I was just wondering how many of you guys and girls have returned or cancelled your order of the Pixel 2 XL? There are so many threads where a lot of members said that they either are returning their phone or cancelling their order based on general reception. And as I don't think we can expect any data about this topic from Google any time soon, I thought a poll would be nice to get an overview about the percentage of returns in this forum.
I live in Germany, and as the phone isn't released here yet there might be a chance for me to cancel my order if there are many returns because of screen and/or loudspeaker issues.
Claus1221 said:
I was just wondering how many of you guys and girls have returned or cancelled your order of the Pixel 2 XL? There are so many threads where a lot of members said that they either are returning their phone or cancelling their order based on general reception. And as I don't think we can expect any data about this topic from Google any time soon, I thought a poll would be nice to get an overview about the percentage of returns in this forum.
I live in Germany, and as the phone isn't released here yet there might be a chance for me to cancel my order if there are many returns because of screen and/or loudspeaker issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kept my Panda preorder. Actually having ages to wait is turning out to be a blessing. I'm leaving it as long as I can and keeping an eye on what's going on with the US ones. If it's still looking bad in mid December, then I'll still have the option to cancel.
Interestingly, Google will be coming to my place of work on 17th November, so I'll have the opportunity to grill them!
Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk
Claus1221 said:
I was just wondering how many of you guys and girls have returned or cancelled your order of the Pixel 2 XL? There are so many threads where a lot of members said that they either are returning their phone or cancelling their order based on general reception. And as I don't think we can expect any data about this topic from Google any time soon, I thought a poll would be nice to get an overview about the percentage of returns in this forum.
I live in Germany, and as the phone isn't released here yet there might be a chance for me to cancel my order if there are many returns because of screen and/or loudspeaker issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I kept mine long enough to go to tmobile and get the 350 visa card going and then returning it. I'll wait or get a note 8 or just just stay with my current phone. All the main phones this year seem kind of disappointing.
I canceled my 2nd order two days ago and picked up a unlocked Note 8. After all the negatives with the 2XL coming out daily I figured I'd give Samsung another go. I will still keep an eye on the 2XL with a open mind. Hopefully the issues will be resolved soon because it is a beautiful phone. Good luck to those who are keeping theirs.
I'm keeping my 128 panda preorder the google reps that I spoke to are claiming that the second batch of phone will do much better screen wise I'm assuming this will delay my panda even more and that's fine with me as long as they iron out some of their kinks.
travblue said:
I'm keeping my 128 panda preorder the google reps that I spoke to are claiming that the second batch of phone will do much better screen wise I'm assuming this will delay my panda even more and that's fine with me as long as they iron out some of their kinks.
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Click to collapse
They mention how the phone "will do much better screen wise" ? Kinda odd that they switch it out that much but wont comment on the first ones coming out really.
---------- Post added at 09:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------
Misterxtc said:
I canceled my 2nd order two days ago and picked up a unlocked Note 8. After all the negatives with the 2XL coming out daily I figured I'd give Samsung another go. I will still keep an eye on the 2XL with a open mind. Hopefully the issues will be resolved soon because it is a beautiful phone. Good luck to those who are keeping theirs.
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Click to collapse
I wouldnt mind a note 8 but the fingerprint drives me nuts as i've used just the small s8 for past 2 months and that was annoying to get use to let alone a phone that much bigger.
I cancelled my pre-order for 64 GB Just black and will keep my brand new OG pixel for now till the screen issues is resolved.
Sent from my NXT-L29 using Tapatalk
Gilley said:
They mention how the phone "will do much better screen wise" ? Kinda odd that they switch it out that much but wont comment on the first ones coming out really.
---------- Post added at 09:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------
I wouldnt mind a note 8 but the fingerprint drives me nuts as i've used just the small s8 for past 2 months and that was annoying to get use to let alone a phone that much bigger.
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Click to collapse
The two reps I spoke never really gave me specifics but then again I didn't even ask I just wanted to know if they knew anything about what Google plans on doing about the screen issues and should I cancel my preorder and they said they were aware and that much of the issues have been corrected on the second batch of pixels XL I then ask will my phone be apart of that second batch and they said yes
Gilley said:
I wouldnt mind a note 8 but the fingerprint drives me nuts as i've used just the small s8 for past 2 months and that was annoying to get use to let alone a phone that much bigger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It wasn't my first choice coming from a Pixel 5" but I am liking it so far and feel at ease with the purchase. But yeah it feels like a brick in my pocket lol. My wife got a S8+ last week so that kinda swayed me back to Samsung for a bit. As for the fingerprint, I rarely if ever use it. I can still purchase a 2XL when things get resolved but for now I'm good.
Misterxtc said:
It wasn't my first choice coming from a Pixel 5" but I am liking it so far and feel at ease with the purchase. But yeah it feels like a brick in my pocket lol. My wife got a S8+ last week so that kinda swayed me back to Samsung for a bit. As for the fingerprint, I rarely if ever use it. I can still purchase a 2XL when things get resolved but for now I'm good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The note 8 feels like a better phone than the pixel 2 does, the only reason I returned the note was you couldn't root it at the time. Once my XL is back in the mail back to google I am just getting one with the exn chip in it and staying with the note.
Cancelled order, will wait if the screen approve with future batch. Sticking to OG XL 6P replacement.
Kept. The screen blue tint doesn't bother me really at all. Most of the time I don't look at it at any other angle than dead on so seeing the blue isn't often. I think some people are just super nitpicky about things haha. So far I like this phone better than my og Pixel.
Decided to return mine this week. Have until next week to be within my 15 days. I will keep my V30. It just feels so much better size wize, wireless charging and headphone jack. When I use the Pixel I miss using the V30...just that simple.
Got my 128gb black version yesterday. I was surprised at how subtle the blue tint is in person. I barely notice it and I really have to angle it for it to show up - like nearly look at the screen directly from the side. The supposed washed out/dull colors are only obvious if you're comparing it directly to another device with higher saturation. I've especially noticed reds on the Pixel XL 2 actually look red compared to the oversaturated orangish look of the devices I compared it with (OnePlus 3T, Moto G4 Plus, iPhone 6 Plus).
With that said, I'm not sure that I'll keep it. $1000+ is a lot for a phone with display issues. Even though they're subtle, they're definitely there and I'm not sure one should just accept them. I'm not so sure about this "second batch" of phones, but maybe in a couple months these problems will be resolved.
Or maybe I'll keep it. I have time to think about it. I'll definitely use it through the weekend before making a decision.
I've had it for a day now. Great phone! Much better all around than the Oneplus2 I came from. Much better than the Note4 I had before that.
Plus, will get huge dev support. Not too many companies releasing source code any more and encouraging development.
This is my first carrier free google/nexus phone experience (the original G1 doesn't count, right?), and already - wow!!
Will be returning. Defect just popped up for my screen. I've got a grey bar that stretches across the screen below the bar is darker than above. Pretty disappointed as the software and overall hardware was damn nice on this phone.
Edit: the diagonal lines in the pictures are from the camera, not actual visible on phone.
Keeping mine. I love it. No issues except for the blue tint. The tint is mildly annoying at best. Anyway, if they somehow fix that, or actually end up using different screen hardware, I can always RMA it for a new one at that time.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using XDA Labs
Keeping mine, no issues and have to tilt to get it to give the light blue tint not a deal breaker to me. Really a work horse and smooth as silk IMO. Not into vivid colors that much, but might try them out if they do a software update that give it just to see what is all the fuss over vivid color.
Cancelled my order. Might just get the smaller pixel 2 instead.
My Oneplus 5 is awesome but stuttery compared to anything from Google. WiFi is awful too.
What else to get?
Dear All,
I thought about cancelling the order but what other phone would I want? Nothing. Google has acknowledged the bugs and will fix in upcoming update. My order won't arrive till end of November which gives Google time to iron out the bugs. The blue colour shift they can't fix with software but would it really deter your overall user experience? Time will tell...
Related
It is probably too early for this kind of thread but I'm just gonna put this out there. So...
Are you keeping the phone or are you returning it? Why?
Also, note that the return/redesign period for the Moto Maker Moto X Pure Edition is extended for 30 days from shipped date. (Originally, it was only 14 days , and 30 days were only for CA residents.)
See here: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/97867
Update 9/19: Moto changed it again. Extended return no longer applies. Be aware of your 14 days for everywhere except California.
I plane to exchange to for a dark wood back. I like it so far faster and battery life is about the same as my Note 2.
At this point I plan on keeping it. Pretty sure it's going to be like a Nexus phone with a memory card slot. I just came from the Verizon G4, and while I really liked it, there is absolutely NO development.
Definitely a keeper. Has everything I need: close to vanilla Android, free from carrier bloat, native wifi-tether, etc. Don't think there's any competition at this price point.
Only weakness is the battery life, but it's still slightly better than the HTC m7 I'm coming from. Just wish Google would get their head out of their asses and fix the damn Google Play battery drain..
So far I love it, I wouldn't mind a wood back but I'd be concerned it would make it more slippery
Keeping it. Loving the phone so far.
Keeping. The only 'negative', if you can call it that, is that the battery is 'only' 4 hours SoT. But the turbo charger is insane (over 2% per minute), I'm not even worried about battery life.
I'm returning mine. It was between the XPE and a Note 5 for me. The Note 5 wins by a mile. (for my needs). However I will buy another XPE in the future to have as my side b*tch. I'll wait for a black Friday sale and get a wood back next time. I had gone with the plastic back with the intention of using skins. Not with that texture.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Little torn right now. I like the size and build more than my Nexus 6, but doesn't seem like much of an upgrade, more of a side grade. The deal breaker for the xpe may be lack of wifi calling on t-mobile, something I use in the basement of my house.
Out of curiosity how is screen brightness. I need a super bright screen because I'm outside a lot. I love the brightness of the note 5 and the nexus 6 once rooted has a super bright mode.
So far, I really really dig this thing. I can't come up with a single complaint other than the lack of fingerprint reader.
My index finger just graviates to that Moto dimple, and to be completely honest, it's making me reconsider if I want to switch it out for a N5 2015. With Android Pay around the corner, and it's integration into Marshmallow with the API, I see fingerprint reader's really becoming a core aspect of the phone. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows. But that dimple just makes me wish it were a fingerprint reader.
In all reality, I'll probably keep it due to SD slot, larger screen, etc. But god dammit.
shawnten said:
Out of curiosity how is screen brightness. I need a super bright screen because I'm outside a lot. I love the brightness of the note 5 and the nexus 6 once rooted has a super bright mode.
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Click to collapse
I have heard that the AMOLED screens on the N6 and Note 5 will be brighter, but I've also heard no complaints on just how bright the XPE is. I'm sure it would suit you needs. I'm also outside a lot for work, so I'm interested in this question as well.
razortaz18 said:
I'm returning mine. It was between the XPE and a Note 5 for me. The Note 5 wins by a mile. (for my needs). However I will buy another XPE in the future to have as my side b*tch. I'll wait for a black Friday sale and get a wood back next time. I had gone with the plastic back with the intention of using skins. Not with that texture.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious, what does the Note 5 have that the Moto doesn't? Which part(s) is dissuading you the most from keeping the X? I'm guess the stylus and split-screen?
---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 PM ----------
theRZA001 said:
My index finger just graviates to that Moto dimple, and to be completely honest, it's making me reconsider if I want to switch it out for a N5 2015. With Android Pay around the corner, and it's integration into Marshmallow with the API, I see fingerprint reader's really becoming a core aspect of the phone. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows. But that dimple just makes me wish it were a fingerprint reader..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do the same thing with a PIN, though, right? With Android Pay, I don't think you need a fingerprint scanner. You actually have a backup PIN in case the fingerprint reader fails for some reason.
jonathanbailie said:
You can do the same thing with a PIN, though, right? With Android Pay, I don't think you need a fingerprint scanner. You actually have a backup PIN in case the fingerprint reader fails for some reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I guess you're right. Besides, I'd lose out on all the Moto features, and that's even before considering how hard it is to snag a Nexus in the first month of launch.
theRZA001 said:
So far, I really really dig this thing. I can't come up with a single complaint other than the lack of fingerprint reader.
My index finger just graviates to that Moto dimple, and to be completely honest, it's making me reconsider if I want to switch it out for a N5 2015. With Android Pay around the corner, and it's integration into Marshmallow with the API, I see fingerprint reader's really becoming a core aspect of the phone. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows. But that dimple just makes me wish it were a fingerprint reader.
In all reality, I'll probably keep it due to SD slot, larger screen, etc. But god dammit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not trying to be a Debbie downer, but.you opinion is fine. But finding tap and pay terminals is becoming more forgiven. Every place that upgraded for the chip debit/credit cards all have had no tap and go in my experience
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
shawnten said:
Out of curiosity how is screen brightness. I need a super bright screen because I'm outside a lot. I love the brightness of the note 5 and the nexus 6 once rooted has a super bright mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The brightness and clarity of this screen blows my rooted Nexus 6 out of the water. Can't speak for the Note 5 though.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
There is no way in couple days in will return to note4 lol
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
im coming from a LG G Flex, have had it for a year and was feeling the itch to get a new phone. Got my Pure(White/Bamboo) on Thursday and i can notice the screen quality is a lot better,build quality feels premium, no lag. The battery life isnt a step up, the Flex has a 3500mah battery. The Turbo charging is amazing though, it charges up so fast. The back does get warm when browsing through apps for a while and the whites on the screen seem to be warmer compared to S6. I miss the double tap to wake and the even bigger screen on my Flex but no way im going back. Definitely a keeper, i feel like its the best phone for the money out right now and i will definately recommend it.
Definitely keeping everything is great. Speakers, screen, size, feel, look and the list goes on... Night and day over my nexus. Let's just hope the development community takes off
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
gonna be exchanging it. the royal blue in the motomaker doesn't look anything like i've seen in reviews if it had i would have gotten it to start with
Coming from a Nexus 6. Exchanging mine due to a couple of what seems like defective issue: gets warm, banding and flickering on screen, chrome web browsing stutters (not sure if relation to heat issues). It is somewhat upsetting to receive a broken phone but hopefully the replacement works 100%.
Wow. Coming from a LG V10, which I loved, I feel like this is def a decent step forward. I have yet to see how batter power is but for now I'm impressed with the software and how fast and smooth the phone is. I haven't started gaming on it yet. Mainly setting up apps for work. I got mine this morning at 10.
I'm coming from Nexus 6P and i'm equally impressed!! Enjoying it so far!!!
I haven't gotten mine yet, but I'm coming from the Note 7. I hope I am equally impressed
Coming from N7 and I am sooooo happy right now. Super super fast and smooth absolutely no lag like N7 had. All I can say is WOW (copied OP, but so true)
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
I like the pixel xl MUCH more than I do my 6P. I especially like the size and screen more. I always thought the 6P was too big/too tall though.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
gwallers said:
I'm coming from Nexus 6P and i'm equally impressed!! Enjoying it so far!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you gonna sell your 6?
I'm gonna wait awhile on the pixel.
nutpn said:
Are you gonna sell your 6?
I'm gonna wait awhile on the pixel.
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Click to collapse
Haven't really put much thought to it but it does have a crack in top left of screen. Still works fine just hairline crack. Huawei wanted 163 to repair. Decided to get pixel xl and couldn't he happier. Best Android phone I have owned and I have had all the top tier devices.
I work for a Verizon retailer, we got our stock in today and I really enjoyed messing with it.
Makes it REALLY hard to wait for mine to ship from google in November....
Coming from S7 Edge
Hitman3984 said:
I work for a Verizon retailer, we got our stock in today and I really enjoyed messing with it.
Makes it REALLY hard to wait for mine to ship from google in November....
Coming from S7 Edge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got a November ship date also and checked out an XL today. Really nice phone. I think we'll get it earlier than stated.
dmb219 said:
I've got a November ship date also and checked out an XL today. Really nice phone. I think we'll get it earlier than stated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can hope
I share everyone's sentiments here. I received my XL today.
A few things...
1) Coming from a 6P that I love, I am in love with the size of the XL. It doesn't feel like a big phone. It's not unwieldy and it feels more pocketable. I know the size difference isn't huge on paper, but it's more tightly engineered. It doesn't feel top heavy. It's just more comfortable to hold. It doesn't feel a lot bigger than an iPhone 7.
2) I'm not in love with the black, though. It's more of a grey. It's not ugly, I just wish it was darker.
3) I know it's early, but damn it's smooth. No hiccups or stutters on my end.
4) I was using the Pixel launcher on the 6P. I love it.
5) Like the 6P, I enjoy the fingerprint reader on the back. It just makes sense. It even feels better here.
6) The hardware is flawless. Samsung and Apple flawless.
7) This started with Nougat, but I enjoy how the contact pictures show up on my 2016 Impala infotainment center. Other manufacturers have had this, so it's a nice addition.
8) It smelled good when I opened the box.
9) The lack of waterproofing is a bummer, but whatever. I've never dropped a phone in water. (I do have my iPhone 7 in my shower. I use it only as an iPod)
10) I really like it. Google did a hell of a job.
11) I know it won't be mentioned much, but Google nailed the launch. 2 weeks between preorder and delivery! Last year we waited nearly a month. I think the same thing happened with the Nexus 6. Everyone lauds how Apple does it, Google just did it too.
hollowlog said:
I share everyone's sentiments here. I received my XL today.
11) I know it won't be mentioned much, but Google nailed the launch. 2 weeks between preorder and delivery! Last year we waited nearly a month. I think the same thing happened with the Nexus 6. Everyone lauds how Apple does it, Google just did it too.
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Click to collapse
this part I disagree with! lol I ordered day one and have a month wait.
other then that, with playing with it at work I'd agree.
Someone Please comment about the audio quality
^Especially the headphone Jack
I listened to music for an hour or so yesterday with the headphone jack. It sounded fine. But I admit that I'm not super picky in this area.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
And some of us got them a day early. I like your review of the smell of the box. LOL. Yeah day and I'm even more impressed with the phone. looking for cool ways to use Google assistant.
Yeah I havent had a reason to use headphones. Speaker phone is loud and clear though.
JasonJoel said:
I like the pixel xl MUCH more than I do my 6P. I especially like the size and screen more. I always thought the 6P was too big/too tall though.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I intitially balked about the screen shrinking, then I remembered how I was initially against getting the 6P due to it's large screen size lol.
Just so I don't sound like a 'fanboy'...
One thing I find a little annoying on the pixel is that the auto brightness adjuster makes the screen too bright for my tastes.
I have the brightness slider almost all of the to the left.
Not a big deal, but I'm not sure why the default brightness is so high.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
same here
Was very exited to get my Pixel phone earlier than stated. Speaker phone sounds loud and clear and audio sound in general was great.
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
Jess813 said:
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love it...it's compact and super sturdy. Built well. I have no issues with the camera...they've updated it several times and I'm not a professional photographer. It comes with an unlockable bootloader and they said during their AMA source will be released in the next week or two. Development will be there. For such a unique device I have no qualms with it at all.
I came from the Pixel XL and dont regret it at all. I'm really excited about the future of this device. Although Essential had some issues on launch they have really stepped things up regarding customer support, communication and updates. Having them involved in the community (Reddit AMA) says a lot about how they feel about us, the customer. The build quality is superior to anything I've ever held and I change devices about every 6 months. It will take a lot from a future device to get me to switch from this. Since the updates I've had really good luck with the camera, even at night. If I were you I'd go for it!
I have a Pixel XL and an Essential - while the build quality of the Essential is top notch (feels really well weighted IMHO) and the edge to edge display really impresses, there are a few things that really annoy me.
- Placement of the hardware buttons (I keep reaching for the power button only to hit the volume buttons)
- Touch sensitivity is all over the place. Many times it does not register when I press on the screen, forcing me to do this multiple times. Given the amount of time we spend interacting with our phones, this can get pretty frustrating.
- General stutters & slowdowns. For a near-stock Android phone, this phone is really laggy when performing certain actions. It just grinds to a halt for a second or two. My Pixel XL or OnePlus 5 do not ever do that.
- Buggy software. I've noticed that the camera app will randomly freeze, forcing me to close it and reopen. I've noticed the same thing when interacting with the system settings.
- Camera: The Pixel XL camera (and app) blows this away. The Essential one is slow to focus, slow to switch modes etc. And the image quality is not comparable to the Pixel XL.
I know most of these issues could probably be fixed with tons of s/w updates, but I am not sure people want to wait and be the beta testers for this phone. For now, IMHO, Pixel XL > OP 5 > Essential PH-1. Having said that, the phone shows a lot of promise but we will need to wait and see if they can deliver on their promises.
rajeshr said:
I have a Pixel XL and an Essential - while the build quality of the Essential is top notch (feels really well weighted IMHO) and the edge to edge display really impresses, there are a few things that really annoy me.
- Placement of the hardware buttons (I keep reaching for the power button only to hit the volume buttons)
- Touch sensitivity is all over the place. Many times it does not register when I press on the screen, forcing me to do this multiple times. Given the amount of time we spend interacting with our phones, this can get pretty frustrating.
- General stutters & slowdowns. For a near-stock Android phone, this phone is really laggy when performing certain actions. It just grinds to a halt for a second or two. My Pixel XL or OnePlus 5 do not ever do that.
- Buggy software. I've noticed that the camera app will randomly freeze, forcing me to close it and reopen. I've noticed the same thing when interacting with the system settings.
- Camera: The Pixel XL camera (and app) blows this away. The Essential one is slow to focus, slow to switch modes etc. And the image quality is not comparable to the Pixel XL.
I know most of these issues could probably be fixed with tons of s/w updates, but I am not sure people want to wait and be the beta testers for this phone. For now, IMHO, Pixel XL > OP 5 > Essential PH-1. Having said that, the phone shows a lot of promise but we will need to wait and see if they can deliver on their promises.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also don't think everyone is experiencing all these bullet points.
I agree it took a little bit to adjust with the volume and power buttons, they are flipped unlike my Nexus.
Touch sensitivity, I mainly only notice that on the border of the screen. I'm assuming this is setup this way so your hand doesn't accidentally touch things when holding the phone since the borders are so minimal.
Personally I haven't noticed any stutters or slowdowns. It runs butter smooth.
Software has pretty much been fixed on my end since their last few updates.
Again, this is maybe just my experience, but I wouldn't assume everyone is seeing the same issues. There are quite a few happy campers from reading through the other threads.
I think you will enjoy the phone a lot. Coming from a Nexus, your phone will feel way less clunky with these screen borders.
Jess813 said:
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would be a bit skeptical of the source of the phone.
I'd trade but you want to know source.
He would still be inside the return window.
He could sent the Essential back and get a PXL and have change back.
Personally I would do it. The Pixel XL will be replaced in a couple weeks and therefore will be harder to sell if you want to upgrade. Also, I have asked for an RMA and then changed my mind twice on this darn Essential phone because every time I feel this strange connection with it. I want to root for Essential. This sounds silly, of course. I have the S8, have had the G6 and all the other flagships before, but this phone is to me the Nexus device of 2017. I had the Pixel and Pixel XL and while I loved the software and camera, once you hold the Essential phone then the Pixels will have laughably huge bezels and will feel five years old in your hand.
So, the camera. I have taken some awesome outdoor shots and I have also taken some that look like they were from a 2014 Moto X. There is no consistency with this camera. I want to believe in it and I have seen what it is capable of, but when I reach for my S8 the experience blows the Essential away. The camera app freezes on the Essential and is extremely slow. If anyone disagrees, then I completely respect that but I will ask if you have compared it to the best of 2017 devices? That said, the best compromise I have found is this: install the Google Pixel camera and set the power button quick launch to launch that camera. Then leave the default camera app icon in the normal place. So now, I can quickly launch the fool-proof Google camera when I need to snap a quick image, but I can take my time with the Essential camera when I have that time to give. I have a 7 month old son and trust me, he ain't waitin' for that damn Essential camera to load!
TL;DR - I would make the trade.
-Collin-
Man, I'm thinking about returning my Pixel 2 XL for an Essential. Wanted the Essential but then all the bad reviews of the camera and what not turned me away. It is literally half the cost of the P2XL with the price drop. It's nice to have one of, if not the best camera, but I feel silly paying $1000 for this phone when I can get a brand new phone with similar specs for half the cost. Not to mention the disappointing screen issues.
I like to run custom stable ROMs which is why I'm looking at these two phones and the P2XL will certainly have more development. I'm not even sure if the Essential has sold enough to have any decent development. I would hate to be stuck with a phone that ends up getting no development. I guess that's what makes the Pixel worth a grand. I never buy brand new phones and always look for deals on Craigslist but this time I thought I'd pull the trigger on something brand new.....the experience was meh.
I am in a similar boat as you (except I have a pixel). If this phone get done development I might pull the trigger. Partly because at least for me, the whole rom game on the pixel is just a nightmare thanks to the two boot slots. I REALLY miss the simplicity of the nexus. But I get it that having the two slots makes things great for stock users but I have soft bricked this phone so many times. If this phone can be simple like the nexus days (once the images come out) I am really tempted. Also depending on when oreo gets dropped
My previous phone was a LeEco Le Pro 3, bought it last year during a black friday sale, it was released almost 2 months before that sale. No roms or any development at that time, but a couple months later a bunch of great roms were available. I think is just a matter of time, be patience, also, we have stock android, why the hurry to flash a new rom?
b316kane said:
I am in a similar boat as you (except I have a pixel). If this phone get done development I might pull the trigger. Partly because at least for me, the whole rom game on the pixel is just a nightmare thanks to the two boot slots. I REALLY miss the simplicity of the nexus. But I get it that having the two slots makes things great for stock users but I have soft bricked this phone so many times. If this phone can be simple like the nexus days (once the images come out) I am really tempted. Also depending on when oreo gets dropped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The PH-1 has two boot slots just like the Pixel.
I don't remember hearing that. Are they doing the automatic updates too? I figured it was unique to pixels
I am sending back a Pixel 2 XL and getting the Essential
30 day return policy from Amazon right? I'm just gonna get an Essential use them both for a week and make a decision
I have an Essential. It is a solid phone and performs well. However (and this is going to sound strange), it is an unbelievably slippery phone. I took their word that it was made of space-age materials and was drop-resistant, and I didn't get a case. It slipped out of my pocket the second day I owned it while I was sitting down. Screen cracked and it is $200 to replace.
There are really no quality cases available, so I would wait to see if there is going to be any aftermarket support before buying an Essential.
Jess813 said:
Hey guys I came across see guy locally that is VERY interested in trading his Essential for my Pixel XL, I must admit that I'm intrigued by this phone but very worried about all the negativity surrounding it. Can you guys give me your honest opinion since you guys are current users?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just be sure the one you are trading for is not locked to Sprint, unless you're on Sprint of course.
appleguy2 said:
I have an Essential. It is a solid phone and performs well. However (and this is going to sound strange), it is an unbelievably slippery phone. I took their word that it was made of space-age materials and was drop-resistant, and I didn't get a case. It slipped out of my pocket the second day I owned it while I was sitting down. Screen cracked and it is $200 to replace.
There are really no quality cases available, so I would wait to see if there is going to be any aftermarket support before buying an Essential.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a number of decent cases available. I'm using the Incipio NGP Pure:
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Incipio-Shockproof-Polymer-Shock-Absorbing/dp/B076H16TWP
A lot of people like the Tudia cases, especially the new one that just came out with the glass back.
The complaints about the Incipio is that it doesn't work with glass screen protectors... Well 99% of the glass screen protectors available for this phone don't fit right anyways... What I ended up getting was the Incipio Plex Plus Flex... which they claim is flexible glass (I think it's just plastic) but either way, it fits with their case and is invisible on the phone. I managed to snag it on a Black Friday sale because it's kinda expensive for a screen protector, but either way, my phone is now fully protected and looks excellent. I can post pictures if you're interested.
To preface this, here comes a wall of text.
I have evolved from not knowing how to even use a Galaxy S3, to being able to unlock/root/flash/repair my previous Nexus 6, all thanks to the members here, so thanks for all the help, and for reading this!
I am a construction worker by trade, so my phones need to be able to hold up to water, dust, and drops, which means I always have a case on it, and most of the time a screen protector. I do my best to keep them safe, but it doesn't always work out that way. My S4 broke 2 days after I bought it because it dropped on a concrete floor, and my first Nexus 6 fell out of my pocket from 30 stories up when I was in a safety harness hanging off the side of a highrise skeleton. This phone seems to be built pretty well, and feels good in my catcher's mitt-sized hands. I am having a little trouble typing in portait mode, but I am just attributing that to a different size screen and keyboard location relative to the way I hold the phone. I put an Otterbox Defender on it, but haven't decided whether I want a screen protector or not.
Speaking of that, the screen is decent. It isn't great by any means in my opinion, and toggling the Vivid Color setting on and off makes it go from meh to ok. I am not looking for Samsung-esque saturation, but I will echo what has been said about the colors seeming washed out. I am also having a bit of touch response issues, where I have to tap on the same thing multiple times to get it to respond and do what I am asking. Hopefully it is just me not being dexterous enough with my inputs, and not the phone itself. This is why I am unsure about the screen protector, since I think that might make things worse. Also, I have noticed that when backing out from a settings menu, my weather app opens, even though I haven't tapped on the weather.
I turned off the squeeze for Google Assistant already, and the always-on display since this phone will spend a lot of time in my pocket and I am extremely active all day, so I don't want them constantly turning on and wasting battery, or activating and me not knowing it.
I watched some YT videos of music/soundtracks I like, to see if the dual speakers really made a difference, and while it does sound good, to my untrained ears it didn't really sound all too different.
I took a few pictures of my kids and my dog, and they do look fantastic for sure. That is definitely an improvement over my Nexus 6.
To be honest, I am a little disappointed.
Maybe some of you more knowledgable members can shed some light on how I can fix these issues, if it is at all possible?
Thanks!
My previous phones include the Nexus 5, Nexus 6p and now the Pixel XL (I will not be getting the pixel 2 XL.)
I can't comment much on the screen response as I've never experienced the issue on any of the aforementioned devices.
As far as a screen protector, I don't use them. The glass technology used on premium smartphones has come a long way. They're pretty difficult to scratch. However, taking into consideration your line of work, it may not be a bad idea.
In my honest opinion, all previous Nexus/pixel devices have had washed out displays. Especially coming from a Samsung Galaxy which is notorious for saturated and vibrant colors, you're definitely going to notice it.
To combat the color issue on the 6p, I flashed ElementalX kernel and used the EX kernel manager to turn up the color saturation by about 15%. It made a world of difference and the display was much more pleasurable to view. Maybe give a custom kernel with optimized saturation/hue settings a try.
Thank you for the review!
I went into a Verizon store two days ago as was extremely underwhelmed by the Just Black Pixel 2 XL, particularly due to hardware. I was kind of expecting Nexus 6P or HTC level build quality/ in hand feel.
I have been doing my best to talk myself back into liking and wanting a 2 XL; basically repeating to myself what Dieter from the Verge said in his Pixel 2 review " The Pixel 2 and 2 XL are not the nice dining room table where you lay out the fancy silverware for your guests, they are the kitchen counter where you actually eat."
"A lot of phones are designed for one thing above all else, to give you a dazzling first impression. The Pixel 2 does not go in for all that. In fact the first hardware impression is not going to blow your hair back, but then you start to use it and you notice those little things and the software is fast and helps you be more productive."
In my mind he is saying "the hardware is average, but the software makes up for that and makes the Pixel 2 XL a great device in-spite of it lackluster hardware."
So your comment of "To be honest, I am a little disappointed."
Really hit home for me! Being brutally honest with us; what exactly is causing you to be a bit disappointed with your new Pixel?
jj3699 said:
Thank you for the review!
I went into a Verizon store two days ago as was extremely underwhelmed by the Just Black Pixel 2 XL, particularly due to hardware. I was kind of expecting Nexus 6P or HTC level build quality/ in hand feel.
I have been doing my best to talk myself back into liking and wanting a 2 XL; basically repeating to myself what Dieter from the Verge said in his Pixel 2 review " The Pixel 2 and 2 XL are not the nice dining room table where you lay out the fancy silverware for your guests, they are the kitchen counter where you actually eat."
"A lot of phones are designed for one thing above all else, to give you a dazzling first impression. The Pixel 2 does not go in for all that. In fact the first hardware impression is not going to blow your hair back, but then you start to use it and you notice those little things and the software is fast and helps you be more productive."
In my mind he is saying "the hardware is average, but the software makes up for that and makes the Pixel 2 XL a great device in-spite of it lackluster hardware."
So your comment of "To be honest, I am a little disappointed."
Really hit home for me! Being brutally honest with us; what exactly is causing you to be a bit disappointed with your new Pixel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got to use it a good amount last night and this morning, and I would say the thing that bothers me most is that it isn't leaps and bounds better in every way than my 3-year old Nexus 6, aside from the camera.
I am still having the touch response issues, and the constant opening of the weather is bothering me. It seems like there are software bugs that need to be worked out for sure.
The screen is bothering me more and more. It looks like there is a film over it that you just can't get off.
It might be going back, which sucks, because I don't know what else to get.
a.demarco, did you get your 2 XL from a Verizon store or from Google?
It might be that you just got a bad phone and hopefully they can switch it out for you.
I am in similar boat, as to I am unsure what else to get.
I feel like the 2 XL is one of best options out there, but I do not really want that option lol.
I am going to head to Verizon store later today to see if I like the LG V30 hardware and if I do I might end up getting that and running the Pixel launcher on it.
Very similar to what was done on this video.
https://youtu.be/cDC2amW1vlU
jj3699 said:
a.demarco, did you get your 2 XL from a Verizon store or from Google?
It might be that you just got a bad phone and hopefully they can switch it out for you.
I am in similar boat, as to I am unsure what else to get.
I feel like the 2 XL is one of best options out there, but I do not really want that option lol.
I am going to head to Verizon store later today to see if I like the LG V30 hardware and if I do I might end up getting that and running the Pixel launcher on it.
Very similar to what was done on this video.
https://youtu.be/cDC2amW1vlU
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Preorder from Verizon... The software glitches are driving me nuts. Every time I leave the Settings menu by pressing the back button, it opens up the weather. I am still having to tap on something multiple times to get it to respond as well. Have done 2 factory resets already, and nothing has changed.
I really don't want the S8+ or the Note8...
a.demarco said:
Preorder from Verizon... The software glitches are driving me nuts. Every time I leave the Settings menu by pressing the back button, it opens up the weather. I am still having to tap on something multiple times to get it to respond as well. Have done 2 factory resets already, and nothing has changed.
I really don't want the S8+ or the Note8...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I would definitely be talking that bad boy right back to the Verizon store and asking them if they can swap it out!
Same, I can definitely do without any Samsung products lol!
So I am thinking V30 or Essential phone; but at the same time I really do not want those either haha... man I wish HTC had their stuff together and was making phones like they did back in Droid Incredible days!
I'm honestly on the fence..
I pre-ordered a Pixel 4 but am second guessing myself so I am curious to hear your thoughts about order the P4 rather than the P4XL.
I'm mostly worried about battery life and quite honestly the Pixel 3 felt just a tad small in the hand when I owned it.
I think my dream size would be the full size of a Galaxy S10, but that's another story..
Anyway.. help solidify my choice.
Why did you choose the Pixel 4 over the Pixel 4 XL?
I have a Pixel 3XL and I ordered a P4XL but then I cancelled and ordered a standard P4. When I bought the 3XL I was doubtful because of the dimensions but then the screen and other things convinced me. After a while my wife got a P3, the other day I realized that the screen of the P4 is slightly bigger than the 3 while keeping the same phone dimensions. I played a bit with the P3 and when I got back to my XL...well it felt huge while the 3 was fine and with the 5.7" would be almost perfect for me.
With the time I got quite ok with the XL volume but I have to admit that generally it's not really comfortable to carry and manage, it's "bareable".
Just hope the P4 battery is fine.
I just like a normal sized phone. I've always felt the Nexus 5X was like the perfect size for a phone. I like to be able to use my phone one handed a lot of the time and I can barely do that with my current phone. The Pixel 4 is shorter than my G7 and thinner (width-wise) as well. The XL is attractive only because of the larger battery but I prioritize ergonomics over that.
I've held the xl, I have small hands, I couldn't operate it with one hand effectively. I felt like I was going to drop it constantly. The regular pixel is perfect.
I really want the Pixel 4 over the XL. I currently have a Note 9, but it's just way too big for my hands to use comfortably, the XL is pretty much the same size as this. I'm just really worried about that small battery in the Pixel 4, otherwise I don't really have any complaints about it. I don't care that it can be unlocked with my eyes closed, that's a non-issue to me. 64GB is more than enough for my apps as I store my photos and videos online and losing unlimited original quality upload is also a non-issue for me. But that battery... ?? I hope they've worked some sort of magic into this Pixel Neural Core for better battery life, otherwise 2800mah just isn't going to cut it
It's the closest phone to the Moto X that I can get in 2019.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
thesebastian said:
It's the closest phone to the Moto X that I can get in 2019.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly!
Had a play with the pixel 4 yesterday in a retailer. Compared that to the Mrs pixel 3 and my 2xl.
The pixel 4 is a nice size and to be honest, the 2xl with a military grade drop protection case is just to large.
Admittedly I've just purchased a case for the pixel 4 when it arrives with so called military grade drop protection.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
The 4XL is just too big. At 160mm x 75 mm, it's about the size of a Nexus 6 (159 mm x 83 mm) which I had and found unusably large -- the screen is too big to be operated one-handed, even without a case.
Size
I pre ordered the P4 as I have smaller hands. You can't beat pure android, no bloatwear and first to get updates.
What I don't like with the Google phones, of which I have had all of them except the P3, is when a fault with the phone happens, the Google process for returning and getting a replacement is shocking, especially when I've heard loads of instances when Google send you a refurbished phone to replace what could be your brand you faulty phone.
iPhone , which I've never owned, but family members have, do not mess customers about. If you have a faulty phone still within warranty, they either repair it in store in about 2 hours or simply give you a new one on the spot.
I've never incurred a faulty Google phone yet, I'm just dreading it ever happens. Google need to review this process. I also heard instances that it takes days/weeks for the phone to come back, totally unacceptable for this day and age.
Pixel 4...
Mines ordered.... it arrives tomorrow and I can claim a free Chromebook..!!!
But...
I do wish Nokia had got the 9.1 / 10 ?? ready for this side of Xmas..
Better light camera engine, new CPU, Android 1, 2 years of updates..
I cannot help but feel the p4 is just another incremental upgrade and not a huge leap forward.. but a huge amount of gimmicks... I.e soli.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I'm going to be honest.
Pixel 2 and Pixel 4 are about the same size (what matters to me is the width, also the weight).
But pixel 2 is still much more easy to handle with one hand (and a thin case)
The extra bigger screen of the Pixel 4 makes it more difficult to handle.
Still Pixel 4 is much more comfortable with one hand than any XL/Phablet version.
But I wouldn't mind if Google in the future released an additional "Pixel XS" based on a 5" and smaller than Pixel 2
Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
I love the P3 size so I went with the P4. I had the 2XL and 3XL and they just were too big overtime and I feel like the screen to body ratio is silly on them.
Battery sucked on my P3 and so far it sucks as well on my P4.
I had the pixel 2 and was great for my small hands, I bought the 3xl and I am not happy with it, screen is too big for me to reach, I ordered the pixel 4 because is the smallest flagship with Android stock on it
I'll let you know if it is ergonomic enough when I'll receive it
Size. Finger crossed for the battery...
Size
skip24ftlb said:
Had a play with the pixel 4 yesterday in a retailer. Compared that to the Mrs pixel 3 and my 2xl.
The pixel 4 is a nice size and to be honest, the 2xl with a military grade drop protection case is just to large.
Admittedly I've just purchased a case for the pixel 4 when it arrives with so called military grade drop protection.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Nexus 6 I still use and a Moto Z2. I use the Nexus 6 at home all the time because of its larger screen on WiFi (it has no SIM card). It is rooted and running a custom ROM. I recently took both on an overseas trip and put the local SIM card in the Nexus 6 and my local one in the Z2. I probably used the Nexus 6 more than the Z2 on the trip. I had no issues with its size and my hands are not large. This is why I decided to buy the XL because 1) I can handle the larger screen size and 2) want the larger battery.
seburton said:
Size
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same
---------- Post added at 08:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:52 PM ----------
gpvecchi said:
Size. Finger crossed for the battery...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had it 24 hours.
Battery life seems ok for me, but I'm a moderate user.
152bobby said:
I pre ordered the P4 as I have smaller hands. You can't beat pure android, no bloatwear and first to get updates.
What I don't like with the Google phones, of which I have had all of them except the P3, is when a fault with the phone happens, the Google process for returning and getting a replacement is shocking, especially when I've heard loads of instances when Google send you a refurbished phone to replace what could be your brand you faulty phone.
iPhone , which I've never owned, but family members have, do not mess customers about. If you have a faulty phone still within warranty, they either repair it in store in about 2 hours or simply give you a new one on the spot.
I've never incurred a faulty Google phone yet, I'm just dreading it ever happens. Google need to review this process. I also heard instances that it takes days/weeks for the phone to come back, totally unacceptable for this day and age.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gosh... Hard to read that. You obviously have not the smallest clue how warranty repair works. I work in a company which sells electronics, we are ASP for Lenovo and Apple, means we are qualified to repair devices from those manufacturers. I work in customer service, hearing all sorts of nice people complaining and crying, insulting me for no reason etc. while having no knowledge how things work at all and that things often are done this way to make them satisfied. But customers, like e.g. you, always find something to complain. If you give out a replacement fast, but refurbished they complain about that. If you repair and this takes many weeks (not possible to fasten the process, it's already done as fast as possible!), they complain that it takes too long.... *sigh*
To make some things clear as you don't know (as well as most others) what you're talking about:
- warranty repair means: you can send your device directly to the manufacturer or let your seller handle that for you (which takes up even more time)
- your seller can send it to an ASP or the manufacturer, in most cases it will be an ASP and NOT the manufacturer, even with Apple
- atm waiting time in most Apple stores including ASPs here in Germany is two weeks minimum (!), not 2 hours!
At our Berlin ASP for Apple it's atm 3-4 weeks before your device is even touched the first time, same in other Apple stores there - always depends on where you live and how many other Apple users live near you - even heard from customers waiting for more than 6 weeks for the repair of their AirPods handed over directly in Apple Store (not ASP), no "simply give you a new one on the spot" - don't tell people such a crap
- most manufacturers (again: also Apple!), if not all, often hand out refurbished devices in case of warranty repair to make the process, which could easily take 6 weeks in case of a real repair of your original device, faster for the customer. This is because most customers are just constantly complaining and whining. To stop that they hand out devices FAST, which then is often, even with Apple, another refurbished device
- if some spare parts have to be ordered and then repair fails (you couldn't always predict that before), it's possible to wait a few weeks and then get a refurbished one
- pretty sure many customers think they got a new device, but got a refurbished one as you often can't tell the difference - refurbished are devices which SHOULD be this way, that you can't tell the difference... if you can it's just not well done
- think about: if thousands of people with broken devices for 1000 $ would always get a new phone while it is easily repairable in the end the costs would be higher than the revenue, they would have to stop producing as margins are already very low on devices but only high on accessories, contracts (like e.g. Apple warranty extension), paid services (like Apple Music), revenue from App Store, etc.
- ALL manufacturers handle it that way, repair time (regularly): 4-6 weeks, doesn't matter which manufacturer (not only Google, as you suggest)
- Apple grants only 1 year! guarantee (while it's 2 years with Google) - that's what I call not acceptable for this day and age! You couldn't imagine how many raging customers I have to do with because of this extremely poor service by Apple, especially when thinking about the huge prices their products are offered for. And they are totally right, that's why I do my best to help them, though often not possible when warranty is gone after only one year. Personally I'd never buy anything from Apple and wouldn't recommend those products to anyone.
- in very rare cases manufacturer or ASP decide to hand out a new device, e.g.: repair not possible, no refurbished device available or very annoying customer getting loud in the store (no joke), still always depends on the person deciding that... "Apple does..." or "Manufacturer XY does..." Sorry, but those statements are just b******* and have nothing to do with reality. You should be aware that not everything will work the way you like to, because some things are just not possible the way you wrote it on your Christmas list, even after a "review of this process" (it's hard to stay polite when reading such du... not very well conceived statements).
Got a new device instead of repair or refurbished? Just enjoy and be happy and be sure that next 100 customers probably won't be that lucky. Know one or two people who got a new device? That doesn't mean that company XY always handles it that way (except for things like hard drives or very cheap things). Most probably they got refurbished but didn't realize that as it was well done or even a device from a refund, almost untouched (but also not new).
Got some broken EarPods? I will send some new ones for free to the customer because transportation back + recycling + sending new ones costs more than just sending new ones. (Such cheap stuff won't be repaired at all.)
Oh forgot...
Chose Pixel 4 because don't like huge panels. It must fit the front pocket of my pants and easily be usable with one hand. Both not the case for XL. To add: gesture navigation is awesome, I'd never imagined that (was never a fan of gestures before)!.