Is the Pixel 2XL a good choice in 2019?
Read on to learn why I chose an older phone rather than buying one of the latest models
Time for an Upgrade
I have been using a Motorola G5S for about the past two years and have loved using it. I bought it for $185 from Amazon after my last phone stopped working when I accidental stepped into a pool with it in my pocket. At the time, I didn’t want to break the bank by buying a new flagship phone. Although it served most of my needs, the phone had started to perform very poorly and apps (including phone and message) would regularly freeze and the camera would sometimes take ten seconds or more to take a photo. It was time for an upgrade to something more snappier. I knew that even this time I did not want to shell out a lot of money for my new phone. Somehow my phones have only been lasting me about two years even though I’d love to hold on to them for at least three years. As a starting point, I started to look at last year’s flagship phones which have all been discounted from their introductory price due to the release or imminent release of newer models. I also considered the latest version of the G series from Motorola. I initially came up with the three choices below.
Galaxy S9
A solid phone on discount due to the recent release of the S10 models.
5.8″ AMOLED (2960X1440 Resolution)
8MP Front/12 MP Back Single Lens Camera
Snapdragon 845
4GB Ram
64GB Storage(Expandable with SD Card)
3000 mAh Battery (Wireless Charging Capable)
Moto G7
The latest update to the king of budget phones that runs nearly stock Android.
6.2″ LCD (2270X1080 Resolution)
5MP Front/12 MP Back Single Lens Camera
Snapdragon 632
4GB Ram
64GB Storage (Expandable with SD Card)
3000 mAh Battery
Pixel 3
Google's pure Android experience with a camera that's made a name for itself.
5.5″ OLED (2960X1440 Resolution)
8MP Dual Lens Front/12.2 MP Back Camera
Snapdragon 845
4GB Ram
64GB Storage (No SD Card Slot, Unlimited Photo Storage-for now)
2915 mAh Battery (Wireless Charging Capable)
After doing a comparison, I had my mind set on the Pixel 3. While I’m sure the Moto G7 would have been a great value, I was worried that I might have performance problems again after 2 years. The key selling points for me were the Pixel 3’s camera and the software support for the next two and a half years. Given that the Pixel is Google’s phone, it is the first to receive Android system updates with almost guaranteed support for the next two versions of the operating system. The Pixel 3 was on sale during the month of March for $600. Given that there was no rush to buy the phone, I decided to wait until later in the month to buy in case a deal on any of the other phones would sway me towards a different choice.
I’m so glad that I waited because a deal popped up in the last two weeks of March for the Pixel 2XL for $400 (later price adjusted to $350). I immediately started researching whether this phone would be a suitable option in 2019. The phone did come out in 2017, so I needed to make sure that I could use this phone into 2021 at minimum. I was willing to choose a phone with two years of usability due to the lower price. I focused on finding the key differences between the 2XL and the 3.
Pixel 2XL Features
Flagship Specs
Snapdragon 835
4GB Ram/64GB
Although the Pixel line has never boasted the best hardware, the specifications are respectable despite coming out in 2017.
Google Assistant
Google assistant is at your fingertips with a quick squeeze of the phone with Active Edge.
Stunning Photos
12MP F/8 MP R
Despite being a last generation phone, the camera is still among the best due to AI assistance. Nightsight works wonders in low-light environments.
Pure Android Experience
Android Pie
Given the Pixel is how Google envisions the Android experience, it is the first to get operating system and receives regular security updates.
As I read up on the two phones, I realized that the differences between the two weren’t too dramatic. When the Pixel 2 line released, it was the best camera at the time. The great pictures are attributed to superior AI processing of the images. As it stands, the Pixel 2 camera is still pretty great in 2019. It even has the Night Sight feature found in the new Pixel 3 for taking night time photos. After researching, here are the key new features added to the Pixel 3 I found:
Dual front lens camera allowing for ultra-wide selfies. A slew of new camera features such as Top Shot and Super Res Zoom.
Wireless charging support (fast wireless charging with Google’s own charger)
Software support for the next two and half years which will include updates for Android Q and R.
While I appreciate all the new features added to the latest Pixel, none of these features were deal-breakers. The camera for the Pixel 3 is better than the 2XL but not enough where I would notice the difference. I’m not a big selfie taker so the second front lens for the ultra-wide selfies does not matter to me. Wireless charging was also not a big deal to me since I currently don’t have any devices that charge wirelessly. As an afterthought, this actually would have been nice because Pixels don’t have headphone jacks and you would either need Bluetooth headphones or to buy a special dongle to plug in headphones and a charger. My goal is for this phone to last me two years, and the Pixel 2XL is guaranteed support for at least another year and a half. That means it will receive an update to Android Q which may come out this fall. Google recently announced that the original Pixel will also receive an update to Android Q which gives me hope that potentially the Pixel 2 would receive an update to Android R. Despite the available update to Android R, I’m willing to live with an old version of Android for a year. After all, my Moto G5S only received the upgrade to Android Oreo within the last few months. With these considerations, my mind was set on the Pixel 2XL and I pulled the trigger for the purchase.
I hope to write a long-term review later on, but so far my experience has been great. I’ve definitely been use apps and switch between with no hiccups. The camera has been an amazing upgrade from my previous phone. Rather than try to explain the improvement, I’ve included some of my favorite shots below from the last few weeks.
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My Pixel 2XL Accessories
Newer phones are getting slimmer bezel with screens taking over almost the entirety of the front. The appearance of older phones are becoming more and more out-of-date. One way to keep your phone looking fresh is to use accessories. I chose the blue Honeycomb wrap from Slickwraps paired with a clear Ringke case. I’m extremely impressed with how it looks and find myself putting my phone down with the screen face down just to stare at the back. Check out the photos below of the case and the phone with the case and wrap installed.
Now that my Pixel uses USB C, I also had to buy new cables to keep my phone charged. I chose to go with the JSAUX USB-C cables which came in a pack of two.
If you are interested in either, check out the links to both on Amazon below.
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