Google Pixel 2 XL hands-on review

Google Pixel 2 XL performance

Performance on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is in line with other smartphone powered by the same processor. In fact, the Google Pixel devices performed right around the middle of the Snapdragon 835-powered gang, only heavily beat by the iPhone 8 duo, with the necessary disclaimer that benchmark results aren't meant to be compared across platforms.

Similar to the first Google Pixel last year, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are receiving the latest Qualcomm processor months after other phone makers have adopted it into their flagship models.

Still, Google's ultimate goal is to provide the smoothest and most consistent Android experience, centered around Google's apps and services, even if that CPU doesn't rank the phone #1 in benchmark scores.

In terms of benchmarks, there's not much to say. Phones with the same chipsets tend to score around the same and results are within tight margins. You only really see scores drift further apart when they involve Apple's A11 Bionic chip or the Exynos-powered Samsung devices.

GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8
  10214
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  10037
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  6784
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  6656
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  6629
• OnePlus 5
  6604
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  6590
• Google Pixel 2
  6437
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  6428
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  6301
• LG V30 (non-final)
  6151
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  5956
• Apple iPhone 7
  5831

GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8
  4234
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  4232
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  3503
• Apple iPhone 7
  3459
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  1991
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  1987
• OnePlus 5
  1932
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  1915
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  1915
• Google Pixel 2
  1912
• LG V30 (non-final)
  1904
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  1862
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  1832

AnTuTu 6

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8
  202645
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  188766
• OnePlus 5
  180331
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  178674
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  175153
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  174987
• Apple iPhone 7
  174532
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  174435
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  172425
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  170407
• Google Pixel 2
  168648
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  168133
• OnePlus 3T
  165097
• Google Pixel XL
  141186
• Huawei P10 Plus
  126252

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8
  85
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  85
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  63
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  61
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  61
• Apple iPhone 7
  61
• Google Pixel 2
  60
• OnePlus 5
  60
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  60
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  57
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  51
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  50
• OnePlus 3T
  49
• Google Pixel XL
  47
• Huawei P10 Plus
  28

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8
  60
• Apple iPhone 7
  60
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  59
• Google Pixel 2
  56
• OnePlus 5
  56
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  56
• OnePlus 3T
  48
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  42
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  40
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  37
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  36
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  36
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  34
• Google Pixel XL
  30
• Huawei P10 Plus
  19

GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Google Pixel 2 XL
  25
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  25
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  25
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  25
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  25
• Google Pixel 2
  24
• OnePlus 5
  24
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  23
• OnePlus 3T
  20
• Google Pixel XL
  19
• Huawei P10 Plus
  12

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Google Pixel 2
  26
• OnePlus 5
  24
• OnePlus 3T
  20
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  15
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  13
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  13
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  13
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  13
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  12
• Google Pixel XL
  11
• Huawei P10 Plus
  9

Basemark X

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S8
  42370
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  40890
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  39143
• OnePlus 5
  38844
• Google Pixel 2
  38794
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  38615
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  37211
• OnePlus 3T
  36958
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  34951
• LG V30 (non-final)
  33719
• Google Pixel XL
  30861
• Huawei P10 Plus
  30602

Basemark OS 2.0

Higher is better

• Apple iPhone 8
  3934
• Apple iPhone 7 Plus
  3796
• Motorola Moto Z2 Force
  3609
• Apple iPhone 8 Plus
  3601
• OnePlus 5
  3601
• Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SD 835)
  3424
• Apple iPhone 7
  3416
• Google Pixel 2
  3387
• Google Pixel 2 XL
  3379
• Samsung Galaxy S8
  3376
• Samsung Galaxy Note8
  3333
• Samsung Galaxy S8+ (SD 835)
  3319
• Huawei P10 Plus
  2940
• OnePlus 3T
  2678
• Google Pixel XL
  2281