Amazing camera, super-fast, stock Android software, Google Assistant is consistently useful, unobtrusive

Expensive, no headphone jack, Pixel 2 looks dated, Pixel XL 2 POLED display not as good as OLED

Last year, Google set the tone for its smartphone ambitions. The company was going to use manufacturing partners but control the entire product experience. The first Pixel smartphones took impressive photos -- something Googles' phones were never known for -- had a new software experience, and laid...

Impressive camera, Battery life, IP67 rating, Performance

Active Edge is frustrating at times, Portrait Mode needs some work

Rather than build two identical Pixels this year, Google decided to make its new small smartphone a little more conservative. Make no mistake: the Pixel 2 is still an incredibly fast phone, and a clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo combined with Google's intelligent features make the device incredibly...

Excellent performance; Truly impressive camera; It's finally water resistant; Android 8.0 is powerful and accessible; eSIM works well with Project Fi; Excellent performance; Long battery life; Truly impressive camera; It's finally water resistant; Android 8.0 is powerful and accessible; eSIM works...

No microSD slot or headphone jack; Its design feels dated; Unlimited full-res photo storage only lasts three years; Middling battery life; No microSD slot or headphone jack; There are better big screens out there; Unlimited full-res photo storage only lasts three years

A bigger, sharper screen and thinner bezels make the Pixel 2 XL the more desirable Google phone, but some early units have been dogged by screen issues.

The Pixel 2 XL perks up the already excellent Pixel 2 with more screen space; It has a fantastic camera, waterproofing and the Google Lens feature that helps you learn more about the world around you

The camera's Portrait Mode doesn't work as smoothly as its competitors' dual camera; Its battery doesn't last as long as others in its caliber and the phone has no headphone jack or wireless charging; The displays on some handsets have irksome screen problems

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

Editors' note: This review was originally published Oct. 17, 2017 at 6 a.m. PT. It was updated on Oct. 23 detailing the Pixel 2 XL's screen burn-in issue, on Oct. 25 with further observations and Google's initial remarks, and on Oct. 26 with the company's follow-up statement detailing a software fix and extended two-year warranty.

A bigger, sharper screen and thinner bezels make the Pixel 2 XL the more desirable Google phone, but some early units have been dogged by screen issues.

The Pixel 2 XL perks up the already excellent Pixel 2 with more screen space; It has a fantastic camera, waterproofing and the Google Lens feature that helps you learn more about the world around you.

The camera's Portrait Mode doesn't work as smoothly as its competitors' dual camera; Its battery doesn't last as long as others in its caliber and the phone has no headphone jack or wireless charging; The displays on some handsets have irksome screen problems.

Long ago in a Galaxy far far away… oh forget them Last Jedi feels, actually not THAT long ago and in this very galaxy, Nokia had launched a device called the Lumia 1020. It boasted some very good hardware and software (Windows Phone was silky smooth, remember?) and had a distinct design.

Very good camera; Very good hardware; Battery life; Distinct Design

Slightly washed out display; Penchant for inconsistent lagging; Price tag

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

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.

While the Pixel 2 XL is certainly a solid all-round smartphone, there are a few little niggling issues here and there that drop it some vital points. We love the slick performance and fantastic battery life, while the funky design means it's certainly a desirable handset.

Premium performance; Two-day battery life; Slick design; Perfect photo capture