Google will launch its new flagships, the Google Pixel 2 and the Google Pixel XL 2 on October 4. These handsets should normally directly compete with the Samsugn Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and the Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X. All of the above are extremely powerful handsets with amazing specs and some interesting new features. Samsung was the first to impress with its innovation in design and Apple followed the example with its iPhone X. Even though the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus did not come as major upgrades from their predecessors, at least in terms of design, they are quite powerful. Will Google be able to impress more than Apple? It’s a hard question to answer, however, if we are to be honest, Apple’s handsets might just be the winners in this battle. Let’s take a look at how the Google Pixel XL 2 will compare to the iPhone 8 Plus and then you can decide for yourself.
Google Pixel XL 2
Google did not announce its new handsets yet, however, we already have more than enough information about the smartphone. Rumors started rolling out weeks ago, and by now, there’s little we don’t know about the Google Pixel XL 2. We do know what it looks like and what its main specs will be. Fortunately, Google did reduce the size of the Google Pixel XL 2’s bezels, making it look more modern than its predecessor did. It’s not as impressive at first look at the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are, but then again, the iPhone 8 Plus didn’t get a major design overhaul either. Besides the slimmer bezels and the smaller glass section on the back, the Google Pixel XL 2 looks a lot like last year’s model. The 6-inch screen has a 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution which is a nice feature over the iPhone 8 Plus’s Full HD display.
Under the hood, the Google pixel XL 2 has the same octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 as any other flagship smartphone. Last year, the tech giant managed to be the first to launch a handset with the Snapdragon 821 on board, however, this year it didn’t succeed in delivering a handset with a newer chipset. The Snapdragon 836 just didn’t become a reality, so Google had to settle for the 835 instead. It is also surprising that there is no Google Pixel XL 2 with 6GB of RAM. The handset will reportedly be available only with 4GB of memory and in two storage variants: 32GB and 128GB. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a microSD card slot, so what you see is what you get in this case.
Another surprise is that Google didn’t opt for a dual rear camera setup. This is almost a must-have in the case of flagship smartphones. The tech giant maintained the single camera we’ve seen last year. It is a good camera, however, a dual rear camera would have been even better. On the front, the Google Pixel XL 2 will reportedly sport an 8MP selfie snapper which is quite all right, as other flagships offer similar cameras. It’s not quite clear how large the battery of the new Google flagship will be. We do know that it will support quick charging, however, it seems that wireless charging will not be among the features of the handset. This is also a must-have feature of the 2017 flagships so Google disappoints a little in this section too.
Even though not all of the Google Pixel XL 2’s features are worthy of a flagship smartphone, its price will reportedly be. The 32GB version will most likely have a $849 price tag, while the 128GB variant will reportedly sell for $949. This is definitely the price of a flagship smartphone.
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
The Apple iPhone 8 Plus is not the company’s flagship handset, but it is the second best. Even though it shares quite a lot of similarities with its smaller sibling, the iPhone 8 Plus also has something extra to offer. The 5.5-inch display of the handset, unfortunately, isn’t as impressive as the Google Pixel XL 2’s 6-inch AMOLED screen, but it still manages to deliver a clear and nice image. The device’s design is quite similar to its predecessor’s, with slimmer bezels and the well-known circular home button that also houses the Touch ID sensor. Apple has a great number of fans who appreciated this design for years and this probably won’t change this time around either, despite the iPhone X that comes with a more modern look.
The Apple iPhone 8 Plus’s A11 Bionic chipset is, according to many, the fastest processor around. Other consider that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 can perform better. Of course, the Google Pixel XL 2’s 4GB of RAM also have a say in the matter and, unfortunately, the memory probably won’t help the processor as much as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s 6GB of RAM. This way, the Apple iPhone 8 Plus might actually be the more powerful handset compared to the Google Pixel XL 2. The iPhone 8 Plus only includes 3GB of RAM, even so, it could perform better. In terms of internal storage, the iPhone definitely offers more. There is a 64GB version and a 256GB one. Basically, it doubles whatever the Google Pixel XL 2 has to offer. In this case, the fact that the iPhone 8 Plus doesn’t offer a microSD card slot doesn’t even matter anymore.
Another section where the Apple smartphone clearly is a winner is the camera section. The iPhone 8 Plus comes with a 12MP dual camera setup that is capable of snapping some really beautiful images. Apple also enhanced the camera features so users will most likely be delighted by the photos and videos captured with this handset. The front-facing camera has a 7MP sensor, however, this is more than enough for great selfies and for FaceTime calls. The 2,691mAh battery might seem to be too small, however, it does offer fast charging and wireless charging support, which Google’s handset lacks.
In terms of pricing, surprisingly, the Apple smartphone seems to be the more accessible. Customers only need to pay $799 for the 64GB version and $949 for the 256GB. Basically, those who opt for the iPhone 8 Plus can get their hands on smartphones with double the internal storage of the Google Pixel XL 2 for smaller or even prices.
Which one is better?
The answer to this question definitely depends on the user. Those who wouldn’t like to give up on stock Android will definitely opt for the Google Pixel XL 2 even if it doesn’t offer everything the iPhone 8 Plus does. However, for those who aren’t loyal fans of one operating system or the other, the iPhone 8 Plus could actually be the better choice. It is just as powerful, if not even more powerful, than the Google Pixel XL 2, and it offers a dual camera and wireless charging support. It even is more affordable than the Google Pixel XL 2 will be, which is quite surprising as Apple is mainly known for the high prices of its products. Unless Google will surprise us with something tomorrow, the iPhone 8 Plus just seems to be the more reasonable choice.
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