Hurry, win a Brand new Google Pixel 2...!

THE FIRST GOOGLE Pixel was a remarkable device. Nobody ever gets their first phone right, but Google did. Thanks to a spectacular camera, a pure take on Android, and the brand-new Google Assistant, the first true Google Phone immediately claimed a place at the top of the smartphone pile.

Now Google's back with Pixel. Actually two: the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. The Pixel 2 has a 5-inch screen, the XL is an inch larger. Otherwise, the two models match in virtually every way. They're refined, improved versions of last year's models, adding a few features and removing a few as well. (Bye bye, headphone jack.) The selling points remain the same, though: Google's betting that the latest and greatest in Android, an even better Assistant, and the best phone camera Mountain View can muster are enough to take on the best of 2017's smartphone bunch.

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The Eye Has It

The most important feature does work across both models: the camera. Google's using a new 12-megapixel system for the Pixel 2, with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The biggest upgrade comes in the software, though. Google trained its algorithms on faces of people, and says it can now take soft-background photos akin to the iPhone's Portrait Mode without needing a second camera to do so. A special sensor in the rear camera adds some depth information to the equation to make the effect even better, but the Pixel 2 can do portrait-style shots even with the selfie cam. Google's also updated its HDR+ algorithms, introduced a new feature called Motion Photos that is absolutely identical to Apple's Live Photos, and combined optical and electrical image stabilization to make video smoother.

Rather than dump as much raw camera hardware as it could into the Pixel 2, Google hopes to prove that taking great photos is mostly about software. It's hard to evaluate the camera from the two-minute demo I saw, but the selfie I tried looked excellent.

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The new camera also enables new augmented-reality features, which Google eagerly showed off at its launch event in San Francisco. Pixel owners will get the first glimpse of the new ARCore software Google's building for all Android phones, through apps from Houzz and League of Legends plus a Google-made feature called AR Stickers. Both phones work with Google's Daydream VR platform, too.

There's actually a lot of new Android stuff coming to the Pixel. The OLED displays can always be on, showing time and date and notifications. When you unlock the phone, the homescreen looks different: the wide Google search bar has been moved to the bottom where it's easier to reach, and the top row of the homescreen now provides useful information about weather, traffic, your calendar, and the like. And of course, Google Assistant's the star of the show. On the Pixel 2, because for some reason Google believes there aren't enough ways to invoke the Assistant, you can quickly and firmly squeeze the sides of the phone to launch Assistant. It's a feature borrowed from HTC's U11, and seems to work well, but it seems somewhat unlikely that all the people who couldn't remember to long-press a button will suddenly start squeezing their phones.

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CELLULAR

Technology: CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS)
Type: smartphone (Android OS)
Integrated Components: audio player, front-facing camera, navigation, rear-facing camera, voice recorder
Navigation: GLONASS, GPS
Band: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / CDMA2000 1X 1900/800
Mobile Broadband Generation: 4G
Phone Form Factor: touch
Service Provider: not specified
Operating System Family: Android
Operating System: Android 8.0.1 Oreo
Intelligent Assistant : Google Assistant
SIM Card Type: Electronic SIM card (e-SIM), nano SIM
SIM Card Slot: Qty single-SIM
Input Device: Multi-touch

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PHONE FEATURES

Phone Functions: Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert
Sensors: Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, digital compass, barometer, magnetometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, advanced x-axis haptics sensor
Additional Features: HD Voice, Google Caller ID, MIMO technology, Wi-Fi Calling, Quick Switch function, Wireless Emergency Alerts function, Android Sensor Hub, RGB LED notification light, Adaptive audio amplifier, Three microphones with noise-cancellation, Knock Knock function, Pixel Visual Core
Security Devices: Fingerprint reader

DETAILS

Integrated Components: Rear-facing camera, front-facing camera, audio player, voice recorder, navigation
Body Color: Just black

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MISCELLANEOUS

Compliant Standards: IP67, HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible)
Sensors: accelerometer, advanced x-axis haptics sensor, ambient light sensor, barometer, digital compass, gyro sensor, hall sensor, magnetometer, proximity sensor

MESSAGING & INTERNET

Messaging Services: MMS, SMS
Supported Social Networks and Blogs: Yes

COMMUNICATIONS

Data Transmission: EDGE, EV-DO, FDD-LTE, GPRS, HSDPA, HSPA+, HSUPA, LTE, TDD-LTE
3G UMTS Band: Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8
Wireless Interface: Bluetooth 5.0 LE, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, NFC

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