Sometimes, all you need in life is a cat tail cushion

You may not instantly recognize the name “Yukai Engineering,” but you may have already come across its earlier products like the Necomimi brainwave cat ears or the Bocco “family robot” at some point. At CEATEC, the Japanese company unveiled its latest wacky product, the Qoobo “tail therapy” robot. This is essentially a cushion with a realistic cat tail that reacts to stroking and patting, such that it’s able to comfort its “owner” like a real pet would simply through tail wagging. To make it more lifelike, Qoobo also wags its tail randomly when it is left alone for too long.

As a cat owner myself, I was surprised by how realistic the tail moved, especially with how its wagging intensity increased as I petted it harder (my cat would eventually warn me with a bite). Interestingly, the stroking detection is mostly done with just one accelerometer inside the body, according to CEO Shunsuke Aoki. He added that despite the cat-like appearance, the realistic tail movement is actually based on research on both cat and dog behavior. Still, I’d like to think of Qoobo as more of a cat, and that’s me speaking as an owner of both a cat and a dog.

The idea of Qoobo originated from one of Yukai Engineering’s 20 employees in an internal competition about half a year ago. The designer had a cat, but since the apartment she moved into didn’t allow pets, she had to leave her cat with her parents. This inspired her to come up with a lifelike pet substitute that would make her feel better whenever she thought of her cat. And of course, this would double as a therapy robot for potentially treating depression and anxiety, as not everyone has access to a therapy cat or dog for various reasons — be it costs, allergies or the aforementioned apartment restrictions.

Qoobo will be launched via a crowdfunding platform later this year for around $100, and it’s expecting a June 2018 delivery. It’ll have two color options: “husky gray” and “French brown.” The final product will have an eight-hour battery life with USB charging, though Aoki has yet to decide where to place the USB port. Admittedly, we had a good laugh about this, too.

#ceatec2017 #Qoobo #YUKAIEngineering pic.twitter.com/kfAZGhKBh1

— Engadget 中文版 (@EngadgetChinese) October 2, 2017

Source: Qoobo

Motion-controlled robot performs delicate microsurgery

Surgeons in the Netherlands recently performed a procedure requiring immense precision as it’s carried out on super tiny blood and lymphatic vessels. The surgery is extremely difficult to do and only a handful of surgeons are willing to do it. But for this particular procedure, Maastricht University Medical Center+ surgeons utilized a robot that was built to perform these sorts of complex microsurgeries right alongside doctors.

The robot was developed by a company called Microsure and it works by converting the motions of surgeons’ hands into more precise, localized and tremor-free movements. The surgical task was to connect tiny lymphatic vessels to small nearby veins in order to alleviate a condition called lymphedema that features a buildup of lymphatic fluid. Lymphedema often occurs as a result of cancer treatments that disrupt the drainage of lymphatic fluid, causing severe swelling and pain. The patient that underwent the surgery is doing well. “We are very pleased and proud that the first intervention using our robot has been a success, and that the surgeons are enthusiastic,” Microsure CTO Raimondo Cau said in a statement.

Cau says that the next steps are to expand the types of surgeries Microsure’s robot can assist with including tissue reconstructions and tumor removals. And its robot joins others that have begun to take some of the reins away from people. A robot just recently performed a tooth implantation all on its own in China and two different robots have been used to complete delicate eye surgeries. You can check out a video of Microsure’s robot below.

Source: Eindhoven University of Technology

Here is our list of the 10 best free MMORPGs to play right now

Over the past several years, the traditional MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) has lost some steam. When we first tackled this topic, in 2013, free-to-play gaming was still in its infancy. Candy Crush Saga was barely a year old, and South Park hadn’t yet lampooned the “pay-to-win” gaming model in 2014’s Freemium Isn’t Free.

In the years since, the MMORPG paradigm has shifted. Removing subscription fees and monetizing games via microtransactions and paid expansions has proven to be a successful remodel for MMO publishers. In response to dwindling subscription numbers, which can be attributed simply to the ever-growing number of games out there, many MMO developers have been forced to reduce — and in many cases, completely remove — the monthly subscription fees that once powered ultra-popular virtual universes. Zenimax’s The Elder Scrolls Online, for example, launched in 2014 to much ado, then quickly dropped its monthly subscription requirement before releasing to consoles in 2015. It seems like unless your game is named World of Warcraft, the subscription MMO business is dead and buried.

If you’re looking to delve into the MMO world for minimal cost, there’s no better time than now. Check out our choices for the best free MMORPGs on the market, so you can hack, slash, and shoot your way through the next six months of your life.

Note: Most free-to-play games have additional components and unlockables that are only accessible through premium subscriptions and microtransactions, but the free versions still offer a healthy taste of gameplay sans a hefty economical commitment. Also, we’ve only included MMOs that continue to receive updates and support from their developers.

RuneScape 3

It’s hard to argue a game isn’t one of the best of its kind when it boasts more than 200 million accounts. Jagex’s Runescape — now in its third incarnation — has undergone a series of design and gameplay overhauls since its 2001 debut, garnering the honor of the Most Popular Free MMORPG in existence, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The latest version of the browser-based MMORPG doesn’t deviate much from previous renditions of the game. Set in the war-torn fantasy realm of Gielinor, Runescape is a simple and familiar take on the MMORPG, laced with a familiar focus on PvE and crafting. Questing and combat are straightforward and often humorous, typically requiring you to click an enemy to death and collect its loot. Thankfully, the bland repetition is offset by the end-game content and the title’s sheer amount of depth.  Much of that content remains hidden behind a paid subscription, but even the free content is engaging and fun.

Simplicity and accessibility are the game’s true strong suits. The game sports a fully-customizable user interface and an engaged community while offering quality voice dialogue and sleek visuals that were recently updated courtesy of the developer’s recent switch from HTML5 to a new C++ engine, called “NXT.” Old content remains available and backward compatible with legacy browsers. Runescape is incredibly rich and doesn’t tax your PC.

DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online dropped its subscription shortly after launch in 2011, but the game still offers as much action-heavy MMO fun now as it did when it was a “premium” game. Based around the fictional superheroes and villains in the DC Universe, Players begin by either creating a character from scratch or one inspired by famous DC characters such as Superman, Batman, and the like. The rest of the game unfolds in RPG-like fashion, with stereotypical kill-collect quests scattered across Metropolis and Gotham City, and dungeons that break up the standard MMO grind.

The well-designed cities, NPCs, and other elements also bask in the kind of comic-esque nuances you’d come to expect from such a title, and although the visuals are nowhere near photo-realistic, they are fittingly stylized. The combat is fast-paced and responsive, too, whether you’re engaging in the game’s heated PvP matches or participating in end-game raids.

Long-term players can expect a steady stream of ample daily quests and additional endgame content once you blaze through the game and hit the level cap. While the game is not without its faults — the voice-acting is cringe-worthy at times — there is no finer MMORPG for comic book fans and those that seek a solid alternative to fantasy-blazoned RPGs like Lord of the Rings Online, and TERA.

What’s more, now is the perfect time to dive into DC Universe Online, as a July update unlocked all content for all players to celebrate Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday.

Guild Wars 2

With a 90 on Metacritic and a 90.02 percent rating on GameRankings.com — second only to World of Warcraft and three of its expansions — Guild Wars 2 is one of the most critically acclaimed massively multiplayer games of all time. Though it will never unseat Blizzard’s gaming goliath in terms of sheer popularity (or cultural cache), Guild Wars 2 does many things better than World of Warcraft, and without charging a monthly fee.

Guild Wars‘ fluid, unrestrictive combat system provides an excellent counterpart to the rigid, role-based combat that Blizzard began with the Diablo series and built upon with World of Warcraft. Though it lacks the kind of depth and difficulty that forces players to work together in demanding raid environments, the system in Guild Wars 2 encourages players to team up however they see fit — trying to plow through some difficult PvE content in Guild Wars doesn’t necessarily require a dedicated tank and healer, for instance. The in-game gem store also allows developer ArenaNet to continue profiting off the game and create new content, while simultaneously allowing for new players to jump in at no cost.

Rift

Trion Worlds’ Rift looks and plays like a carbon-copy of World of Warcraft at its core, but who says you have to reinvent the wheel to make a great MMORPG? The game was one of the most stable and expansive MMOs when it launched back in 2011, bursting with striking environments, superbly-crafted character models, and gameplay culled from some of the best aspects of similar titles. Though the early-game quests and lore are drearily dry, the game becomes increasingly more interesting as the story dissipates and you begin closing the sporadic, dimensional rifts that unleash a flurry of demonic beings into the game’s sprawling landscapes.

Rift‘s best feature is a flexible and immersive class system. Players begin by choosing one of two opposing factions — either the Guardians or Defiant — followed by one of three races and a standard archetype such as a mage, rogue, cleric, or warrior. Additionally, players take on three souls at a time, which function like subclasses, and develop their character using an elaborate skill tree. This level of customization adds to the game’s strategy and makes the accompanying co-op dungeons that much more dynamic and intriguing. The learning curve is steep, even after level 50, but the originality is all there… assuming you can look past the elements cribbed from other titles.

While Trion Worlds has supplied a steady stream of free content for Rift since the game went free-to-play in 2013, the game will be getting its first piece of premium DLC, an expansion titled Starfall Prophecy, which releases Fall 2016. Starfall Prophecy will add a host of new content, including new areas, dungeons, a raised level cap, and updated gameplay features that will only be available to players who purchase the expansion. The base game and all previous updates will still remain free-to-play, however, so if you don’t mind missing out on the newest content, you can play Rift as much as you like without paying a penny.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Any game built into the Star Wars universe is a massive undertaking considering the legion of devotees and die-hard fanatics that possess an attachment to the material. Luckily, BioWare’s subscription-turned-free-to-play title set in the Old Republic timeline — i.e. thousands of years before the movies — is both easily accessible and instantly recognizable. The writing and fully-voiced dialogue is excellent, bolstered by class-specific narratives and a wealth of contextual backstory that any fan of the franchise will admire. The visuals still hold up fairly well, and users can easily customize graphics settings to fit a broad range of gaming rigs. The gameplay mechanics are also rooted in real-time, hotkey-based combat, and offer additional variation in the form of on-rails space combat and PvP warzones.

Despite the multiplayer functionality, SWTOR is also an enjoyable solo experience. Players choose from one of two factions, either the Republic or the Empire, and select from one of four distinct character classes specific to each side of the force. If you choose the Republic, you’ll have access to the smuggler, trooper, Jedi Knight, and Jedi Consular, while the Empire provides options to be a bounty hunter, Sith warrior, Imperial agent, and Sith Inquisitor. The story-driven flashpoints, SWTOR‘s equivalent to co-op dungeons, offer some of the most rewarding and challenging gameplay in the entire Star Wars universe, throwing players at drifting Republic warships and distant Imperial prisons as they battle alongside others in an effort to complete the designated objectives in exchange for valuable loot.

Though SWTOR has been out for more than five years, BioWare keeps churning out new content and released Knights of the Eternal Throne in late 2016. And while the game has undergone considerable changes since its switch to free-to-play — both good and bad — it remains an incredibly vibrant branch of the Star Wars universe. Read our initial review.

TERA

Like the aforementioned Rift, TERA isn’t going to set the world on fire with refreshing gameplay or revolutionary ideas. Yet what it does, it does exceptionally well, setting the stage for one of the most dynamic and pleasing combat systems in MMORPG history. Like TERA‘s counterparts, the game offers a diverse assortment of characters and classes — from the giant-bred Amani to the adorable Popori — each of which is accompanied by a familiar set of classes available to all races. The environments are dazzling and bright, with lush vistas and sprawling plains, and the character models are a joy to look at no matter what your machine’s graphics settings call for.

While the general questing-and-crafting gameplay in the early hours of TERA are standard fare, but the aforementioned combat mechanics which feels incredibly dynamic and different compared to the stand-still combat that characterizes most MMORPGs. The game requires the player to engage in a variety of fleet-footed maneuvers as they dodge and jab at opponents: The result feels more like a third-person action game than a hotkey-heavy WoW-style affair. Hunting and eradicating “big-ass monsters” alongside a group of fellow players is exhilarating, as are the group dungeons, but the events and quests are all loosely connected by a story arc that barely qualifies as mundane. However, additional components, such as in-game elections and open-world PvP, add enough individual flair to make TERA a world all its own.

A massive 2014 update increased the level cap from 60 to 65 and added several new zones, all for free. Last year saw the addition of two new playable classes, while smaller updates continue to roll out regularly, including new dungeons, battlegrounds, and skills for each of the game’s 11 classes. That said, TERA still has one of the most active gaming communities of any MMO, mostly due to strong support from the game’s developers.

The Lord of the Rings Online

Like SWTOR, the world surrounding that of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth has been one hugely solidified in popular culture thanks to Peter Jackson’s feature-length films. Fortunately, Lord of the Rings Online contains a wealth of content from Tolkien’s work, stuff that Jackson’s films never touched, and its cartoonish visuals color the rich environments of Middle Earth. The places you’ll visit are as diverse and eclectic as they are in the various books, ranging from snow-topped peaks to rolling hills, and the creation tools allow players to tackle the story as a hobbit, human, dwarf, or elf. Classes are as equally diverse, ranging from burglar and hunter to lore-keeper and guardian, but the selection is specific your race.

With four expansions out the door and more on the way, the game has undergone substantial changes since its initial release in 2007, yet the core mechanics and gameplay remain roughly the same. The storyline is still epic, driving players through familiar spaces filled with recognizable figures from both the books and films, and the overall narrative gives otherwise bland quests substantial, contextual weight. Character progression and PvP combat is limited, but additional elements like deeds and Monster Play —  which essentially allows you to play in the role of one of Sauron’s minions — add greater depth to the game’s seemingly straightforward approach. LOTRO is often dubbed a World of Warcraft ripoff, and perhaps it is in many ways, but it’s a hard argument to make when so much of the latter MMORPG was likely inspired by the world engulfing the former.

Neverwinter

Developer Cryptic Studios combined the simplicity and combat-focused gameplay of Diablo with a more traditional fantasy setting to create Neverwinter, based upon lore from the Dungeons & Dragons universe. The combat system utilizes a computerized version of D&D’s 4th Edition by rolling imaginary dice to determine hits, misses, and damage dealt. The game, initially released in 2013 for PC and 2015 for the Xbox One, features 10 PvE campaigns and one dedicated PvP campaign for players to experience. Though the game assumes a linear approach, the fluid, Darksiders-esque combat feels fresh — especially for Xbox One, where the game’s aversion to social interaction and traditional RPG elements feels less oppressive.

Though the game’s performance can tank if you’re in high-level zones on an Xbox or a low-end PC, the game features excellent spell effects and sound design, two underrated aspects of fantasy games that can be make-or-break your immersion in the experience. Though some of the game’s systems, such as its lack of communication channels and an insanely expensive in-game store, seem poorly executed. Even with those faults, though, Neverwinter is a fast-paced game that provides a different feel relative to most of the MMOs on our list.

Dungeons and Dragons Online

For most of us, Dungeons and Dragons has always been the tabletop game we kept to ourselves in fear of being ostracized (no shame there). However, despite DDO‘s launch woes and flawed beginnings, the sun-dappled city of Stormreach has never been so appealing. Loosely based on the D&D 3.5 ruleset, DDO is a game with extensive customization directly built into the framework. Featuring more classes than any other title on our list, the character creation tools allow players to experiment with a dynamic multiclass system wherein your character can effortlessly combine facets of skillsets. Although the latest updates still heavily cater toward group instances and the game’s rooted emphasis in tight-knit teamwork, solo options are becoming exceedingly robust, especially if you can afford to pick up an NPC “hireling” or two to back you up.

Let’s be honest, though: DDO, which launched in 2006, doesn’t hold up when compared to newer, oft-updated titles, particularly in terms of visual fidelity. While it isn’t an eyesore, the game doesn’t pack the polygonal depth and vibrant details of newer MMOs like Tera. The game behind the visuals, however, is captivating, fueled by story-driven raids and dungeons whirling around the never-ending defense of Stormreach.

Aion Online

With titles like City of Heroes and the first Guild Wars under its belt, Korean developer NCSoft knows its way around an MMORPG. Aion is a tightly-polished effort, rooted in a post-cataclysm world that’s been torn asunder by two warring races. Players begin by selecting the hardy Asmodians or the radiant Elyos — each with four distinct classes that are subdivided into two more once you reach level 10 — and are then thrust into the stunning environments of Atreia. The questing and six crafting systems are linear, often requiring you to grind between lulls and recruit other players for the more populated zones.

Aion‘s true calling lies in it’s ability to balance both PvE and PvP components. Once players hit level 25, they can enter the Abyss, a PvPvE battleground in which opposing factions battle for control over fortresses. Combat is fast-paced and responsive, reliant on chain attacks and fair amounts of button mashing, and incorporates flying mechanics that are truly unique to the genre. Although most regions outside the Abyss are designated as no-fly zones, players can still glide within the regions from any elevated jump-off point. Flying in the Abyss is also limited, but the added component provides an entirely new dimension to think about while in combat since you constantly need to be aware of what’s going on at various elevations before you become exhausted and fall from the sky. Aion is an immediately enjoyable and beautiful title from the get-go, even if it does take you a while to earn your wings.

Honorable mention — Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a bit different than other entries on our list, as it isn’t fully “free-to-play.” Originally, the 2013 MMO featured a 14-day trial period for new users. In 2016, though, Square Enix nixed the time restriction and gave players free reign of the continent of Eorzea until they reach level 35. Make no mistake, though, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is one of the best MMOs available today. It stands tall as a love letter to series fans who were almost universally disappointed in its predecessor Final Fantasy XIV. And the journey to level 35, well, it’s bound to sink its teeth in and draw you into its beautiful and engaging world.

Available on PlayStation 4 and PC, A Realm Reborn tells a fairly traditional Final Fantasy narrative — the pursuit of thwarting a nefarious evil that threatens the well being of the people. Despite this, cut scenes are implemented smartly and certainly draw you in to care about the world.

Mechanically, A Realm Reborn stands out thanks to its diversified class and quest systems. Classes are dictated by the gear that your character holds, so you can switch your class with ease. Within the level 35 cap, you will be able to further advance your primary and secondary classes into jobs which unlock even more specialized traits. The quests mix from epic adventures to shorter fetch quests across the vast lands. Trial players can wade through the first 10 levels of the constantly changing test of strength that is the Deep Dungeon, and they can also head over to the Gold Saucer for Chocobo Racing and Triple Triad, a card game that originally appeared in Final Fantasy VIII.

Fans of traditional MMOs will find much to love throughout the journey to level 35 and if you get hooked enough to pay for a subscription, just know that the game’s delights ramp up from level 35 to the level 50 cap.

Update: Added Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Here’s how and where to buy the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Building on the heritage of last year’s bar-setting Google Pixel and Pixel XL, Google unveiled its latest Pixel devices at an event in San Francisco on October 3. The 5-inch Pixel 2 and 6-inch Pixel 2 XL come packed with Android 8.0 Oreo, huge OLED screens, and top-notch cameras.

Pre-orders are officially live in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, and India — where customers will also receive a free Google Home Mini for placing their orders early. Pixel owners will receive IMAX movies — launching in Google Play Movies — available for free as well. As for availability in other countries, both smartphones will be available in Italy, Singapore, and Spain later this year. The Pixel 2 will ship between October 17 through the 19, and will be available in stores on October 19. The Pixel 2 XL is scheduled to be available in stores on November 15.

If you’re looking to get your hands on one, read on for our guide to purchasing the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

How to buy an unlocked Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

If you’re not interested in buying the Pixel 2 models through a carrier, you can purchase it unlocked from the Google Store, Best Buy, and Target. You’ll have to pay full price, but Google offers monthly financing plans to make it a little easier. The company is also offering up to $410 back on your purchase of a new Pixel smartphone when you trade in your old Pixel — depending on the condition of it.

The Google Pixel 2 — which comes in “Just Black,” “Clearly White,” and “Kinda Blue” color variants — is available for $650 for the 64GB and $750 for 128GB of storage. With the monthly financing program, it will cost you $27.04 per month for the 64GB model and $31.21 per month for the 128GB model, both for 24 months.

The Google Pixel 2 XL was originally available in two color variants — “Just Black” and “Black and White.” Over the course of the day, however, the Black and White version has sold out, so you’ll be limited to “Just Black” if you want the phone. It will run you $850 for the 64GB model and $950 for 128GB. Under the 24-month installment plan, the 64GB starts at $35.38 per month and the 128GB model is $39.54 per month.

Best Buy

Pre-orders for the Pixel 2 are now live on Best Buy’s site and retail locations. You can only place orders for the Pixel 2 XL online for now. The retailer is also offering savings of up to $100 — which is factored into the price per month of the device on the Verizon plan — when you pre-order and activate the Pixel 2 smartphones at its stores. You’ll receive a free Google Home Mini as well. But Best Buy’s offer is stackable, which means it can be combined with any carrier offers announced in the future.

Buying the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL from wireless carriers

Purchasing your Pixel 2 smartphones through a wireless carrier is limited. Google exclusively partnered with Verizon Wireless in the U.S., but other carriers — such as T-Mobile — may offer ways around it.

Verizon

Pre-orders through Verizon are currently live, but only for existing customers on one of Verizon’s new plans — S, M, L, or one of the two unlimited plans. You’ll also need the latest version of the My Verizon app. All customers will be able to pre-order the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on its site starting October 5 at 3 a.m. ET and in stores once they open. Those in the U.S. will be able to try out the Pixel 2 for themselves at Verizon’s retail locations. Pre-orders are also live for the Google Home Mini and Google Daydream View — while Google Pixel Buds, Google Home Max, and Google Clips are coming soon.

Here is the pricing for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL at Verizon:

• Pixel 2 64GB: $650, $27.08 per month for 24 months with Verizon device payment plan
• Pixel 2 128GB: $750, $31.24 per month for 24 months with Verizon device payment plan
• Pixel 2 XL 64GB: $850, $35.41 per month for 24 months with Verizon device payment plan
• Pixel 2 XL 128GB: $950, $39.58 per month for 24 months with Verizon device payment plan

You can get up to $300 off the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL and a free Google Home Mini, when you purchase it on the Verizon device payment plan and trade in one of these eligible devices:

• iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 6, 6 Plus, or SE
• Google Pixel or Pixel XL
• Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus, S5
• Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Note 4, Note Edge
• Motorola Z2 Force, Z2 Play, Z Force, Z Droid, Z Play
• LG G6, G5, G4
• LG V20 or V10
• HTC 10 or One M9

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is running its own special offer if you bring a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL to the carrier. For a limited time, new customers can bring one of the devices in — even you bought it from Verizon — and receive $325 back on a MasterCard card if you sign up for a voice line. Existing customers are also eligible when they add a line of T-Mobile ONE or Simple Choice Unlimited.

Update: The “Black and White” version of the Google Pixel XL is sold out from the Google Store. We’ll continue to update this buying guide as more information becomes available. 

Samsung Odyssey hands-on review

Research Center:
Samsung Odyssey

Windows Mixed Reality will support five different headsets at launch, which puts would-be buyers into a familiar pickle for any Microsoft fan: Which device should you buy when they all seem more or less the same?

Samsung offered an easy solution on October 3 when it introduced the Odyssey: Just spend an extra $50 and get the good one.

Better in every way

The first Mixed Reality headsets Microsoft announced ranged between $350 and $450, and each one boasted the same 1,440 x 1,440 resolution in each eye, and 95-degree field of Vision. Essentially, you’re choosing between a Pontiac Grand Am, an Oldsmobile Alero, and a Chevy Malibu, which is to say: multiple rebadged versions of the same painfully average thing. Sure, the Dell comes in white and the Lenovo in black, but beneath the hood, the same engine’s humming.

You’re really more of a sucker not to get it.

Samsung just pulled a Cadillac with the Odyssey. At $500, it’s undeniably more expensive than any of its peers, but the negligible premium buys you so many important upgrades that you’re really more of a sucker not to get it.

What kind of upgrades? Let’s start with the 1,440 x 1,600 resolution OLED screens. They have more pixels than the competition, and they’re OLED instead of LCD, which means blacker blacks, more vibrant color, and in our experience, silkier motion. Tiny boosts in resolution may be moot point on a 5-inch phone screen these days, where we’re reaching the limits of human perception, but spread across your entire field of view, more pixels matter. First-gen VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive still produce a visible “screen door effect,” and every extra line of pixels makes it less severe.

Nick Mokey/Digital Trends

Nick Mokey/Digital Trends

Nick Mokey/Digital Trends

Nick Mokey/Digital Trends

The Odyssey also has a physical knob to adjust for the difference between your pupils. Yes, the others are “one size fits all” units that only attempt to compensate for differences in human anatomy with software. Only the Samsung allows you to manually adjust the differences between the eye pieces with an easy-to-use knob that you turn until images look their sharpest, like at the eye doctor. It also boasts a 110-degree field of view, which bests the 95 degrees offered by nearly every other competitor — the Acer headset also features a 110-degree field of view.

In practice, the Samsung not only looked sharper than its peers, it produced less of the noticeable haze that appears around bright spots in your peripheral vision in VR goggles, and felt more fluid as we looked around. Maybe that’s the OLED screens. Maybe it’s the 110-degree field of vision. Maybe it’s the manual adjustment. We’re not optical engineers, but we can say without hesitation that Samsung’s headset looks better than any of its peers, particularly when viewing the type of detailed content (like text) that you’re liable to view in Windows Mixed Reality.

As if you needed any icing on the VR cake, the Odyssey comes with built-in AKG headphones. These seem like a small detail, particularly if you already own headphones you like, but the convenience of having them built into the headset is greater than you may anticipate. Putting headphones on top of a VR headset means carefully assembling and disrobing a VR ensemble every time you take them on and off. There’s an order of operations to remember, like taking your shoes off before your pants. With the headphones built in, you just take the entire thing on and off. One movement. Nothing to remember.

Samsung Odyssey Compared To

Sony PlayStation VR

Oculus Rift

Google Daydream View

3Glasses D2 Vanguard Edition

HTC Vive

Samsung Gear VR

Homido

Just get it

In case you haven’t picked up on our advice by now: Samsung’s Odyssey is the Mixed Reality HMD to own. Not only does it best its peers, it may even rival the best-in-class HTC Vive.

We’re not ready to definitely declare that until we have both in-office for review, but in the meantime, we’ll point out that the Samsung has better resolution, doesn’t require tracking towers, and it’s $100 cheaper, even after recent Vive price cuts.

Google Pixel vs. Pixel 2: What difference does a year make?

Google’s Pixel 2 is a veritable juggernaut among Android smartphones. It’s the de-facto launch platform for the latest version of Android (Android 8.0 Oreo), and it is packed to the brim with features like custom imaging chips, touch-sensitive bezels, and an artificial intelligence-powered assistant that can pick out architectural landmarks, book covers, and even phone numbers from photos.

But last year’s Pixel — the first in Google’s lineup — was just as groundbreaking in its time. It was one of the first with Android 7.0 Nougat, and boasted a top-of-the-line processor, capable cameras, and compatibility with every major cellular carrier in the U.S.

So what makes the Pixel 2 that much better than the Pixel? We compared the two to find out.

Specs

Pixel

Pixel 2
Size
143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5 mm (5.66 x 2.74 x 0.33 inches)
145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm (5.7 x 2.7 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
143 grams (5.04 ounces)
143 grams (5.04 ounces)
Screen
5-inch AMOLED display
5-inch P-OLED display
Resolution
1,920 x 1,080 pixels (441 ppi)
1,920 x 1,080 pixels (441 ppi)
OS
Android 8.0
Android 8.0
Storage
32GB, 128GB
64GB, 128GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Snapdragon 821, with Adreno 540
Snapdragon 835, with Adreno 540
RAM
4GB
4GB
Connectivity
GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Camera
12.3 MP rear, 8 MP HD front
12.2 MP rear, 8 MP HD front
Video
Up to 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 120fps, 720p at 240fps
Up to 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 120fps, 720p at 240fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 5.0
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor, barometer
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor, barometer
Water resistant
Yes, IP53 rated
Yes, IP67 rated
Battery
2,770mAh

Fast-charging

2,700mAh

Fast-charging

Charging port
USB-C
USB-C
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Colors
Black, Silver, and Blue
Black, Blue, and White
Availability
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Apple
 Google Store, Verizon

Price
$550
$650
DT review
Hands-on review
 Coming soon

There is no two ways about it: The Pixel 2 packs a wallop. It has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip, which compares favorably to the Pixel’s Snapdragon 821 — Qualcomm claims the former has a 27 percent performance advantage. We will have to wait until we get our hands on the Pixel 2 to say for sure, but on paper, it comes out safely ahead of last year’s Pixel in the raw power department.

The Pixel and Pixel 2 are a little more evenly matched when it comes to memory and radios. Both have Bluetooth 5.0, 4GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of storage. The first-gen Pixel is at a slight disadvantage in that the cheaper model has just 32GB of storage, compared to the Pixel 2’s baseline 64GB. But in most other respects, it’s a tie between the two phones.

In the end, the Pixel 2’s faster processor and higher storage capacity are enough to win the specs round.

Winner: Pixel 2

Design, Display, and Durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Pixel 2 takes more than a few design cues from its predecessor, but look a little closer and you will notice the differences.

While the Pixel 2’s glass-and-aluminum design mimics the original, down to the curved edges, rounded corners, thick top and bottom bezels, and two-tone rear cover. The glass inlay is smaller and the fingerprint sensor is part of the aluminum body this time around. The front camera has not budged from its top-left perch on the front panel, nor has the primary camera and flash from their respective spots on the rear. There is nothing much different about the Pixel 2’s volume rocker, power button, and USB-C port, either.

The displays are mostly the same, too. Both the Pixel and Pixel 2 have 5-inch 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) P-OLED panels with higher-than-average contrast, deeper-than-average blacks, and ultra-wide viewing angles. The Pixel 2 slightly edges out its predecessor in color reproduction thanks to a wider gamut, but a Google-led effort to optimize both screens’ touch responsiveness means it shouldn’t be any less snappy than the first-gen Pixel.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

That is where the similarities between the Pixel and Pixel 2 end, though. The Pixel 2 ditches its predecessor’s 3.5mm audio jack. It ships with a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter, but it’s more of a band-aide solution than a fix. Embedded in the Pixel 2’s bezels are two front-facing speakers (one above the screen and one below it) in stereo configuration, arguably a worthy consolation prize for that missing 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Pixel 2 isn’t just louder than the Pixel — it’s more durable too. It’s IP67 certified, meaning it’ll come up unscathed after a 30-minute dunk in a 3.5-foot pool of water. That is compared to the original Pixel’s IP53 rating, which doesn’t guarantee it will withstand anything more than a few splashes.

On top of the superior water resistance, the Pixel 2 has Corning’s shatter-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 compared to the 2016 Pixel’s Gorilla Glass 4. There is not a massive difference between the two, but Corning claims that Gorilla Glass 5 is “highly” (80 percent) likely to survive drops up to 5.2 feet, while Gorilla Glass 4 peaks at 3.2 feet.

The Pixel 2 may not look all that different than the 2016 Pixel. But appearances can be deceiving. In truth, the Pixel 2 can withstand a lot more abuse, and that’s enough to win it this round.

Winner: Pixel 2

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Pixel and Pixel 2 are on par when it comes to the screens and design, and the same is true of battery life. The battery in the Pixel 2 has shrunk very slightly to 2,700mAh, compared to the 2,770 mAh battery in the original.

On the Pixel, Google pegs the battery at 19 days of standby time and up to 13 hours of 4G LTE internet browsing, which equates to about a full day of moderate multitasking. The Pixel 2 has a slight leg up thanks to its power-efficient Snapdragon 835 processor, but it doesn’t work miracles — Google says the Pixel 2 will last a “day” on a charge, which could very well end up mirroring the first-gen Pixel’s stats.

On the charging side of things, the Pixel and Pixel 2 are on equal footing. They both support the USB Power Delivery standard, which means that just 15 minutes of charging with a compatible wall adapter is enough to deliver around seven hours of battery life.

That is why we’re calling this round a tie. From what we know so far, neither phone has the advantage when it comes to battery life and charging.

Winner: Tie

Camera

There is yet another category where the Pixel and Pixel 2 are alike, and it’s the camera.

The Pixel 2 has almost the same camera hardware as the first-gen model, on paper at least. The Pixel 2 camera is rated at 12.2 megapixels, compared to the first Pixel’s 12.3 megapixels. As for the front-facing camera, they’re both rated at 8-megapixels with an f/2.4 aperture. The Pixel 2 has the same 1.4μm pixel size, the same dual pixel phase-detection technology, and the same laser autofocus sensor as the first-gen Pixel. It has roughly same video capabilities too — both phones’ rear cameras can shoot up to 4K at 30 frames per second, or up to 1080p at 120 fps.

But the Pixel 2’s camera is improved in other ways. It has an f/1.8 aperture as opposed to the Pixel’s f/2.0, which should translate to better low-light shots, and a Google-designed imaging chip that can apply camera filters in real time. That is in addition to a “fusion” of optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS), which the aforementioned imaging chip taps to counteract jerky motions while recording video.

All those improvements together were enough to earn it a 98 from DxOMark, the highest score the company has ever awarded to a smartphone camera.

The Pixel 2’s other differentiating features are software-based. It boasts an improved Portrait Mode-like bokeh mode that captures pics with an in-focus foreground and out-of-focus background (a la the iPhone), and a Motion Photo feature that records a three-second clip before and after you tap the shutter button.

Then there’s Google Lens, an AI photo analyzer than can pick out books, DVD covers, architectural landmarks, and more. Thanks to Google-designed machine-learning chips that process more than 180 trillion floating point operations per second, Google Lens can give a description of a building in a photo, identify the artist of a painting, or even enter a Wi-Fi password automatically from a photo of the underside of a Wi-Fi router.

Google says the Google Lens will eventually come to other platforms. On a technical level, there is nothing preventing Motion Photo from hitting the first-gen Pixel — both are built into the Google Camera, the camera app that ships on the Pixel and Pixel 2. But for now, the Pixel 2 has the advantage of timed exclusivity.

It is a close call when it comes to the cameras. But the Pixel 2’s superior aperture, optical image stabilization, and wealth of software features win it the round.

Winner: Pixel 2

Software

Software is where the Pixel 2 really shines. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo, same as the first-gen Pixel, which received an upgrade to the new operating system earlier this year.

Among the highlights is a revamped notification shade that lets you snooze incoming alerts. Notification Channels, a related feature, allows you to toggle categories of notifications on a per-app basis — if you have the YouTube app installed and you only want to see subscription updates from certain channels, for example, you can block notifications from other subscribers. Notification Badges mimic iOS’ unread badge counters — you’ll see dots appear above an app or folder with new notifications, and tapping or pressing the icon of an app with a dot show it as a pop-up.

That is all available on the first-gen Pixel, but not all of the Pixel 2’s software are heading to its predecessor. An upgraded Pixel Launcher (the app that powers the Pixel 2 and first-gen Pixels’ home screens) moves the prominent Google search bar to the bottom of the screen, where it’s easier to reach, and adds an optional “daily briefing” widget that shows the current weather, temperature, and upcoming calendar entries.

The Pixel 2’s other software exclusives take advantage of its custom hardware. The low-power Always On Display shows a monochrome clock and notifications, even when the phone is off. Now Playing taps the Pixel 2’s three-microphone array to identify music playing nearby and put a link a relevant Google Play Music listing on the lock screen. Then there’s Google’s AR Stickers, launching in preview alongside the Pixel 2, which project digital labels onto tables, chairs, and other surfaces.

There’s nothing preventing the Pixel from getting many of the Pixel 2’s software features down the line, but one feature it won’t get is the Active Edge, which allows you to squeeze the Pixel 2 to launch Google Assistant or snap a selfie, just like Edge Sense in the HTC U11. There are enough small extras to hand the Pixel 2 the win.

Winner: Pixel 2

Price and availability

Given all that’s improved in the Pixel 2, you would be forgiven for expecting it to cost an arm and a leg. But it comes in at the same launch price of last year’s Pixel.

The Pixel 2 (in “just black,” “clearly white,” and “kinda blue” colors) is available in 64GB and 128GB storage configurations for $649 and $749 unlocked, respectively — exactly the same prices as the 2016 Pixel. Alternatively, you can opt for Google’s monthly financing, which is $27.04 per month for the 64GB model and $31.21 per month for the 128GB model.

For a limited time, Google’s throwing in the Google Home Mini for customers who pre-order. But there’s a wildcard to consider: The Google Store has the first-gen 32GB Pixel for $550 unlocked, or $100 off the original asking price.

The Pixel 2, like last year’s Pixel, is compatible with every major U.S. carrier, but Google has an exclusive retail partnership with Verizon Wireless in the U.S.

Regardless of carrier, though, Google says it will support the Pixel 2 for three years — a full year more than the Pixel’s two-year guarantee.

The Pixel 2 won’t begin shipping until later this year. But here os the takeaway: It’s a better phone for $100 more than its predecessor, give or take. That is a steep price to swallow, but the durability, speed, and software improvements make the upgrade more than worth it.

Winner: Pixel 2

Overall winner: Pixel 2

The Pixel 2 is not a massive leap from the Pixel. In many ways, it’s more of an evolution. The design is more or less the same, albeit a bit more durable. The battery life and screen haven’t improved all that much, and the excellent cameras are on a fairly even footing.

But what enhancements the Pixel 2 does have are tempting. It’s more durable than the 2016 Pixel, and it’s got a faster processor and stereo speakers. Exclusive software features like the Google Lens and an all-new Pixel Launcher, meanwhile, are icing on the cake.

We will have to spend some time with the Pixel 2 before we come to a definitive conclusion, but from what we’ve seen so far, it has the first-generation Pixel beat.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL hands-on: Act two looks great

Google’s second swing at self-branded phones promises more — and asks more of your wallet.

Years of experiments with the Nexus program culminated with the launch of Google’s self-designed and self-branded Pixel phones in 2016. The promise was simple: a phone that offered the best possible way to experience Android and Google services, hands-down. In practice, it came with many compromises and a higher prices than many were used to paying for a Google-backed phone. There was room to improve.

Fast forward exactly one year, and Google is back at it again. Same approach, same branding, same message — and a pair of phones that once again ask a lot of your wallet, but in turn offer even more of what people are looking for in a top-of-the-line smartphone today. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, though not actually manufactured by the same companies, are launching as a pair with the same goal once again: give you the best Android experience, exactly as Google intended, without the typical annoyances associated with the competition.

I have just spent a brief amount of time with the new phones — here are my first impressions of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL from Google.

Slight diversion

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL Hardware

Google is very clearly trying to keep a visual similarity from the original Pixels to the new models, starting with their glass “visor” panel on the back and working down to the monolithic aluminum body. The body is coated in a decidedly different texture, though, feeling more like an actual rubberized soft touch coating rather than raw aluminum.

That should make the phones a bit easier to grip and keep the aluminum from getting dinged up, but right off the bat they don’t feel quite as solid or high-end as the originals. You still get that cold sensation to the touch to remind you they’re metal, but the finish gives off more a plastic-like impression almost like an ode back to the Nexus 5. The coating is most noticeable in the black models, which have dramatically more texture and depth that the white and blue colors.

The “kinda blue” color, which is exclusive to the smaller Pixel 2, isn’t nearly the standout stunner than the “really blue” of last year — it’s more of a soft shade that almost looks grey in some lighting. It’s punctuated by a turquoise power button that stands out on the edge of the phone. The white version of the Pixel 2 XL (but not the Pixel 2) also has a statement power button, but it’s a coral/peach/orange color — I think it’s neat, even though it has absolutely no purpose or designation that you have anything special in your phone.

The first big design difference you notice between the two phones is how the aluminum case wraps around the sides and meets the front glass. On the larger Pixel 2 XL, the metal is more rounded and doesn’t creep so far up along the edge — instead, it meets the 3D curved front glass part of the way down the side in a sort of waterfall effect. The Pixel 2, on the other hand, reminds me of the Nexus 5X: the metal reaches all the way up the side flat, and matches up with near-flat glass on the front at a tighter angle.

Then, you notice the biggest difference: the screen size and screen-to-body ratio. From the front, the Pixel 2 XL is a dead ringer for the LG V30. It has the same 18:9 aspect ratio, rounded corners and relatively small bezels all around as LG’s latest flagship — plus stereo speakers, of course. Let’s get one thing clear: the screen bezels are noticeable, and this is not a “bezel-less” phone. But it’s way ahead of last year’s Pixel XL … and interestingly also the Pixel 2.

The Pixel 2’s face is dominated by its large top and bottom bezels, as well as its contrasting 16:9 aspect ratio and square corners on the display. With a screen size of just 5 inches the bezels don’t make this phone massive overall — it’s the right size to nestle in your hand well, and you can reach all corners of the display without much fumbling around.

Despite the screen size differences both are AMOLED, with the Pixel 2 XL having LG’s own P-OLED technology that’s currently in use with the LG V30. Google quotes the same type of experience on both phones, with the main differentiators being the 2 XL’s higher 2880×1440 resolution and 100% of DCI-P3 color space reproduction compared to the 1920×1080 and 95% on the standard Pixel 2.

In my time with the phones, both looked really good, and seemed like a marked improvement over the so-so panels in the original Pixels. The real question will be how that feeling holds up when using them in bright sunlight situations, where AMOLED panels typically do well but is a real test of how bright they can get.

We got this far and haven’t even mentioned specs. That’s not on accident — there’s nothing inside of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL that you wouldn’t expect, and subsequently it’s hard to say they’re missing any major features. A Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of storage are par for the course in a flagship phone for 2017. I have no doubt that the internal specs are more than capable of making Google’s software fly.

Also table stakes is IP67 water- and dust-resistance, which both phones thankfully now offer. Conversely Google hasn’t added back in an SD card slot, and has chosen to make the irksome move to remove the headphone jack — you’ll get a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box, and extra ones will cost you $20 a pop. Some people will never be able to live with a phone that doesn’t have a headphone jack … I’m not quite that opinionated, but I’m close. My biggest issue with the decision is that Google isn’t making any sort of claim about what removing the 3.5 mm jack did for the phone — it’s just removing it with no clear user benefit, while other phones of this size still have the port.

Snap

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL Cameras

After absolutely killing it with last year’s Pixels, Google is doubling down on the camera experience in 2017 — and it’s doing so by sticking with a single camera lens while the rest of the industry is hitting dual lenses. The sensor is now a 12.2MP unit, which has slightly smaller 1.4-micron pixels but sits behind a wider f/1.8 aperture. It’s also very surprisingly supported by optical image stabilization (OIS). Google’s still doing its great electronic image stabilization that made the original Pixels such great video cameras.

These cameras are going to be fantastic.

Google’s proprietary image processing is still the star of the show here, and Google thinks that its software is so advanced that it can even handle “Portrait Mode” shots that other phones need two physical cameras for. Using machine learning algorithms and its dual pixel auto focus system, the Pixel 2 and 2 XL can get an accurate depth map of an image and selectively blur the background. Google is so confident in the feature it even lets you use it with the front-facing camera.

The launch of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL is also the coming out party for Google Lens, which was originally shown off as a concept several months ago at Google I/O. Google Lens is built right into Google Assistant and the camera interface, and simply lets you scan images on your screen or take photos and pick out information about them. That could be grabbing an email address or name off of a document, identifying someone’s face on a billboard, or finding out more information about a landmark you see in a new city. It’s powered by the same knowledge graph that powers Google Search, and demos we saw at Google’s even were very promising.

Light refresh

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL Software

Once again, Google preempted much of what it has to announce in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL’s software with the long, drawn-out beta program and official release of Android 8.0 Oreo over a month ago. The release of new hardware instead marks a very subtle tweaking of the interface and the updating of many Google apps and services for the Pixels.

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL have a new launcher experience that puts the search bar at the bottom of the home screen so it’s easier to reach, and reclaims that space at the top for a new calendar/appointment widget. There’s also a super neat trick to be found on the always-on display when the phone is idle: the phones can constantly listen for music and identify it, showing the information on the lock screen without you even asking. Google says the process of identifying the sounds and words can happen locally to the phone, which shows how powerful they are.

The only truly new piece of software is the “Active Edge” function, which clearly comes directly from HTC’s “Edge Sense” — basically, you can squeeze the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL to make it launch Google Assistant … and only launch Google Assistant. Just like on the HTC U11 the pressure required to activate Active Edge is customizable, and it’s designed to both work in a case and also not accidentally activate when you don’t want it to. Given that Active Edge on the Pixel 2 and 2 XL does less than Edge Sense on the U11 is a bit baffling, and doubly so when all Active Edge does is duplicate what you could already do by long pressing on your home button. We’ll see if Google iterates on this with future updates.

The future

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL More to come

There’s so much more to discover with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL that simply can’t be picked up in just a handful of minutes using them. We still need to evaluate battery life, the cameras, screen quality in a variety of conditions and of course how the software holds up when we start using it in daily life.

Be sure to follow Android Central as we spend the coming weeks and months with these two phones.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL hands-on: Act two is great
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Camera Showdown
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Google Store
Project Fi
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Casting is finally available on Google Daydream!

VR becomes an inclusive experience with casting

Google Daydream has spent the last year delivering excellent VR experiences for your headset. However sharing those experiences with friends was harder than it needed to be, since there wasn’t an easy way to show them what you were seeing in real time. That’s all started changing today, with the rollout of Chromecast support for your Daydream headset. We’ve got the details on why this is awesome, and how to enable Casting with your headset!

Read more at VRHeads

This is the Google Clips, a camera that uses AI to take photos

Google has introduced its Clips camera, a standalone device for recording interesting moments.

Aside from launching its new speaker, laptop, earbuds and of course smartphones, Google had one more thing to show the audience at the end of the day: the Google Clips.

One problem with recording something on your smartphone is that it’s difficult to do that while also staying in the moment. Google Clips aims to combat this: this camera can be placed down or clipped to your backpack and can capture motion photos that last several seconds. It isn’t recording all the time though: it will wait until something interesting (using the device’s definition of interesting) to start recording. The Clips pairs with your smartphone over WiFi to offload photos from the 16GB of internal storage.

The one downside of Google Clips is that it only records footage at 15 frames per second. That’s…not great. Movies are played back at 24 fps, while video games are typically either 30 or 60 fps. I can’t imagine how unsmooth footage from the Clips will be, though time will tell. The Clips camera will launch for $249, and at launch it will be able to pair with Pixel phones, the iPhone 8 and 8 plus and the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S8.

Are you interested in the Google Clips? Let us know down below!

Google Hardware

• Google Wifi review
• Google Home review
• Everything you need to know about the Chromecast Ultra
• Chromecast vs Chromecast Ultra: Which should you buy?

Google Wifi:

Google
Amazon

Google Home:

Google
Best Buy

Chromecast Ultra:

Google
Best Buy

The Google Pixel 2 XL vs. the original Pixel XL: What’s changed?

Today we got our first look at the new Google phones, with the larger Pixel XL bringing back the staid design but also buffing it up with a better camera and more robust water protection. How big of a leap is this over last year’s model exactly? While you’ll have to wait a few weeks for the full rundown in our review, for now you can check out the new XL’s specs as compared to its predecessor in our handy table below.

Pixel 2 XL
Pixel XL
Pricing
$849, $949 (off contract)
$769, $869 (off contract)
Dimensions
157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9mm (6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches)
154.72 x 75.74 x 7.31mm (6.09 x 2.98 x 0.29 inches)
Weight
175g (6.17 ounces)
168g (5.92 ounces)
Screen size
6 inches (152.4mm)
5.5 inches (139.7mm)
Screen resolution
2,880 x 1,440 (538ppi)
2,560 x 1,440 (534 ppi)
Screen type
Quad HD pOLED
Quad HD AMOLED
Battery
3,520mAh
3,450mAh
Internal storage
64 / 128GB
32 / 128GB
External storage
None
None
Rear camera
12.2MP, f/1.8, 1.4μm pixel size
12.3MP, f/2.0, 1.55µm pixel size
Front-facing camera
8MP, f/2.4, 1.4μm pixel size
8MP, f/2.4, 1.4µm pixel size
Video capture
4K at 30fps
4K at 30fps
NFC
Yes
Yes
Bluetooth
v5.0
v4.2
SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
CPU
2.35GHz octa-core
2.15GHz quad-core
GPU
Adreno 540
Adreno 530
RAM
4GB
4GB
WiFi
Dual band, 802.11ac
Dual band, 802.11ac
Operating system
Android 8.0
Android 7.1
Other features
Fingerprint sensor, IP67 certified, USB Type-C
Fingerprint sensor, IP53 certified, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C

Follow all the latest news from Google’s Pixel 2 event here!