The Google Pixel 2 XL Has Issues, But I Got One Anyway

When great software makes up for deficient hardware.

- Koh Wanzi

This past month, I received a Google Pixel 2 XL in the mail, from the Google Store in the US. I had decided to make the Pixel 2 XL my next phone, in place of excellent, and arguably better, alternatives like the Apple iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy Note8.

You’ve probably heard of the litany of issues plaguing Google’s latest flagship; the screen displays a pesky blue cast whenever you’re not looking head-on, it’s grainy, it exhibits noticeable “black smear” issues with low brightness, and Oh, some units have been known to have flashing screens.

I knew about all these problems when I added the phone to my cart. That probably sounds stupid to you. I was also shelling out even more for the 128GB model, because Singapore’s Singtel only carries the 64GB version.

Was I simply a diehard Google fan who refused to see the phone’s many flaws? Well, yes and no. I owned the original Pixel XL and loved it, so I had my eye set on its successor way ahead of its release.