Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X: Rumor vs. Reality

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With Apple having unveiled its smartphone range for 2017, and Google’s response primed for release, the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X war is imminent. But this smartphone contest has been shrouded in speculation, with the development of the Google Pixel 2 having prompted a huge amount of rumors. So can we separate the myth from the reality with the Pixel 2, and compare the potential of this unit to the iPhone X?

Price

One key area of the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X battle will revolve around the pricing of the new Google release. Previously the Google Pixel series has been seen as a mid-range smartphone option, but this perception is beginning to change with the Google Pixel 2 generation.

A major leak from Droid Life suggests that the 64GB model of the Pixel 2 XL will cost $849, with the 128GB model increasing in price to $949. This report points to the larger Google Pixel 2 variant being in a similar ballpark to the iPhone X. Although the Google Pixel 2 will be $100 cheaper in all probability, it will still be significantly more expensive than last year’s release.

If Google is to pitch the Pixel 2 as a premium mobile it must deliver the sort of quality features and specs that the market leaders inevitably offer.

Display

The display to be included in this device will clearly be a critical aspect of the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X comparison. Yet the early rumors on this matter greatly conflicted with the reality. At one time it was suggested that Google would include a large wraparound display of quad HD resolution in this next-generation device, but the reality is certainly somewhat different.

Leaks have now indicated that the smartphone version of the Google Pixel 2 range will feature a five-inch screen delivering full HD resolution. And there is no indication that any wraparound technology will be considered. While the display in the Google Pixel 2 XL will be superior to the smartphone version, it is still arguably not up to the standard of the main players in the market.

Whether this will hold back the Google Pixel 2 in sales terms remains to be seen.

Processor

Another major rumor linked with the Google Pixel 2 that could have afforded the device an advantage over the iPhone X was the suggestion that the Snapdragon 836 would be included. This state of the art processor was excluded from previous Android releases such as the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, meaning that Google would have achieved a real edge over competitors.

However, despite considerable murmurings indicating that this may come into fruition, the consensus of opinion ahead of the release of the Google Pixel 2 is that the Snapdragon 835 will ultimately drive this device. This would seem to be a pragmatic decision by Google, and one probably primarily motivated by cost and manufacturing expense.

Three models

Choice is absolutely critical in the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X war, especially as Apple has chosen to release three separate handsets during 2017. With the iPhone X being joined by two attendant iPhone 8 releases, it is clear that Apple consumers will have a great deal of choice in the marketplace.

Early in the development cycle of the Google Pixel 2 range, it is clear that the manufacturer was looking at the possibility of three separate handsets. Benchmarking tests indicated that there could be three major Pixel releases in 2017. But despite this revealing data, this rumor has died down since then, with the consensus of opinion being that there will be only two Google Pixel 2 devices appearing in 2017.

Storage

The latest rumors on the Google Pixel 2 suggest that the smartphone will deliver a maximum storage quantity of 128GB. The also be a 64GB model made available, but the mega-corporation is not expected to embrace the micro SD card technology that appears in Samsung Galaxy units.

In terms of the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X comparison, this means that the Apple handset will come out on top in this department, as the iPhone X offers a maximum storage of 256GB.

Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X
Image: Keynote / Screenshot

Always-on feature

Another area of comparison in the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X war is the always-on display feature that has become a central aspect of smartphone technology. The latest rumors on this aspect of the Google Pixel 2 suggest that the manufacturer will indeed include an always-on the screen in its next-generation smartphone.

And leaks from close to the Google supply chain suggest that the screen included in the Pixel 2 will be significantly different from the ambient display available in the previous Pixel releases.

Water and dust resistance

According to the latest reports, the Google Pixel 2 will deliver IP68 dust and water resistance. This will correct one of the major criticisms of the original Pixel device, ensuring that the sequel is as capable as many of the major smartphones is released this year. This IP68 rating points to a sturdier and more durable device.

Headphone jack

One other area where the Google Pixel 2 vs. iPhone X comparison is particularly valid is with regard to the headphone jack. It is widely believed that Google will follow the lead set by Samsung, and eliminate the headphones port from the Google Pixel 2 generation. Some form of wireless earphones could be bundled with the device in order to compensate for this.

Conclusion

There is always a certain gulf between the rumors that precede the release of a major smartphone and the reality. And this has certainly been the case with the Google Pixel 2, with several rumored features unlikely to appear when Google finally unveils the device. However, this does seem like a smartphone that can compete credibly with the likes of the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy series, as Google attempts to establish itself as a significant player in the smartphone niche.

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