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Google's Pixel 2 is hiding an old-school menu button
Google has a bit of a throwback tucked away in the Pixel 2. Depending on the app, you can access the old-school Android menu button by tapping in the lower righthand corner of the screen, as spotted by Android Police. As you'll see in the video embedded below, it doesn't seem to do much, but hey, it exists. Android Police says that to access it, you need a Pixel 2 running the stock software and an app that targets Android Honeycomb or an earlier version of the OS. As of now, it'll appear in the settings menu, along with Google Maps and Inbox.
The Pixel 2 has a surprise: Google's first custom imaging chip
Google didn't spill all the details about the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL at its October 4th event. As it turns out, these phones have a secret weapon: Google's first custom imaging chip (and indeed first system-on-chip of any kind), the Pixel Visual Core. The eight-core processor works closely with software to handle Google's machine learning-assisted HDR+ photography up to five times faster than the Pixel 2's main CPU, all the while using a tenth of the energy.
Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: Google's best phones get even better
Google's first Pixel smartphones weren't just smartphones; they were a proclamation that Google was more than just a software giant. They were proof that it could craft first-class devices that showed off what Android was really capable of. The new Pixel 2 and 2 XL continue that new tradition and offer some major changes to the Pixel formula. They're also among the first devices to highlight what's new and notable in Android 8.0 Oreo. While they don't get absolutely everything right, Google's new phones have still managed to further the Pixel's reputation for Android excellence.
Google's Duo voice chat app is about to become Android's FaceTime
When Google's standalone video calling app Duo came out last year, we wondered if it would become another niche app, a flash in the pan. Why do we need another communication app in a crowded market? Today's news shows us that we can't always be right, as Google takes the first steps to integrating Duo into its Android operating system, much like Apple's FaceTime is an integral part of iOS.
Google's Pixel 2 phones fight distracted driving
You don't have to own an iPhone or Samsung phone to get a modern handset that keeps your eyes on the road. The 9to5Google team has discovered that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL include a buried feature in their software (namely, Ambient Services) that automatically invokes a Do Not Disturb mode when it detects that you're moving at high speed, much like what you see in iOS 11. You'll want to turn this off if you're only a passenger, but it could be very helpful if you're behind the wheel and don't want your phone pinging you every time there's an Instagram like or Twitter mention.
Google Photos will limit Pixel 2 users' uploads after 2020
Google promised you'd be able to upload files to the Photos app in their original quality and resolution so long as you use a Pixel phone. If you get a Pixel 2, though, that's only true until 2020. Part of Pixel 2's fine print has revealed that by 2021, the app will only upload your files in "hiqh-quality" resolution. For Google, "high quality" means 16-megapixel photos and 1080p videos. If you upload anything bigger than those, the app will automatically downgrade them.
The Pixel 2 proves headphone jacks are truly doomed
As usual, Apple started a trend. Last year, it dropped the standard 3.5 millimeter headphone jack from the iPhone. The industry was quick to respond. Motorola, even before the iPhone 7 was announced, also removed the port from the Moto Z (though curiously, it remained on the cheaper Z Play). HTC followed suit with the U Ultra this year, as did the geek-friendly Essential phone. Now that Google's Pixel 2 is confirmed to be headphone jack-less, it seems as if the port's survival, at least in the mobile world, is a lost cause.
The Google Pixel 2 XL vs. the original Pixel XL: What's changed?
Today we got our first look at the new Google phones, with the larger Pixel XL bringing back the staid design but also buffing it up with a better camera and more robust water protection. How big of a leap is this over last year's model exactly? While you'll have to wait a few weeks for the full rundown in our review, for now you can check out the new XL's specs as compared to its predecessor in our handy table below.
The Google Pixel 2 vs. the original Pixel: What's changed?
The new Pixel phones are here and, while they don't give us much more to look at compared to last year's models, it's the inside that really counts. This year's 5-inch Pixel gives us a better camera and more powerful processor compared to the original, but we've also lost the headphone jack. What else has changed? Give the specs below a peep, and stay tuned as we put Google's new handset through its paces soon.
Google's Pixel 2 phones don't need SIM cards
Google added a lot to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but one of its more intriguing upgrades comes from what it's taking away: the need for a SIM card. Both devices still have a nano-SIM slot (contrary to a few rumors), but they also use eSIMs like that on the Apple Watch Series 3. So long as your carrier supports it, you just have to download a virtual SIM during the setup process to activate service. Needless to say, that's a welcome change if you're tired of the usual SIM swapping ritual needed for upgrading handsets.
The Google Pixel 2 XL vs. the competition: Cameras rule
In a year where the Galaxy Note made a comeback and Apple is mixing things up by offering both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, it's hard to know what to make of Google's newest handsets at first. The Pixel XL isn't particularly flashy on the outside, though the single 12.2MP camera looks promising. But can it compete against the dual camera rigs on other flagship handsets? To see what else this 6-inch handset has to offer versus some of its major competitors, we've stacked up their specs in the table below. Be sure to check back later this fall to see how both the new Pixels and the iPhone X fare in their respective full reviews.
The Google Pixel 2 vs. the competition: Small packs a punch
Today Google gave us our first official look at its new Pixel phones, with both handsets sharing major features like 12.2MP cameras and Snapdragon 835 chips. Your main reason to pick up a 5-inch Pixel 2 over its bigger brother is probably that hand-friendly screen size or the "kinda blue" color, though we're curious how it measures up against some of the competing "small" phones on the market. To start we've lined up the specs of similar devices like the Galaxy S8 versus the Pixel 2 in the chart below, while our full review for the pair of Pixels will come later this month.
Google will show off its new gear at NYC and LA pop-up shops
If you want to get a good look at one of Google's array of just-announced devices, you're in luck. The company has two pop-up shops coming October 19th to New York and Los Angeles where you can drop in, fondle the goods. Unlike like last year's temporary retail spots, you'll be able to buy products there rather than having order whatever you want to be shipped to your home.
Google claims Pixel 2 has the best camera, just like the first Pixel
Google was quick to brag about the original Pixel's camera prowess last year, and it's continuing with that confident stance now that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are here. Both phones use the same 12-megapixel rear camera, and have received an unprecedented overall DxOMark test score of 98 -- that's four points higher than the previous leaders, the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. If you ask Google, it's a combination of the hardware with its computational intelligence.
Google Clips is a $249 AI-powered camera
Final hour leaks suggested Google Clips would be some kind of accessory -- but neglected to mention what for, and what it would do. Now we know: it's a Google-powered Narrative camera accessory that uses the company's AI know-how to automagically take photos and videos. (Yes, there's still a shutter button.)
Google’s cleaner Pixel 2 UI puts search front and center
Last year, Google's first Pixel phone came with a few surprises -- including a new proprietary launcher that shifted around icons and the user interface. But it seems the rumors about the Pixel 2's refreshed UI were true: The Google search box has been moved to the bottom, while the top area has been devoted to widgets showing time, date, weather and the next appointment in your calendar.
Google unveils the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
Google has announced the second generation of its venerated Pixel handsets, the Pixel 2 and its larger sibling, the Pixel 2 XL. Rather than attempting to compete on specifications, the company is hoping that its software know-how and a refined design will woo customers. The headline feature, perhaps, is that the Pixels will abandon the 3.5mm headphone jack on its smartphones. Instead, users will need to connect their analog headphones using the bundled 3.5mm USB-C adapter.
Live from Google's Pixel 2 event!
It's already been a year since Google officially announced its pair of Pixel smartphones, the Google Home speaker and a host of other hardware products. Naturally, that means it's time to do it all over again. At an event in San Francisco, Google is expected to reveal the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones, updates to the Google Home line, a convertible Chromebook and more. We'll be there live bringing you the news as it develops with our up-to-the-minute liveblog, and we'll have hands-on and first impressions from the event afterwards. Keep an eye on this page for everything as it's announced -- Google's event kicks off on October 4th at 12PM ET / 9AM PT.
Watch Google's Pixel 2 event live right here at 12PM ET
Well folks, today's the day. It's Google's turn to reveal a new lineup of devices that are likely to tempt you before the holiday scrum begins. We'll be there live to bring you all of the news as it's announced, but if you want to watch today's festivities, we've embedded the livestream below for easy access. Tune in and keep an eye on our liveblog for witty analysis, terrible jokes and more from today's Pixel 2 event. While you're waiting for 12PM ET to roll around, catch up on what we expect to be announced and take a look at our retrospective of Google phones going back to 2007. Follow all the latest news from Google's Pixel 2 event here!
What to expect at Google's Pixel 2 event
Almost exactly a year ago, Google unveiled a host of new products, a veritable "Made By Google" ecosystem, as the company called it. The most notable devices were the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones and Google Home smart speaker, but Google also launched the Daydream View VR headset, a mesh-WiFi system and a 4K-capable Chromecast. It was easily the company's biggest push into Google-branded hardware. But one year later, the Pixel and Pixel XL have been lapped by new devices from Samsung, Apple and LG, among others. We're due for a refresh, and we'll almost certainly get that in San Francisco on Wednesday, October 4th, when the company hosts its next big product launch. New phones are basically a shoo-in, but there's a bunch of other hardware that Google will likely show off. Here's what to expect.