel 2 has an IP67 rating, which essentially means that the smartphone is dust and water resistant up to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes. However, it’s not completely waterproof. Instead, you can consider it to be water-resistant.

• Is the Pixel 2 thinner?

Yes, the Google Pixel 2 is just 7.8 mm thick, which makes it 0.7 mm thinner than the original Pixel.

• Is the Pixel 2 heavier?

No, at 143 grams, the Pixel 2 weighs just as much as its predecessor.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Hardware

• What are the tech specs of the Pixel 2?

• What processor is the Pixel 2 powered by?

The new Google Pixel 2 is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor.

• Will 4 GB of RAM be good enough for Pixel 2?

Of course, 4 GB of RAM is sufficient to handle almost all the everyday tasks with absolute ease, but more RAM would have definitely made the device more future-proof.

• Does the Pixel 2 have stereo speakers?

Yes, unlike its predecessor, the new Google Pixel 2 boasts of front-facing stereo speakers for enhanced audio.

• Does the Pixel 2 have a fingerprint scanner?

Yes, just like the original Pixel, the Pixel 2 has a fingerprint scanner on the back of the smartphone.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Cameras

• Has the camera on the Pixel 2 improved?

The camera department has received a significant upgrade. Although there’s no bump in the resolution of the camera, the 12.3 MP sensor now has an aperture of f/1.8. Google claims that the Pixel 2 has the best smartphone camera ever and it has been given a score of 98 by DxOMark. To put things in perspective, the latest Apple iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 were given a score of 94.

• Does the Pixel 2 have a dual-camera setup?

No, the Pixel 2 does not have a dual-camera setup like the one on the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8.

• Does the Pixel 2 camera have OIS?

Yes, unlike the predecessor which completely relied on Electronic Image Stabilization for smoothing the video footage, the Google Pixel 2’s camera supports Optical Image Stabilization that will work in tandem with EIS to deliver super-stabilized videos.

• Does the Pixel 2 feature a Portrait Mode like the new iPhones?

Yes, the new Google Pixel 2 supports Portrait Mode that lets you take stunning pictures with shallow depth of field. However, the smartphone relies on the single “dual-pixel” camera, and software enhancement using machine learning to make this possible. That being said, the Pixel 2 still won’t be able to deliver Portrait lighting, a feature that was introduced by Apple in the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.

• Has the selfie camera improved?

Not really. The Pixel 2 retains the same 8 MP front-facing camera with an f/2.4 aperture for taking selfies.

• Is there Portrait Mode on Pixel 2’s front-facing camera?

Yes, the Google Pixel 2’s selfie camera is able to deliver selfies with shallow depth of field with the Portrait Mode, just like the upcoming iPhone X. However, the Pixel 2 will totally rely on software-based face identifying algorithm to make this possible.

• Has the video recording improvement?

In terms of resolution and frame rate, not really, as the Google Pixel 2 will record 4K video at 30 fps just like its predecessor. However, you should get better stabilization on the recorded videos, since the Pixel 2’s rear camera now features Optical Image Stabilization that will work together with Electronic Image Stabilization.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Battery and Charging

• Has the battery life improved?

The new Google Pixel 2 packs a 2700 mAh battery which is slightly lower than what was offered on the original Pixel. However, you can expect similar to slightly better battery life, thanks to the energy efficient Snapdragon 835 chip and the optimized Android 8.0 Oreo operating system.

• Does the Pixel 2 support wireless charging?

No, just like the original Pixel, the new Google Pixel 2 lacks wireless charging capabilities.

• Does the Google Pixel 2 support fast charging?

Yes, the Google Pixel 2 supports super-fast charging that lets you get almost 7 hours of use out of a 15-minute charge.

• Is additional hardware required to use fast charging?

No, Google provides the fast charger in the box, so there’s no additional purchase necessary to take advantage of Pixel 2’s fast charging capabilities.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Display

• What’s the resolution of the Pixel 2’s display panel?

The Pixel 2’s 5-inch display has resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels with a pixel density of 441 ppi, just like the original Pixel.

• Does the Pixel 2 have an OLED display?

Yes, similar to the predecessor, the Pixel 2 boasts a 5-inch OLED display.

• Does the Pixel 2 have an always-on display?

Yes, the new Google Pixel 2 has an always-on display, which is similar to what we’ve seen on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8.

• What’s the screen-to-body ratio of Pixel 2?

The Pixel 2 has an uninspiring screen-to-body ratio of approximately 67.9% which is even lower in comparison to the original Pixel.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Software

• Which Android version will the Pixel 2 ship with?

The new Google Pixel 2 will be the very first smartphone to ship with the latest Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

• Does Pixel 2 support Augmented Reality?

Yes, the new Google Pixel 2’s cameras are optimized and calibrated for high-quality augmented reality. During the Pixel 2 launch event, Google even showed off some augmented reality stickers that’ll be made available for their new smartphones. The Pixel 2 will be making use of Google’s ARCore platform to take full advantage of Augmented Reality.

• Is additional hardware required for Augmented Reality?

No, additional hardware is not required, as the Pixel 2 alone is all you need to experience Augmented Reality in all its glory.

• Does it support Google Lens?

Yes, both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will come with Google Lens technology. However, the technology is still in beta, hence, expect it to be a bit buggy.

• Does the Pixel 2 run stock Android?

Yes, just like almost every other Nexus and Pixel smartphones from Google, the new Pixel 2 will run a completely pure version of Android, which is free from third-party skins and unnecessary bloatware.

• Does the Pixel 2 have HTC U11’s squeeze feature?

Yes, the new Google Pixel 2 has squeezable sides which the company calls as “Active Edge”. Users will be able to launch Google Assistant by just squeezing their Pixel 2 smartphones.

• Will it receive future software updates in the long-term?

Google has a great track record when it comes to providing quick software updates for their Nexus and Pixel smartphones in the long-term. The company has guaranteed that the newly launched Pixel 2 will receive three years of Android software updates and security patches.

Google Pixel 2 FAQ: Connectivity

• Will the Pixel 2 support LTE-A and Carrier Aggregation in the U.S.?

Yes, as long as the carrier also supports it, users will be able to experience faster mobile data with their new Pixel 2 smartphones.

• Will it support Reliance Jio’s VoLTE services in India?

Reliance Jio utilizes 1800 MHz, 850 MHz and 2300 MHz frequency bands for their LTE network across India, which are all supported by the new Google Pixel 2. Therefore, users will be able to take advantage of the company’s VoLTE services on this smartphone.

• Does Pixel 2 support dual-SIM cards?

Unlike several other Android flagship smartphones, the new Google Pixel 2 only has one Nano SIM card slot.

• Does Pixel 2 support eSIM?

Yes, the Google Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL are the very first smartphones to make use of eSIM technology. This essentially means that users don’t really need a physical SIM card. As long as the user is a Project Fi subscriber, Google will use the Pixel 2’s built-in eSIMs to authenticate cellular account.

• Does the Pixel 2 have a 3.5 mm headphone jack?

Unfortunately, no. Unlike the original Google Pixel which mocked the iPhone 7 for ditching the headphone jack, the new Google Pixel 2 does not have a headphone jack.

• Does the Pixel 2 support Bluetooth 5.0?

Yes, the new Google Pixel 2 supports Bluetooth 5.0 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE, where LE stands for Low Energy.

• Does the Pixel 2 have a microSD card slot?

Similar to all other smartphones from Google, the new Google Pixel 2 lacks an expandable microSD card slot.

• Does the Google Pixel 2 support USB-OTG?

Yes, just like the original Pixel smartphone, the new Google Pixel 2 supports USB-OTG. In fact, Google even bundles an OTG adapter known as the quick switch adapter along with the Pixel 2 to help users easily migrate from iPhones and other Android smartphones without any hassle.

SEE ALSO: iPhone X FAQ: Everything You Need To Know

All You Need to Know About The Google Pixel 2

If you were planning to get your hands on Google’s latest flagship, the Pixel 2, we’re glad that we could help you clear all your doubts regarding this new smartphone with our detailed FAQ. Despite being an incremental upgrade, the Pixel 2 has a lot to offer with a significantly better camera, IP67 certification, and features like Augmented Reality. If you want a pure Android experience, this is certainly the best phone you can buy this year, in addition to its bigger brother, the Pixel 2 XL. So, have we managed to answer every single question that you probably had on your mind about the new Pixel 2 or did we forget to mention some important ones? Do let us know, by shooting your valuable opinions in the comments section down below.