The Pixel 2 is the latest flagship smartphone from search engine giant, Google. The device was announced alongside the Pixel 2 XL, which is the tuned up version of the Pixel 2 in that it sports better and better specifications than the Pixel 2. We have made a specs table to highlight the major differences between the two smartphones. You can check it out HERE.
The Pixel 2 smartphone is quite amazing in its own space but to be quite honest, my idea of a flagship smartphone is that it should have features that would make it a headache to other flagships from rival brands and also irresistible to buyers. Sadly, the Google Pixel 2 doesn’t quite revolve around my idea of a flagship and here are the reasons;
1. No Full View Display
The smartphone world is like a merry-go-round. And as it rotates, we are presented with new features and trends that are unprecedented and amazing. Apple showed us what unprecedented looks like with the iPhone X. Samsung did the same with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. Likewise, LG followed suit with the LG G6 and LG V30. You know what all these devices had in common, a full view display.
Seeing bezels all around the Pixel 2, make me disappointed.
2. No Dedicated SD card slot
The Pixel 2 smartphone comes in 2 different built-in memory variant; one with 64 GB and the other, 128 GB. The storage capacity seem quite decent, and the fact that there are options even makes it more spicy. However, the lack of a dedicated SD card slot kind of takes half of the spice away. Google gave no room for storage expansion on the Pixel 2 and it is, like the above point, also disappointing. What if I need to copy some files to my phone on an external SD card and I don’t have a laptop? What to do, Google?
3. No 3.5mm headphone jack
We understand that brands may sometimes remove the 3.5mm headphone jack to give the device a more slim feel. The Pixel 2 (7.8 mm) has no headphone jack, yet it isn’t as slim as (or slimmer than) the iPhone 7 (7.1 mm) or iPhone 8 (7.3 mm) which also lacked the 3.5mm jack. And to think other flagships like the LG V30 (7.4 mm) and LG G6 (7.9 mm) come with an earphone jack and are only about the same thickness and less than the Pixel 2, it further proves that Google just got it all wrong.
Leaves me wondering what Google’s motive was for removing the headphone jack. Perhaps for monetary reason as they stand to gain from sales of their newly introduced ear buds. Who knows? **shrugs
4. Meagre battery capacity
Compared to the battery capacity of other Android flagships like the LG V30 (3,300 mAh), Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (3,300 mAh), Samsung Galaxy S8 (3,000 mAh), and LG G6 (3,300 mAh), did Google think a embedding a 2,700 mAh battery in the Pixel 2 will give it an edge over rival flagships with bigger (and perhaps, better) batteries?