There are so many Google Nexus users who’d love to buy a Pixel phone. In fact, they’ve wanted to do so for a year, but now that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are here, they are even more confused on whether to go for the year-old models or the new kids on the block.
The year 2017 has brought the best out of smartphone companies after a long period of lack of innovative designs and features. It’s almost certain that next year will be more of the same, if not much better. What this means is that just like the new Pixel 2 phones picked up from where last year’s impressive models left off and improved them in almost every way, the Pixel 3 will also be here in a year’s time to dwarf what you are seeing on the new Pixel phones.
Despite being replaced as the darlings of many Google Android fans, the search engine giant isn’t making it any easier for anyone willing to buy the 2016 models. Rather, they will be getting a mere $100 price slash as they enter their second year. Well, at starting prices of $549 and $669, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL cannot be classified as budget or even midrange phones, they qualify to be top alternatives for new, fast and capable Android flagships, especially for people like me who are not after the very best in a phone.
A lot has been said about the missing headphone jack on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Well, your only chance of owning a Pixel phone that has a 3.5mm audio jack is through the 2016 models. So, should you buy any of the two Pixel phones from last year, especially now that they have a lower price tag?
The original Google Pixel is now selling at $549, presenting many with the most perfect chance to enter into the Google ecosystem. Featuring a 5-inch AMOLED display screen with a full HD resolution, a powerful Snapdragon 821 SoC mated with 4GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, the Pixel doesn’t seem out of place in 2017. It gets even better to know that the phone is as good as new given that it runs a new version of Android – Oreo. Also, you still get to receive the 2018 update to Android P – among the first people and monthly security updates for another year. And yes, the 2770mAh battery unit, although significantly small, is still 70mAh bigger than the Google Pixel 2.
You’ll miss out on some features like dual front-facing stereo speakers, squeezable edges and IP67 certification. Still, at $549, the Pixel doesn’t look like the deal of the year. If you can already hit up this mark, you can as well keep saving and get the extra $100 needed to buy the Pixel 2 because of the faster processor, double storage, better camera and an extra year of OS updates.
But what about the Google Pixel XL, should you buy it? Well, at $669, the Pixel XL looks a much better deal, especially when compared to the Pixel 2 XL, which starts at $849 – a difference of $180. It’s true the Pixel XL has no waterproofing, is powered by an aging processor and has a year less of software updates, but at almost $200 cheaper, it looks a much better deal.
The Pixel 2 XL is way sleeker and taller than the Pixel XL, but this doesn’t mean the Pixel XL isn’t as good. With its 3450mAh battery unit, you still get to enjoy more than a day on a single charge. You also get a decent 5.5-inch AMOLED display screen with a higher QHD resolution than the standard Pixel.
At $669, the Google Pixel XL is a much better phone than the Pixel at $549 and if you are the person who wants a phone that will receive fast updates but you are not willing to go as high as the Pixel 2 XL demands, this is your chance. Still, you can also scan places like eBay and Swappa for much better deals of these phones.