Google Pixel 2 XL Features: What Does This Concept Tell Us?

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No, the video below is not an official Google video. Although, the professional editing is good enough to trick a few people. Rather, this video is an animated, rendered concept video of the Google Pixel 2 XL leaks we saw last week. The video is stunning. Definitely fitting for a launch video of a flagship device in 2017. Maybe Google should call the maker of the video and see if they can use this video at their launch event.

What does this video tell us? Well, it gives a very nice, 360 degree view of the Google Pixel 2 XL. Clearly, Google is taking a major step forward when it comes to style with their upcoming flagship device. The bezels have been greatly reduced which is essential is the Pixel XL 2 plans on competing with the almost bezel-less iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8. We love the look of reduced bezels. In between those bezels it’s expected that Google will feature a 6.0 inch AMOLED display. That should be on par with most of the other flagships coming out this fall. It will be about 0.4 inches smaller than the Note 8, but some people may appreciate the slight reduction in size.

One feature that does jump out is the camera. Both of the iPhone 8 and Note 8 have gone with dual camera sensors. If this concept is correct, it would appear the Pixel 2 XL is still going to be rocking a single camera sensor. This may upset some photo junkies but should still be plenty of camera for the usual Snap and Instagram photo. Of course, dual sensors are only great if they perform well. Google could have a superior camera through the use of software that allows it operate more naturally and smoothly than offerings from other manufacturers. We will have to wait on some hands-on reviews before we can know for sure if going with a single camera sensor was the right call.

We can also see that the Google Pixel 2 XL has gone with a rear mounted fingerprint sensor on the back of the device. I’m going to give the edge to Google over the iPhone 8 and Galaxy Note 8. We still don’t know where or if the iPhone’s Touch ID sensor will be included in the iPhone 8. On the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, renders have revealed that the fingerprint sensor has been moved slightly further away from the camera sensor than in the Galaxy S8. Still, it’s fairly close and there are bound to be some fingerprint smudges on the camera sensor after a few missed fingerprint scanning attempts throughout the day. Google kept it simple and the design still looks clean and stylish. I have to give them the nod in this battle.

On the bottom of the device we see the standard USB-C connector and an otherwise clean design. The 3.5mm headphone port is on the top of the device so those of you that own an expensive pair of headphones with a 3.5mm jack can breathe easy. Of course, the iPhone 8 will likely not include a 3.5mm headphone port after Apple removed that feature in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus release. The Galaxy Note 8 is still moving ahead with 3.5mm headphone ports. Every time a leak comes out about a new smartphone I hold my breath. I love 3.5mm headphone ports but I also believe the feature might be on its last legs. Who knows, the Google Pixel 2 XL might be the last flagship from Google to offer the 3.5mm headphone feature. It feels weird to call that a “feature” but here we are.

In some earlier leaked renders from case manufacturers, I thought I had spotted a dedicated button on the left-hand side of the device. This concept video doesn’t appear to show any button. I had thought that maybe the button would be a dedicated Google Assistant hardware button. I am glad to see that, according to this concept, there is no dedicated button. Voice control is enough, let’s get rid of as many buttons on smartphones as possible and move ahead with clean, sleek designs.

Finally, we can see what Android O might look like on the Google Pixel 2 XL. There won’t be any major stylistic changes in Android O so there really isn’t much groundbreaking news here. Still, many leaks have only had still images of Android on the Pixel 2 XL screen so it’s nice to have a concept video with some moving animations and a sense of what it might look like to hold and operate the Google Pixel 2 XL once it finally launches.

Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for an official announcement and release of the upcoming Google Pixel 2 XL. The fall is flagship smartphone release season and the three heavyweights are going to be going head to head. What are your initial feelings? Are you leaning toward a Google Pixel 2 XL, an iPhone 8, or a Samsung Galaxy Note 8?

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