Real world data reception vs the iPhone

[Garemlin]

I've seen several people on here using the Pixel 2 XL and an iPhone. Or others that came from an iPhone. I was wondering how the data reception of the XL 2 compares to the iPhone. Especially inside buildings with not great reception and in fringe areas. My 7+ is pretty good in both situations. I went to look at the XL again. This time in Best Buy. And I'm pretty sure I can live with the display. This one looked much better than the one at the VZW store. Really anxious to come back to Android. But I do need really good data reception.

 

[cbreze]

I went from an HTC 10 which had an OK Rf strength, to an iPhone 7 which could hold a signal much better any where. Now I've got the Pixel 2 and while I thought he iPhone 7 was really good I believe the Pixel 2 is even a little better. Very pleased with it. However as the above post mentions there's more to it than just that. Type of building, carrier tower location etc. Since I travel the same routes every day and hang out in the same areas most of the time I can easily see my pixel is slightly better in signal strength. I have an app that measures it on both devices so I feel I had a pretty good idea. Hope this helps.
EDIT: This is a pixel 2 non XL

 

[Garemlin]

On VZW. And pretty much any building that would normally have weak reception. I'm just looking for a comparison from anyone who has used an iPhone, 6 or higher, and a Pixel 2 in the same types of environments. Especially in fringe areas not close to towers.

 

[vzwuser76]

On VZW. And pretty much any building that would normally have weak reception. I'm just looking for a comparison from anyone who has used an iPhone, 6 or higher, and a Pixel 2 in the same types of environments. Especially in fringe areas not close to towers.

I posted this in another thread, but about a week ago I was in an area with low signal strength. Normally I drive through the area going somewhere else, but I had car troubles (needed a tow and it took 2hrs to get a tow truck there). So I spent 2 hrs in that bad signal area. In the past if I was on a call before entering the area, a phone would drop the call somewhere in this area. In that 2hrs I spent there I made several calls and surfed the web for around maybe 1/2hr to 45mins. Never had any issues with either voice or data.

Now, like cbreze, I have the regular Pixel 2 and like you I'm on Verizon. The phones I am referring to aren't iPhones, but Motorola Android's from 2013 to 2015 and a Huawei Nexus 6p. Motorola phones are known for their stout cellular radios (they were the company that pioneered the cell phone) o they should be as good or better than an iPhone. While my last Pixel 1 was better than them, it would still sometimes have issues in that area. But my experience with the Pixel 2 was almost like I was at home with our LTE Network Extender covering the house. I didn't do a check to see what the signal strength actually was mind you, but it performed better than any phone I've previously used. Hope that helps.

 

[Garemlin]

I posted this in another thread, but about a week ago I was in an area with low signal strength. Normally I drive through the area going somewhere else, but I had car troubles (needed a tow and it took 2hrs to get a tow truck there). So I spent 2 hrs in that bad signal area. In the past if I was on a call before entering the area, a phone would drop the call somewhere in this area. In that 2hrs I spent there I made several calls and surfed the web for around maybe 1/2hr to 45mins. Never had any issues with either voice or data.

Now, like cbreze, I have the regular Pixel 2 and like you I'm on Verizon. The phones I am referring to aren't iPhones, but Motorola Android's from 2013 to 2015 and a Huawei Nexus 6p. Motorola phones are known for their stout cellular radios (they were the company that pioneered the cell phone) o they should be as good or better than an iPhone. While my last Pixel 1 was better than them, it would still sometimes have issues in that area. But my experience with the Pixel 2 was almost like I was at home with our LTE Network Extender covering the house. I didn't do a check to see what the signal strength actually was mind you, but it performed better than any phone I've previously used. Hope that helps.

Actually a pretty good comparison. I was a huge fan of Motorola phones. Had several starting with the OG Droid. Always had great reception with them. Which is why I stuck with them. I mean that is what Motorola does. I did have an LG G2 as well, and I will say it actually had pretty comparable reception to Motorola for my conditions.

Still would like to hear similar situations using iPhones since that is what I currently have and need to do a comparison of.

 

[Garemlin]

Anyone else have input?

 

[cozzy123]

my friends 2xl has better reception than his iPhone 7s on Verizon

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I have both, and reception is very similar.

 

[Almeuit]

Hard to say. The field test mode to see -dBm wasn't available on my friends X so I couldn't truly compare. Comparing cell bars from different phones is useless since they're different. Only the true -dBm score shows the truth.

 

[mmcclure0453]

I have an iPhone 7 on Verizon and a Pixel 2. Pixel 2 has worked better for me. iPhone would drop data in fringe areas where the Pixel 2 has not. This just happened to me last week when I switched back to the iPhone for a day while I reset my Pixel due to some email issues. I was also allowing my Skinomi protector to set up for a day on the Pixel before I carried it around. iPhone 7 was not as reliable.

 

[returnmyjedi]

I have a Pixel 2 for my own use and an iPhone 7 Plus through work, both on the same network. Without exception the Pixel has better reception than the iPhone, managing to connect to 4G when the fruity product can only achieve a 3G signal and sometimes no connection at all.

 

[mmcclure0453]

At one place that I work north of where I live, my iPhone will drop 4G LTE down to 1x where my Pixel 2 will maintain 4G. I'm not disappointed with my Pixel 2.