7 reasons why I love the Pixel 2

I’ve had all the phones. The first iPhone, the second, the third…most of the S versions…and I’ve had many Android phones, including the Nexus phones back in the day and most recently the Samsung S8.

The Pixel 2 from Google blows them all away.

Now, to be fair, I have not used the iPhone X which I’m sure is fantastic and just as good as the Pixel 2 if you want an Apple device.

But for Google/Android fans, it doesn’t get any better than the Pixel 2.

Reason #1: The OS

This thing runs the very best that Android has to offer. You get the latest updates and all the cool features of the Android Operating System. For a Google power user like me, that’s glorious.

Reason #2: The speed

I’ve never used a faster phone than this. It’s remarkable quick and snappy. My past experience with Android phones has been that they get laggy and sluggish whereas I never had that issue with the iPhone. This bad boy is super fast and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

Reason #3: The camera

The camera on this phone is fantastic. It’s the first Android phone I’ve used that’s on par with the iPhone. Most Android users will swear that their camera is better than the iPhone, but having used both extensively, I’ve never seen that. But this camera is legit.

Reason #4: Deep integration with Google Apps

The Pixel 2 is literally made to work with Google apps. I use every Google app worth using: Gmail/Inbox, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Google Keep, Google Drive, Google Maps…

One of the benefits of an Android device is how well it works with those apps. But non-Google made devices like the S8 always put their own spin on the OS which makes everything a little slower and less integrated. This device makes those apps sing.

Reason #5: The battery

The battery is great on this phone. Now, I still don’t know why we don’t get the option of a thicker phone with a bigger, 2+ day battery (if we’re willing to have a thicker, heavier device…I know I would be!), but that’s an overall industry gripe I have. Compared to other phones, the battery on the Pixel 2 is very strong.

Reason #6: Pixel Buds and Google Home

I’ll likely write a review of the Google Pixel Buds (Google’s answer to Apple’s AirPods), but I love how easily this phone works with both the Buds and Google Home, both of which I use on a daily basis.

Reason #7: Star Wars

This is a silly one but I love the Star Wars Augmented Reality stickers that Google added to the Pixel 2 camera recently. No other phone has them and they look so realistic. I listed this because I predict Google will do more surprise-and-delight things like this in the future.

For Apple users…

I’m not advocating that you switch to this phone, btw. If you love the Apple ecosystem, specifically if you love iMessage, there is really no great reason for me to recommend you switch. But, if you’re going to switch, this is the phone you need.

Related post: My phone homescreen in 2017

6 Comments

  1. Kendrick Disch on December 30, 2017 at 12:49 am

    I’ve thought about switching to the Pixel a few times… it seems like a great product and I use a lot of the google apps more than the apple apps (gmail, gcal, docs, keep, chrome) so it might even make sense… I’m still on the iphone 6+ so I could certainly justify an upgrade! (however, I look forward to my $29 battery replacement and another year or two from the 6+!!!)



  2. Jeff Hilimire on December 30, 2017 at 7:46 am

    LOL, yeah I would say $29 is hard to beat! I didn’t mention this in the post, but these phones are becoming very expensive… However, you being a bad&ss photographer, I’d be so curious your thoughts on the Pixel 2 vs. the iPhone X. Let me know if you somehow ever get to do a comparison!



  3. Terence B on January 25, 2018 at 5:30 pm

    After four years with an iPhone 5s I jumped ship to Android with a Pixel 2. It’s a great phone, and except for some iMessage issues to begin with, a total pleasure to use. The camera is awesome. Once you’re out of the Apple universe you realize what a walled garden Apple is…



  4. Jeff Hilimire on January 26, 2018 at 6:43 am

    100%. And you picked the right phone. I’ve not had an Android phone that functioned as good or better than an iPhone. Of course you upgraded from a 5s, so its a big leap.



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