Last year, for the first time, Made by Google phones hit store shelves with a fresh look and new name to replace the aging Nexus. While Nexus represented pure Android for the nerds, Pixel was about making something truly great for everyone. And it was.

Polished; speedy performance; clean software and great front and back cameras

Screen isn't as vibrant as competitors; ActiveEdge is a pain to use; lack of bezel free display is confusing

Google's first generation of Pixel devices made a big splash last year. However, despite the misfortune that befell Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 and a massive advertising campaign, limited supply held the Pixel back from taking over the world.

Great form-factor; Brilliant everyday performance; Outstanding camera results

Displays on both the Pixel 2 and XL have their drawbacks; Battery life is only OK

the expensive google pixel 2 (5 inch) does not look like much, heck, one can argue the galaxy s4 from years ago had slimmer bezels, but looks can be VERY decieving. as I learned from my pixel 2, a bezeless front and shiny glass back isnt the answer to those who care to use their phones more than...

awesome camera; fast UI; fits one hand; smooth and consistent performance; easy to use coming from any phone

medicore battery; large body for screen; no headphone jack or micro sd

Buy the Pixel 2 if you want the industry's longest warranty and software support cycle combined with a great camera and the best personal assistant on the market.

The Google Pixel 2 follows on from the popular Google Pixel phone, with some key improvements to the onboard camera. It now features a camera with dual-pixel autofocus. There's 12.2 megapixels, with an accompanying lens which has an f/1.8 aperture.

The Google Pixel 2 hides its light under a bushel. The physical design is demure, Android 8 doesn't look much different at first glance, and without a UI overlay or third-party software, bells and whistles are few and far between.

Very good performance, Great camera, Fast battery charging, IP67 dust and water resistance, Guaranteed speedy Android updates, Clever use of fingerprint reader and squeezable sides

Moderate battery life, Tall chassis, No microSD slot or 3.5mm headphone jack, No wireless charging

In case you skipped right to the conclusion, here's what you need to know. There aren't a ton of things that separate the Pixel 2 from the Pixel 2 XL, so the model you choose will most likely depend on whether you want a big or small screen.

Best-in-class camera All-day battery life IP67 certified Loud and clear front-facing speakers Easy-to-use and practical Android experience Fluid; quick performance Google is finally good at designing smartphones 64 GB of base storage Active Edge is very useful

The Pixel 2 feels like the lesser option due to large bezels Pixel 2 XL's display feels like a step down from the Pixel XL's No headphone jack No USB Type-C headphones in the box High price tag While useful; Active Edge should have more features

The Google Pixel 2 hides its light under a bushel. The physical design is demure, Android 8 doesn't look much different at first glance, and without a UI overlay or third-party software, bells and whistles are few and far between.

Very good performance; Great camera; Fast battery charging; IP67 dust and water resistance; Guaranteed speedy Android updates; Clever use of fingerprint reader and squeezable sides

Moderate battery life; Tall chassis; No microSD slot or 3.5mm headphone jack; No wireless charging

Last year's inaugural Pixel was such a slam dunk, I expected this year's Google Pixel 2 -- and larger Pixel 2 XL -- to carry Google's phone even further. In the most important ways, it has.

Google's Pixel 2 has a superb camera with OIS and excellent low-light shooting; It's water-resistant and Google Lens calls up a trove of information to help you explore your surroundings

The phone's battery doesn't keep pace with the Pixel's competitors and its Portrait Mode isn't as smooth on dual-camera phones; Its design feels dated and it doesn't have wireless charging or a headphone jack

Distinctive color combinations mark the family, versus our Just Black test units.