Google unveils the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

No headphone jack on these, either.

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.

The search giant has also made a big deal about the fact that there is feature parity between both handsets -- a swipe at Apple, which saves more advanced camera features for its Plus devices. One of which is an always-on display that constantly shows you the time and your notifications. The device will also have a persistent music-spotting feature like Shazam, for when you want to know what's playing in the coffee shop.

The Pixel 2's cameras are also getting an upgrade, with the primary lens packing a 12.2-megapixel sensor with a f/1.8 aperture and OIS. This lens will be coupled with Google's computational photography smarts to offer a variety of features that other manufacturers need two distinct lenses for. That includes portrait mode on both the front and rear cameras and smoother video thanks to a combination of optical and digital image stabilization.

Those concerned about storage woes, given the quantity of photos they are likely to take with these devices, can rest easy as well. Google has, once again, reaffirmed its commitment to storing every photo taken with the Pixel 2 in full-resolution on its web servers for free.

As for specifications, the Pixel 2 is packing a 5-inch AMOLED screen with a FHD resolution (1,920 x 1,080) while the XL is packing a 6-inch QHD+ pOLED display (2,880 x 1,440). Inside you'll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 paired with 4GB RAM and either 64 or 128GB of storage. The smaller handset is packing a 2,700mAh battery while the larger has a whopping 3,520mAh cell. Both displays are protected from the elements with a slice of Corning's Gorilla Glass 5.

As for software, the device will also ship with Android 8.0 Oreo, contrary to some rumors that it would arrive with 8.1. The company is guaranteeing that the handset will be supported for a minimum of three years, reassuring users who may be concerned about missing out on future updates. There's also the option to use an eSIM, although the handset will accept a single nanoSIM card.

Both handsets are also water and dust resistant to IP67 and fast charging, with the company promising that 15 minutes of charging will give you seven hours of life. There are also a pair of stereo speakers flanking the front of the display, although the company has yet to explain much about their power and potential.

The Google Pixel 2 will ship in a trio of colors: Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly White, while the XL is clad in either Just Black or Black and White. Pricing for the smaller device with 64GB memory begins at $649, while the XL will initially set you back $849. Pre-orders begin today, with every user who does pre-order getting a Google Home Mini as a sweetener, although we don't know when these phones will actually ship. The company has announced that it has Verizon on hand as a launch partner, and you'll also be able to buy it on the company's own Fi network.

Source: https://www.engadget.com