Buying a Pixel 2 XL may be a little out of your comfort zone, because it isn't sold directly by most carriers. But it's worth it. Verizon sells the 64GB Pixel 2 XL directly for $849.99 or $35.41 per month. But that model has bloatware and a locked bootloader.

Excellent battery life; Terrific low-light camera performance; Elegant Google software; Great build

No headphone jack or microSD card slot; Lacks Band 71 for expanded T-Mobile coverage; Screen quality has caused drama

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

Google's Nexus devices gave Android fans the experience of a stock UI, at a time when manufacturers and carriers were forcing heavy custom skins and bloatware onto the devices they sold. The Nexus phones found their share of fans by striking a good balance between price and performance.

The Google Pixel 2 XL has its moments, but its display could easily be a deal breaker for some. It has an excellent camera, but it is somewhat inconsistent.

Good camera; Smooth and fluid performance; Now Playing is awesome

Camera is inconsistent; Undersaturated display with poor viewing angles; Larger form factor than needed

The Google Pixel 2 XL is my new phone. I liked it that much I went out and bought one, so that should tell you everything you need to know about what I think about this handset. Is it perfect? No. But then nothing is, really.

Amazing Camera; Excellent Battery Life; Great Software; First In Line For Updates; Masses of Power; Better Design; Great Call Quality; Loud Front-Facing Speakers

No Headphone Jack; OLED Display Isn't As Good As Samsung's

Whether it was through the beloved Nexus line-up or last year's Pixel and Pixel XL, Google branded smartphones have always been looked forward to. The Pixel duo from 2016 changed a lot for Google's flagship smartphone range, making it more Google and less manufacturer-influenced.

It's now been two weeks since the arrival of the Google Pixel 2 XL in my hands and it's time to tell you about my experience. After getting over the novelty factor, I've had time to examine the larger Pixel 2 in depth and there's certainly more to it than what appears at first glance.

Design (believe it or not; High quality cameras; Stereo Speaker; Android in its purest form; Excellent battery; Always-on display; IP67

Display; Small software bugs; Fingerprint reader; 3.5 mm headphone jack missing

The Google Pixel 2 XL is a strange phone to review and provide a final verdict on. I absolutely love Google’s Pixel phones, and I love using the Pixel 2 XL. There are so many things this phone does well; so many things it does better than its competitors.

The best smartphone camera; The best version of Android; Excellent performance and battery life; Significantly improved design, and it’s now water resistant

Poor display for a flagship phone, which is really disappointing; No headphone jack; Expensive

I love the experience of using the Pixel 2 XL and the unique matt body texture. It does feel a little broad on the hand, despite having the same 6-inch 18:9 display spec as LG V30, but just stick a Popsocket behind and you should be able to handle this phablet comfortably.

Google Pixel 2 XL review: Google high-end smartphone has been dogged by controversy, but how does it really perform? Here's our review of the Pixel 2 XL.