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Add to SafariWhen comparing Google Pixel 2 XL vs Sony Xperia XZ Premium, the Slant community recommends Google Pixel 2 XL for most people. In the question“What are the best high-end Android phones?” Google Pixel 2 XL is ranked 7th while Sony Xperia XZ Premium is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Google Pixel 2 XL is:
Since it's a Google phone and since it runs stock Android, it's the first device to get an update once a new Android version hits.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro The software is always up to date
Since it's a Google phone and since it runs stock Android, it's the first device to get an update once a new Android version hits.
Pro The screen displays colorful and bright pictures
The 1440p pOLED display does not disappoint and is probably one of the best hardware-related features for this phone. The colours are warm and true to life. The blacks are also very inky and quite nice.
Pro Some of the best audio coming out of a smartphone
The Pixel 2 XL is one of the last flagship phones not to go with a completely bezel-less design. Instead, the top and bottom bezels are home to two front-facing speakers that produce excellent audio (for a smartphone).
Pro Durable body without being too bulky
The Pixel 2 XL has a sturdy aluminium body that adds a lot of durability while still keeping the phone thin and comfortable to hold.
Pro Takes some of the best pictures on a smartphone
The camera on the Pixel 2 is one of the best cameras on the market. It takes amazing pictures both on low and well-lit conditions.
The camera software is where it truly shines though. It's able to automatically adjust the focus and lighting so you never end up with photos that are too lit or too dark. It also manages to find out where the edges of an object are and blur them accordingly.
Pro The Android ecosystem is perfectly integrated with this phone
Google uses the Pixel line as a platform to show off their operating system instead of treating the software as a second-class citizen and it shows. The Android ecosystem, starting from Google Assistant is perfectly integrated with the hardware. By using the same technology as HTC which lets users squeeze the sides of their device, you can bring up the smart assistant at any point, even with a locked screen (of course, you have to unlock the phone to give the assistant any commands). This is a welcome change for people who disliked the "Ok Google" command.
Pro Can be comfortably used with one hand
The rounded corners found in the XZ Premium make it easy to use this phone with one hand, even though the large bezels might make it harder for people with small hands.
Pro Manages to produce excellent headphone audio
The XZ Premium supports high-resolution audio with ALAC, DSD, FLAC, and LPCM file formats. Listening to music through headphones is a real treat with uniformly crisp highs, mids, and lows.
Pro Can handle plenty of multitasking without lag or stutter
The 4GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 835 found in the XZ Premium are more than enough to provide some excellent performance with nary a stutter.
Pro Manages to capture excellent photos
The 19MP primary camera is packed with features. For starters, it has same RGB and IR sensors that improve color reproduction and focus speed respectively. There's also a CMOS sensor with phase detection autofocus that helps with low-light shooting. Finally, there's Motion Eye: a memory-embedded sensor that immediately processes images to minimize distortion.
All of this hardware packed together manages to capture some of the most detailed and high-quality photos a smartphone can take, coming extremely close to the quality of photos taken by the S8 which is considered to have the best camera for this generation of smartphones.
Pro Displays the sharpest images out of any smartphone today
The Xperia XZ Premium has a 5.5inch 4K display. It roughly has around 807 pixels per inch, which is far more pixels than the competition manages to display on their phone. This results in the sharpest images ever seen on a smartphone display.
Cons
Con Not much of an upgrade from the first Pixel
The Pixel 2 XL is not much of an upgrade from the first Pixel; the hardware is almost the same and the new software updates will be available for the new model soon enough. Outside of a few gimmicks and the removal of the headphone jack it's virtually the same phone.
Con Too expensive
Starting at $849 it's one of the most expensive Android flagships on the market, especially when you consider the fact that it costs $200 more than the Pixel 2 while being the same phone with a slightly larger screen.
Con Battery life might not last a full day of heavy use
Even though the Pixel 2 XL has a slightly larger battery than the Pixel 2, it has a larger screen which draws more power.
Tests show that this phone's battery lasts an average of seven hours of relatively heavy use (using mobile data, sending messages, browsing the web and watching videos).
Con Can't use wired headphones without a dongle
Since it doesn't have a headphone jack, you are forced to use bluetooth headphones or use a lightning-to-3.5mm jack adapter.
Con Outdated design
The Xperia XZ Premium has not changed much on the design department compared to the Xperia XZ. It features a design with rounded corners and a large screen surrounded by large bezels, a design choice that has been falling out of favour lately.
Con The audio coming from the speakers feels rather flat
Even though it has stereo speakers the audio quality coming from them is rather poor. It feels flat and tinny even at the highest volume.
