Google Pixel 2 review
Telephony
The Pixel 2's dialer displays Favorites, Call history, Contacts, and Visual Voicemails. There's a search bar at the top to help you find a contact, or even nearby places to call. Smart dialing is supported, as well.
Dialer: favorites • call log • contacts • smart dial • in-call screen
Loudspeaker
The Google Pixel 2 has dual speakers on the front, just like the XL. In our testing, however, the small phone was noticeably louder, earning an Excellent mark, compared to the just Good XL.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing | Overall score | |
| 63.8 | 68.0 | 67.4 | Below Average | |
| 64.5 | 67.6 | 67.7 | Below Average | |
| 62.4 | 65.5 | 73.3 | Average | |
| 65.4 | 68.0 | 69.1 | Average | |
| 66.2 | 70.5 | 72.5 | Good | |
| 66.2 | 70.4 | 78.2 | Good | |
| 68.9 | 74.0 | 76.2 | Very Good | |
| 74.0 | 68.3 | 78.0 | Very Good | |
| 67.7 | 70.0 | 83.6 | Very Good | |
| 70.0 | 77.0 | 81.1 | Excellent | |
| 71.7 | 77.8 | 80.3 | Excellent |
The sound coming out of the Pixel is not just loud, but also clear and distortion-free, even at maximum volume.
Audio settings consist of various volumes, vibrating for calls, ringtone settings, and control for various System UI sounds. The "Now Playing" feature is also here and can display what song is playing in your environment either in the notification shade or on Ambient Display. We wrote about how this works in the UI section on the fourth page of this review.
Sound settings
Text Input
GBoard is the default keyboard option for Android. It offers a plethora of features and tweaks to make it your own. You can set more than one language for Multilingual typing without the need to switch back and forth between keyboards. One-handed options are also plenty.
GBoard is one fine keyboard
You can download GBoard and/or Android Messages to your current Android device to see what it's like for yourself. Or choose from a vast selection of third-party SMS and Keyboard apps from the Play Store.
Pre-installed apps
Like Nexus devices in the past, the Google Pixel 2 doesn't come with bloatware, though it does come with the essentials, all from Google.
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Camera
- Chrome
- Clock
- Contacts
- Downloads
- Drive
- Gmail
- Maps
- Messages
- Phone
- Photos
- Play Music
- Play Store
- Settings
- YouTube
Smart Storage
Smart Storage will automatically delete photos or videos that meet two criteria: photos and videos must be older than 30/60/90 days, and photos and videos must have been backed up to Google Photos. In the Storage Settings page, there is also an option to "Free up space". This will prompt you to manually delete photos/videos backed up to Google Drive. It will also offer a list of files that you can choose to delete to free up storage space.
Storage • Smart Storage • Free up space
Reader comments
- Anonymous
- 31 Oct 2021
- srr
I dont know what you are smoking but pass that to me as well :)
- Phazenine
- 12 Aug 2020
- na1
The pixel 2 isn't that bad. Well that's considering I get a Pixel 2 reburb. For $100. I paid $900 when it first came out but returned it because I couldn't justify the cost for a flagship with a6 month lifespan. But for$100 I'll l...
- Józsi Vok
- 26 Oct 2019
- gQ}
The only thing I found awkward were the bezels. Everything else was great... IP68 is sometimes a good amount better, but I think IP67 is good enough. I overprotect my phone so much sometimes I forget it is water resistant. I feel like only a weak spr...