the Google Pixel 2 - roneyribeiro

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Google unveiled the

Google Pixel 2

, the latest in its series of Pixel smartphones. To say we were impressed with the company's first model would be an understatement, and with this latest iteration, Google has masterfully built on a solid foundation.

Loaded with a Snapdragon 835 processor and an even more advanced camera, the Pixel 2 – all gruff about the bulky bezels – is certainly no slouch sophomore. That said, how does this latest iteration fare? does she compare

Samsung

the flagship of

Galaxy S8

Let's take a look, with this side-by-side smartphone showdown.

Specifications

Galaxy S8

Pixel2

Cut

148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm (5.86 x 2.68 x 0.31 inch)

145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm (5.7 x 2.7 x 0.31 inches)

Weight

155 grams (5.47 ounces)

143 grams (5.04 ounces)

Filter

5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED

5-inch AMOLED screen

Resolution

2960 x 1440 pixels

1920 x 1080 pixels

Operating system

Android 7.0 Nougat

Android 8.0 Oreo

Storage room

64 GB (US) 128 GB (International)

64 GB, 128 GB

microSD card slot

Yes

Nope

NFC support

Yes

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM

4GB

Connectivity

GSM/CDMA/HSPA/LTE

Camera

12MP rear with OIS, 8MP front

12.2 MP rear with OIS, 8 MP HD front

Video

4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps

4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps, 720p at 240 fps

Bluetooth

Yes, version 5.0

Fingerprint sensor

Yes

Other sensors

Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, heart rate, proximity sensor, iris scanner

Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor, Active Edge

Waterproof

Yes, IP68

Yes, IP67

Battery

3000mAh

2700mAh

Loading port

USB-C

Market

Google Play Store

Colors

Black, silver, grey, blue, gold

Black, blue and white

Availablity

it Google Pixel 2

AT&T

Verizon

T-Mobile

Sprint

Unlocked from Samsung

Unblocked from Google

Verizon

Price

$725

$650

DT Reviews

4 out of 5 stars

Practical exam

The Google Pixel 2 and

Samsung's Galaxy S8

pack the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB of RAM. This means you should expect almost the same performance, although the Pixel 2 may slightly exceed as the software is a simple and pure Android. Samsung has its TouchWiz user interface superimposed on Android, and although it is much improved, it can still slow down the operating system over time. Google also manufactures Android, and by designing its own phone, it is able to optimize hardware and software much more than Samsung.

In terms of storage, you have more options to choose from with the Pixel 2 as there is a 64GB and 128GB variant. With Samsung, you're stuck with the 64GB model in the US, although it There is a MicroSD card slot which allows you to add more space if desired.

It's a tight round, but we're giving the edge to the Pixel 2.

Winner: Google Pixel2

Design, display and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Aesthetically speaking, one of the biggest mobile trends in 2017 was the move away from thick bezels - the edges flanking the front of the screen. These two phones are very different, as one embraces this trend, while the The other is far from it. The Galaxy S8 features minimal bezels and looks even more stunning with the curved screen. The all-glass construction makes the phone feel smooth and fluid in your hand and the slim bezels provide a more immersive experience bringing the screen almost to the edge of the device.

With the second Pixel iteration, Google kept big bezels. The Pixel 2 retains the unique mix of aluminum and glass on the back that we love, but we can't help but notice the chunky, almost clunky edges, around the screen. The Pixel 2 looks straight out of 2015.

The thin bezels aren't just an aesthetic benefit - they allow the smartphone to pack more screen into a smaller frame. If you look at the dimensions of both devices, you'll find that the S8 has almost the same dimensions as the Pixel 2, but it offers a much larger 5.8-inch screen, compared to the Pixel 2's 5-inch screen.

The S8's Super AMOLED display takes up 83% of the front panel, and the 2960 x 1440 pixel resolution delivers pristine image quality. The Pixel 2's AMOLED display has a standard Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and while it still looks great, the Galaxy S8's screen is simply sharper at 570 pixels per inch. That's overkill, compared to the Pixel 2's 441 ppi.

The Pixel 2's Full HD display makes it more efficient from a processing and battery consumption perspective, but the Premium HDR certified Galaxy S8 lets you watch crisp high dynamic range (HDR) content - the latest craze for mobile.

Unlike the Galaxy S8, Google decided to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from the Pixel 2 for no particular reason. A headphone jack adapter is included in the box, but if you lose the dongle you'll have to rely on USB headphones Type-C or wireless. That's a deal breaker for a lot of people, and it easily helps Samsung win that category. There's a bright spot for the audio department on the Pixel 2 – you now get stereo speakers forward-facing. Definitely better to have a down-firing speaker like on the original Pixel or S8.

The Galaxy S8 and Pixel 2 are both water and dust resistant, but Samsung goes one step further with a

IP68 rating

, which means the device must be able to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The Pixel 2 has an IP67 rating, which also allows you to take the phone underwater up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

It's not a contest. The Galaxy S8 boasts a beautiful and immersive design; packs a larger, higher resolution display; and has a slightly better water resistance rating. a drop test, because the

Galaxy S8

is covered with glass.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8

Camera

The original Google Pixel was touted as the best camera phone available and with the follow-up Pixel 2, Google built on that solid foundation. In fact, the camera review site

DxOMark

recently gave the Pixel 2 a score of 98 out of 100, the highest score ever given to a smartphone.

During our brief hands-on experience with the Pixel 2, we saw virtually no shutter lag when shooting with the 12-megapixel camera equipped with optical image stabilization. The Motion feature Photos, which is almost the same as Apple's Live Photos, lets you capture three seconds of video just by tapping the shutter icon. Even better, the Pixel 2 has a portrait mode feature without need a dual camera setup. Machine learning and software algorithms help identify the main subject in a photo, and the background is then blurred for the images that appear. As it's all done through software, it also works with the 8MP front camera for spectacular selfies.

The Galaxy S8's 12-megapixel rear camera is much the same as the previous Galaxy S7. When we tested the S8, our daylight images had excellent image quality with accurate colors, and the Low-light images were solid. There is a Portrait-type feature called Selective Focus, but it doesn't work as well as Apple's. More experienced photographers will appreciate the Pro mode feature, which lets you manage the shutter speed, focus and ISO. There is also a “Wide Selfie” mode which allows selfie enthusiasts to rotate the camera slightly left and right respectively for a wider field of view wide, making those wider group selfies less cramped.

We'll have to do more testing, but from what we've seen, the Pixel 2 seems to have the best camera yet.

Winner: Google Pixel2

Software

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

As Google designed the Android hardware and software for the original Pixel, the smartphone was smoother than other Android devices. This seems to be the case with the Pixel 2, but the main advantage of the Pixel series is that the phones Get the latest security and version updates first. Case in point: Android 8.0 Oreo was released in August, and Pixel 2 devices will launch with its installation. The S8 is still running Android 7.0 Nougat from last year.

The Google Pixel 2's software is the pure Android experience. It may not be packed with features like the Galaxy S8, but it's simple, fast and beautiful. Samsung has improved the TouchWiz design over the years and it has Looks great on the S8, but we prefer the more minimal and uncluttered experience on the Pixel You get Google Assistant on both smartphones, but Samsung's device comes with Bixby, an assistant you can use to control functions phone via your voice.

Either way, the ability to get a fast release and security updates gives the Pixel 2 the win.

Winner: Google Pixel2

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

We found the Galaxy S8 to deliver about a full day of battery life with a few shifts, depending on medium to heavy usage. That's thanks to its 3,000 mAh battery capacity. Samsung goes a step further and offers wireless charging on the S8, as well as fast charging.

We weren't a fan of the original Pixel's battery life, as we found it struggled to stay alive at 7 p.m. on a normal work day. We're sad to see a small 2016 Pixel's battery capacity drops from 2,770mAh to 2,700mAh in the Pixel 2. Android 8.0 Oreo and the Snapdragon 835 processor promise battery life improvements, but we're skeptical, we We'll find better battery life on the Pixel 2. We'll have to do more testing. It's capable of fast charging, but you won't find wireless charging on board. Samsung takes the cake here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8

Price and availability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Google Pixel 2 is available for pre-order now and will set you back $650. It's available unlocked from the Google Store or directly from Verizon. It's not as widely available as the Galaxy S8, but it still works with all major US carriers.

The Galaxy S8 will cost you $725 unlocked by Samsung, but you have more choices when you want to buy it because all major carriers sell it, as do many retailers.However, the Pixel 2 still takes the win because the price is significantly cheaper than other phones using the latest

Snapdragon

835.

Winner: Google Pixel2

Overall Winner: Google Pixel2

While the Google Pixel 2 probably won't win any design awards anytime soon, the phone itself is worth every penny. Google has beefed up the latest Pixel 2 with a faster, more efficient processor, and even managed to upgrade level the already spectacular camera. The Galaxy S8 is still one of our favorite smartphones of the year and the screen performs better than the Pixel 2, however, when juxtaposed through the gauntlet the Pixel 2 is our pick in this game. If you want a headphone jack, go for the S8.

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