I can't help but feel a little bit jealous after having used the Galaxy s8 , that phone it's barely taller than the pixel but the screen feels considerably bigger , yes I know it's a 2:1 screen and not a 16:9 like the pixel 2 but still the bezels are almost 4 times smaller than the ones on the pixel , Google's excuse for the humongous bezels is the front facing speak , but do you really care ? Don't you listen to music through headphones ? I'm really curious , why do you need such speakers , if you care about quality you wouldn't use phone or laptop speakers , are you one of those incredible rude people who listen to music on the train thought their phone's speakers ? I'm not even saying get rid of the speakers , just use speakers like the ones on the u11+ or the iPhone x , how do you guys feel ?
Front facing speakers ftw!!! Once experienced, it overshadows bezelless designs.
I notice that after 5 minutes of use with a device I don't notice if it does or doesn't have bezels.
When not using front firing speakers, I'm reminded every time during media consumption for having to cup my hands around speaker.
I'd prefer the front facing speakers with the Pixel 2 XL's bezels on the smaller package of the Pixel 2.
I prefer to have the bezels if the pixel 2. Give me more places to hold onto my phone without dropping it out inadvertently touching the display.
I am completely fine with the bezels on the Pixel 2. Like @Tidbits mentioned, it gives the phone a good size to hold on to. I had front facing stereo speakers on my Moto X and going back to a device without them would be hard to do now. I do a good amount of mobile gaming, mostly first person shooters, the stereo speakers on the front are very handy for this.
Kinda wish for both like pixel 2 xl. I can confirm the s8 is about the same size. My old case s8 Fits almost perfectly
---------- Post added at 08:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 AM ----------
Obviously because cuts outs are different wouldn't be practical
Once I had a Nexus 6p with stereo frontal speakers it would be hard to accept not having them, one reason I was pretty blasé about the first gen Pixels. I was glad then to see them make a comeback on the Pixel 2 XL and managed to get one about 2 weeks ago. I think the Pixel 2 XL strikes a really good balance in terms of the bezels and speakers so I'm very happy with it -- in that regard at least.
I'd prefer bigger bezels with front facing speakers hands down. And have the others Have said, place to put my thumbs.
Now, take away the speakers; the bezels would bug me a bit.
Bit of both: I like the speakers, and prefer the on-screen buttons not too close to the bottom of the device, so a truly minimal bottom bezel isn't ideal. But I could handle them being a few mm smaller than the current ones.
I loved what Moto did with the Nexus 6. Although a giant phone bezels are really small. Considering it's about the same foot print of the iPhone +, it has a significantly larger screen.
WhaleTuba said:
Why not both? Small minimal bezels with speakers on them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In order to have really minimal bezels you need to get rid of the bottom speaker and move it next to the charging port, and thats make them not front facing anymore
Front Facing speakers 100% After owning the Nexus 6P, I don't ever want to own another mono-speaker phone. It was one of the primary reasons I got rid of my OnePlus 5 for the Pixel 2.
I don't understand the slim bezels craze. It's form over function.
WhaleTuba said:
Well you gotta admit that the bezels on the Pixel 2 (non-XL) are really big, much bigger than they need to be. I'm okay having noticeable bezels for the speakers, but the ones on the Pixel 2 are unnecessarily big for 2017 in my opinion. I'm all for function over form, but I want a phone that looks decent at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont have to admit anything! I totally support what you say! the bezels on the pixel 2 are ridiculous I cant help but get mad at google everytime I see the iphone x, its almost the sam size as the pixel 2! its even shorter!!! :crying:
I always wanted front facing speakers and I'm even more impressed with them now that I have them. Perhaps also it's the fact that it's HTC who made these speakers, who after all invented the whole idea to begin with, and who tends to have the best audio in these types of speaker. (I've seen a number of people say the speakers on the Pixel 2 XL are good, but not like on the Pixel 2.)
I listen all the time to podcasts on my phone at home and the experience with the Pixel 2 is so far beyond any phone I've ever heard. It makes it seem like a normal audio experience. It's also the first phone I've ever used where speakerphone calls sound good and don't seem like a compromise. And having the speakers actually pointed at me makes far more sense than having them point downward and other oddball directions. Of course, watching video and getting a read stereo effect is also so much more immersive than with any other kind of phone.
So I'm very happy with the front facing speakers and don't mind the bezels. Sure, I could have a slightly taller screen, but I've played with the Galaxy S8 and Essential Phone, and it really doesn't make much of a functional difference with what I do with my phone. I'm only aware of the difference when the phones are side by side with the Pixel 2. But the front facing speakers I'm constantly aware of how far they are beyond anything else I've ever heard in a phone. If the bigger bezels are the price of having the superior HTC speakers, over the not as good LG speakers in the Pixel 2 XL, then I'm fine with that.
*
I also think the super tall 18:9 screens that have become a sudden fad are ridiculous and not very functional. Everyone is obsessed with getting "full screen" mode for video on their Galaxy S8, iPhone X, Essential Phone, etc., and aren't aware that this is only accomplished either by either stretching the image (i.e. distorting it) or cropping the top and bottom off of the image. For a screen that's supposed to somehow enhance the video experience it is beyond dumb that it's actually distorting and/or cropping the original image, which by any reasonable definition is an inferior experience.
Further, super tall screens aren't that useable for maps or web pages. What I really miss is the 5:3 screen that my old Nexus 4 had. Few people took note of that, but it was a smart move by Google. A more square aspect ratio is much more useable for most web based, text based, and map based things one does on a phone. (Why do people think iPad's have even less wide 4:3 screens?) Also, the 5:3 screen in the Nexus 4 actually had more density independent pixels (what is actually what affects how much information a screen can display) than the 16:9 technically larger and higher resolution screen on the Nexus 5. But few people understand these things and fall for what are often gimmicks passed off as larger (but really only taller) screens.
Also, on a 5:3 screen you only have to very slightly letter box video (at top and bottom) to display 16:9 video without any of the distortions or croping done on 18:9 screens, but you still basically get a full screen effect.
So that's what I'd really like to see on a phone like the Pixel 2. 5:3 screen, 5", dual front facing speakers of the quality that HTC delivers.
The stereo front-facing speakers, without a doubt. I am on my fourth Google phone (after the Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, and the Pixel), and I didn't know what I was missing before.
Related
I mainly consume media on my phones, so how is the experience of netflix on the s8 plus? Without headphones is it watchable or the mono audio sound terrible?
I do not own an S8+, however, reading consumer feedback about it, the speaker is not particularly good. It is bottom facing (so already is not ideal for media playback) and not the best quality speaker in the first place.
If someone with the phone disagrees, feel free to update this post!
I also am an avid music/ video consumer. While I love the S8 models (and before them the S7's), we are poorly served by the single bottom firing speaker for this usage.
I find the speaker clear and loud enough, but if you're used to stereo front facing speakers, I'm pretty sure you're in for a disappointment if you're anything like me, depending on how much of your usage is for this particular purpose.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
before my s8 I had an iphone 7 plus and before that a old nexus 6. Both much more pleasant when it comes to media consumption. When on my nexus or iphone, I watched a lot of youtube but now with the s8 no single video - all on my ipad. Even though I have a stereo speaker mod that does help a bit. Maybe it is also because of the smaller display of the s8 but all in all the full 6 inch and stereo speakers of my nexus 6 with the 2560x1440 amoled display was the best experience so far.
FloM94 said:
before my s8 I had an iphone 7 plus and before that a old nexus 6. Both much more pleasant when it comes to media consumption. When on my nexus or iphone, I watched a lot of youtube but now with the s8 no single video - all on my ipad. Even though I have a stereo speaker mod that does help a bit. Maybe it is also because of the smaller display of the s8 but all in all the full 6 inch and stereo speakers of my nexus 6 with the 2560x1440 amoled display was the best experience so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the stupid 18:9 aspect ratio the S8 has. if it was the correct ratio at 16:9 it would properly fill the screen instead of leaving massive black bars on the sides and just looking stupid. My next phone will be back to a proper 16:9 ratio (if there is anyone left making them by then!), I'm sick of this long stretched crap already, it has no use what so ever.
aside from that, the stupid speaker placement means whenever i play a game, or watch a video, my finger goes RIGHT over the entire speaker in the natural position I would hold the phone, so I have to hold it awkwardly to get any sound out of it.
yeah the 18:9 is at this time just a pain in the neck. The only "positive" thing is the smaller form factor of the 5.8" phone. But I think that this new aspect ratio is the future, so sadly this may sound.. Most of the apps and nearly all games are 16:9, this does take a loong time that every developer switches to 18:9 - just like the process of switching USB A to USB C.
I think even with the small bezels on top and bottom of the s8 would have allowed it to place dual front facing speakers. The old nexus 6 had also very small bezels on top and bottom and the speaker was just great. The fact that the galaxy`s now all have to be waterproof is also downgrading the speaker in its soundquality i think...
Im currently on iPhone 8 Plus (yeah, i know. Big mistake). And before that OnePlus 5. I preeordered a Pixel 2 XL but getting cold feet with the long waiting time and all the reports about all the screen issues. Then i came to think of Pixel 2. But i don't really know about the size of the phone. Is there anybody here coming from a bigger screen size to a Pixel 2? The bezels i can live with (about the same size as the iPhone).
..Or should i wait in line for the XL despite for the screen "issues"?
I don't have access to the phone myself so i can't really check for my self.
Regards
I don't have my pixel 2 yet (later this week), but I went through a similar decision process. I'm coming from shamu with a 5.96" screen at 2560×x 1440.
Compared to the pixel 2 screen of 5" at 1080 x 1920.
I struggled with what device I would move to now that my trusty whale is no longer getting security updates. I was concerned that the pixel 2 was just not going to satisfy, but unhappy with the build of the xl. I really have a preference for AMOLED.
Then I bought an iPhone 8 (4.7-inch at 1334 x 750) for my daughter. After playing with that a bit, I decided the pixel 2 wouldn't be as big a disappointment as I thought. Particularly when you consider the iPhone pixel density is 326 ppi, substantially lower than the pixel 2 (though both are lower than the N6).
"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." - Will Rogers
I've always had Phablet sized phones. Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, OnePlus 5. I get phones very very cheap through my work, so I went with the Pixel 2 because it was $200 out the door, the XL was $350. I wasn't sure about the size, but I really wanted the front-facing speakers and the XL seems to have a few issues, so I gave the Pixel 2 a shot.
I have never been happier. This is the first phone in years that I haven't rooted, and as of right now, I do not miss it, but I digress. The size for me is much better. I thought I would, but I do not miss the larger phones. It fits in my shirt and pants pockets so much better.
Coming from a note 4 as my daily driver. The screen to bezel ratio makes the phone look really odd to me. I like knowing the dual speakers are there so it makes up for it. I put a somewhat bigger case on it, the spigen tough armor, just to add a little weight and width. The screen is decent for what it is, I don't consume much media on it which is why I was okay with the lower resolution. I will always wish the screen was a little taller and took some space away from the bezels but the phone size itself is perfect. I wanted a smaller more discrete device so the pixel 2 was (almost) perfect. I will absolutely miss my stylus and all the features that come with it. Being able to mark up anything on the screen and send it immediately was great for work.
I came from 6p and galaxy s8+, and have no problem with the Pixel 2. It actually fits my hand better. Again, I don't use my phone much for video watching.
I have had many phablets including Nexus 6 (which I still use as a media device,) I initially got the pixel 2 because with having a new born I actually wanted something something smaller. Plus I am kinda HTC fan. My experience with LG has been mediocre with the G6 leaving me disappointed.
I feel Pixel 2 is a great device and for me it was easy to adapt to a 5 inch device. only real flaw is the bezels are way bigger than they should be in 2017.
I'm very tempted to grab a Pixel 2 (and sell my s8) with the VZW black friday sale, but I don't know if it is worth it. Before the s8, I had the 6p, and I really miss the pure android experience. Also, the stupid fingerprint reader placement drives me nuts. Was wondering if there was anyone else that has switched over to the pixel from the s8 and what their experiences were? Did you notice the difference in battery life? Camera quality? Day-to-day use?
I like the pixel 2 a lot better than my s8(sold) and the only thing I miss is Sam pay. You won't be sorry for getting the pixel. It's very solid plus 2 year warranty and first dibs on software.
Camera is better and battery is the same if not better on the pixel 2
noXcape said:
I like the pixel 2 a lot better than my s8(sold) and the only thing I miss is Sam pay. You won't be sorry for getting the pixel. It's very solid plus 2 year warranty and first dibs on software.
Camera is better and battery is the same if not better on the pixel 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you lucky in getting a phone that works? Did you have to go through any RMA processes for the screen/call issues? I'm a bit worried of the return process - really the only thing holding me back at this point.
Dubear
I haven't used an S8...but I know what is to have a non-Google android phone.
Honestly from my point of view, the S8 is better in terms of screen size and overall phone width. (This is something I'd liked to have in the Pixel 2). S8 is still a bit tall for my liking.
So you might miss this screen size switching to the Pixel 2.
Now if you had a Google phone before and you miss all that. Then everything else it would be an upgrade and tie to you.
I've personally switched from a 6P and can't be more happy with the Pixel 2. But I always liked phones with less than 70mm of width that are easy to handle with just one hand while walking etc.
Sent from my Pixel 2
I had the S8, couldn't stand the bloat and general lack of responsiveness (my other phone is an iPhone 7).
I sold the S8 and was looking at the OP 5T to replace it but went with the Pixel 2. All I can say is, this phone is the best phone I have used in 2017. The camera is great, the screen is great, I have no issues and everything works.
The screen to body ratio is terrible and it's pretty big for a 5 inch phone, but I can live with all of those.
Every time I pick it up, it's a joy to use and is so fast and responsive.
If something happened to my phone, I would buy another Pixel 2 in a heartbeat. That's how much I love it!
Like above the only thing I miss about the s8 is Samsung Pay. Bluetooth on the samsung seems to work a little better IMO. My car and BT headphones seem fine but other bluetooth gadgets seem a little flakey (golf gizmos etc). I had the P2XL and sent it back. I've enjoyed the size and screen on the P2 more
Don't be fooled by the defects you see in xda. I sure that they are shining brighter because usually ppl don't complain when it's issue free... Every thing is on par with the pixel 2 when it comes to build quality if I compare it to my old s8 and my Moto z2 force that i have.
thesebastian said:
Honestly from my point of view, the S8 is better in terms of screen size and overall phone width. (This is something I'd liked to have in the Pixel 2). S8 is still a bit tall for my liking.
So you might miss this screen size switching to the Pixel 2.
Now if you had a Google phone before and you miss all that. Then everything else it would be an upgrade and tie to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great points! I definitely love the s8 screen and it's going to be weird to adjust back to the deep bezels (I think the transition would have been better if I went from the 6p directly to the p2), but like you said, I miss the pure android experience.
noXcape said:
Don't be fooled by the defects you see in xda. I sure that they are shining brighter because usually ppl don't complain when it's issue free... Every thing is on par with the pixel 2 when it comes to build quality if I compare it to my old s8 and my Moto z2 force that i have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I haven't heard too many p2 complaints vs the 2xl which is a big reason why I decided on the p2. But I was also on the fence because I thought I would notice the difference in screen quality/resolution between the s8 and p2 (1080 vs 1440).
jamgam said:
Like above the only thing I miss about the s8 is Samsung Pay. Bluetooth on the samsung seems to work a little better IMO. My car and BT headphones seem fine but other bluetooth gadgets seem a little flakey (golf gizmos etc). I had the P2XL and sent it back. I've enjoyed the size and screen on the P2 more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you notice the difference in screen quality/resolution from the s8 to the p 2?
dubear said:
Did you notice the difference in screen quality/resolution from the s8 to the p 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung is more saturated which I don't mind. I'm not a screen junkie. I miss a little bit of screen real estate. I liked the P2XL screen except for the blue. that was awful. I still have my S8+. It will come down to bluetooth in the next week if I return the P2
So I finally switched, after more than 2 years with the Moto X Pure. I had the Pixel 2 XL for about a week, here is my comparison.
Speed: No doubt the Pixel is far quicker, snappier, but anyone would have expected that.
Screen: I prefer the display of the Moto. Now you would think the size difference 6 vs 5.7 is huge, but when you play videos it seems like the width of the Moto gives you a bit more of the viewing experience. Theres is not a lot of difference with the quality of the display, the Pixel seemed to have a bit deeper blacks.
Camera: Pixels camera is just great, it almost consistently takes great pix. Love the night shots and the portrait mode. No comparison...
Speakers: I expected the Pixel speakers to be better, but after putting them side by side I found out that the Moto X Pure has speakers that are just a bit louder, just a tiny bit. Theres no audio quality difference
Build: Both phones are built well. Both feel heavy. The Moto X is thicker and the Pixel is lenghtier.
Forgot to mention the battery. The Pixel battery is amazing. I never had a phone last this long.
I think its a perfect upgrade.
Few things that would make the Pixel even better:
1. Additional wide angle lens like on the V30.
2. Minimize the height a bit
3. IP68
4. Chop chop for light
Don't forget about us here in the forums!
As long as you're happy with it, that's what matters. Personally, going from a reasonably attractive phone (like the Pure Edition) to a comparatively ugly phone with an Oled display (like the Pixel 2 XL) would be a bit of a letdown for me. However, if the advancements made in terms of camera and hardware performance are worth it to you, don't let that stand in the way of personal progress.
Since you mentioned the speakers. They were actually a big surprise for me, when I got the X-Style.. The main reason I bought the X-style, was that it was oddly cheap here, when considering some very decent stats.. The fact that it had stereo speakers was just a bonus.. But they are really good.
I was basically shocked the first time I put on the teaser trailer for Agony, and got a good blast of, surprisingly non-tinny, music in my face =)
Overall, with the P2-XL being about 4 times the price of the X-style, I would expect the P2-XL to be better.. But so far I have been very happy with my X-style.. The only thing I can think of, that would improve the X-style, would be an Amoled display.. Like the X-Force has.. But the X-force is an ugly block, with no developer community, So here I am on the X-style board
LCD makes the phone
timmtn said:
The only thing I can think of, that would improve the X-style, would be an Amoled display..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be careful what you wish for. The Moto X Pure Edition has one of the best displays in the business. A dingy old oled panel would've been a dealbreaker for me. If you want a Pure Edition-like phone with Oled, the Droid Turbo (or possibly the Nexus 6) is it. All of this phone's successors (the Moto Z series) have Oled panels, as do most of its predecessors.
Not a Pixel XL 2 only XL
AmelFl said:
So I finally switched, after more than 2 years with the Moto X Pure. I had the Pixel 2 XL for about a week, here is my comparison.
Speed: No doubt the Pixel is far quicker, snappier, but anyone would have expected that.
Screen: I prefer the display of the Moto. Now you would think the size difference 6 vs 5.7 is huge, but when you play videos it seems like the width of the Moto gives you a bit more of the viewing experience. Theres is not a lot of difference with the quality of the display, the Pixel seemed to have a bit deeper blacks.
Camera: Pixels camera is just great, it almost consistently takes great pix. Love the night shots and the portrait mode. No comparison...
Speakers: I expected the Pixel speakers to be better, but after putting them side by side I found out that the Moto X Pure has speakers that are just a bit louder, just a tiny bit. Theres no audio quality difference
Build: Both phones are built well. Both feel heavy. The Moto X is thicker and the Pixel is lenghtier.
Forgot to mention the battery. The Pixel battery is amazing. I never had a phone last this long.
I think its a perfect upgrade.
Few things that would make the Pixel even better:
1. Additional wide angle lens like on the V30.
2. Minimize the height a bit
3. IP68
4. Chop chop for light
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found that like you that the sound wasnt as good but what i really noticed was the call and cell quality and strength were subpar to the MXPE. My XL is on its way back to google. I just couldnt justify the cost. Meanwhile my MXPE is still fine..
I just got my Pixel 2 XL a few days ago and I'm absolutely loving the Pixel. My Moto X Pure will still likely go down as my favorite device of all time due to it's specs, price, and performance. When it comes to the Pixel 2 XL, don't believe the hype on the screen issues. The screen is fantastic on the XL, the blue shift that people are complaining about is there, but it's waay over exaggerated. All oled screens have some sort of color shift. My buddy has the Samsung S8+ which is supposed to be one of the top rated screens on any phone and it has worse blue shift than the Pixel 2 XL along with an overall red tone to the screen. The curved glass is sooo cool and really makes using the phone a pleasure. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy the curved glass until owning the device. The big thing I was concerned about with going with the Pixel was the lack of an external SD slot, but I'm not really all that concerned about it now. I bought a really nice usb C adapter that holds a micro sd card in it and also has a usb A connection to hook up to a PC. When I do my Titanium/TWRP backups, I just click that in and do my backups. Nice and easy. The speakers on the XL sound pretty good, I notice little to no difference. They are phone speakers after all, but they are stereo, front firing and do their job. The signal strength on the Pixel is unmatched. I'm amazed at how strong the wifi and cell signals are compared to my MXP. The build of the phone is great, and feels like the dollar amount invested. The immediate updates are one of the biggest things I like along with firmware being posted almost immediately from Google. No more hunting down/capturing OTA's or full firmware zips. As much as I enjoyed Moto Display, the Pixels ambient display on 8.1 is top notch, has double tap to wake, and we get a notification light back (which I really missed while using the MXP).
Overall, I'm very happy with the Pixel 2 XL. Lenavo really ruined the MXP and it's unlikely I'll ever go back to them unless they go back to the way Motorola originally set up their phone's update schedules. Right now as I type this I'm wiping my MXP and setting it up as a dedicated music media player for my car to replace my current old LG-G3. My battery is still strong on the MXP and I expect to get several more years of service out of it.
I have a Pixel 2 XL, and I'll likely be getting the Pixel 5.
I usually upgrade every two years, but the 4 just didn't call to me. I've been holding out for wireless charging and I didn't want to give up my fingerprint reader. That and I've had a strong preference for the 'stock' Android that the Nexus/Pixel series gives you. So I waited last year. However, my battery is getting pretty poor so it's time to move on and the Pixel 5 seems to fit the bill for me.
However, there are a few drawbacks. It seems most of the gripes about the Pixel 5 seem centered around the CPU being somewhat mid-range. Coming from the 2XL, I don't really have any gripes about performance with what I already have for what I use it for. Why only real concerns are the screen and the speakers. I really like the front-facing speakers of my 2XL and sometimes will set my phone on its kickstand to watch a YouTube video with no headphones. (Not in public, I'm not a monster.) I feel like the 5 won't work as well in this scenario, but it's not a deal breaker.
The other drawback is the lower resolution screen. Honestly, I don't know if this is a big deal or not. How big a deal is the resolution difference? Noticeable to most? Would a higher refresh rate but a lower resolution be a net positive or net negative to most? I can't say I've ever felt like my screen was too laggy due to refresh rate but I honestly don't know if the bump down in resolution will slap me in the face or be a complete non-issue. I don't imagine I'd care or notice with video, but what about reading? Any advice from those with more experience in this area?
As long as you don't block the bottom speaker (lower right), you should be fine. Most of the phone stands I use don't block the speaker on my Pixel 3a XL now, so I don't see you having a problem with the Pixel 5.
If you pixel peep, then you will notice the lose of fidelity. Honestly with a screen this small (smartphone screens in general), it's not a huge deal for me. FHD+ is good enough. From experience, I do notice the loss going from higher density displays down to a 1080+ screen. Keep in mind, a higher resolution = less battery life. Takes more to drive that higher density screen. After a while, you won't notice it.
Thanks. I hadn't considered the battery life aspect of it. That's almost more important to me now, but that might just be because I'm running on a 3+ year old battery now.