Moving on from the Nexus lineup, Google introduced us to the Google Pixel and Pixel XL last year which, in essence, were true Google phones. Following up on one of the best Android phones ever comes the Pixel 2! Starting at about Rs. 70,000, this phone is quite simply the performance beast you Android-savvy users were waiting for.

Bold phones need bold designs

With all the rage that is bezel-less displays in today’s flagships, the Google Pixel 2 opts not to join that bandwagon. Instead we’re getting two front facing stereo speakers for amazing sound quality. Now you don’t have to worry about muffling up the speakers and getting impaired sound when you hold the phone in portrait mode. The phone parts ways with yesteryear’s rounded edges with a bolder rectangular edge, an all-aluminum body, some glass coated edges, and a premium hybrid coating for the sleekest of profiles. On the back we have the fingerprint scanner which is now the fastest on any phone yet!

Being IP67 certified means your Google Pixel 2 is quite resistant to both dust and water, keeping you safe for all those days at the beach and pool. The phone comes in 3 colors, Kinda Blue, just Black and clearly White.

Beautiful display without the need for all those extra pixels

Not straying from its predecessors, the Google Pixel 2 keeps the same 5” 1080p AMOLED display with a crisp pixel density of 441ppi. For daily use, there’s not a single detail you’ll be missing on this beautiful screen which isn’t bezel-less. The screen is intelligent enough to power up each individual pixel only when they are needed, turning off all the rest giving you the best blacks and saving up on battery life.

Photography redefined

The Google Pixel had the highest rating for a smartphone camera ever according to DXOMARK, with an amazing score of 89. This year, the Pixel 2 has redefined what it means to have the best camera with a DXOMARK rating of 98! Equipped with a 12.3 MP single lens camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS/EIS technology, phase detection and laser autofocus plus a dual-LED flash, the camera quality is incomparable.

Again, the Pixel 2 has not joined the other popular flagship bandwagon that is the dual camera trend. This is all thanks to the artificially intelligent, machine learning trained single lens which can detect foregrounds and backgrounds giving you the portrait affect other smartphones have and all this without a second lens! Presenting another jaw-dropping news; yes this means the front facing 8 MP camera can also take your favorite portrait selfies.

Additionally, Google Lens is making its way exclusively to the new Pixel 2. Now you have the power to scan images and texts right from your camera app without the use of 3^rd party software all thanks to the power of machine learning via the Google Assistant.

Software + Hardware + AI = Google Pixel 2

The Google Pixel 2 is packing all the specs you’d expect in a 2017 flagship; Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM and 64/128 GB storage options. The processor is a much welcome improvement over last year’s Snapdragon 821 chipset. The 835 is built on a 10nm 64-bit architecture and coupled with stock Android 8.0 Oreo, lag is an issue you’ll never have to face. Battery capacity stands at 2700mAh. With the Pixel 2, Google Assistant is now more integrated than ever to become the most personal assistant you can have.

Pixel 2 pros:

• Excellent build quality
• Stock Android with fastest updates
• One of the best feature proof cameras
• Top of the line hardware and a very powerful AI assistant
• Lag? What lag? There’s no lag atop this baby!

Pixel 2 cons:

• The smartphone’s design isn’t the best; its difficult to imagine the reason for the back sporting that small glass panel