I just switched to a 6T from a Pixel 2 a week ago. I got the Pixel 2 for the software and camera. It has been fantastic for still camera shots. Video I've not been as impressed with, it looks ok but the audio has been mediocre at best. The software has been mostly fine, but I'm not a fan of the lack of customization options and I don't care for the Pixel launcher so it always had Nova on it.
For me the Pixel 2 was a very love and hate affair. I'm on my third one and for me the hardware has been an issue. All three were brand new. The current one has been the best but between the touch response lag and poor haptics alone I just couldn't take it anymore. As much as I like nice pictures I need a phone to be usable and work. Not to mention the battery life wasn't great, it would eat a couple percent an hour sitting on my nightstand with the screen off overnight.
The 6T has been a breath of fresh air for me. The touch response is fantastic, there's no lag, no hesitation. The haptics we're reported to feel sluggish of "muddy" and for me they have been great. I love the feel of the haptics. The screen is big and beautiful, colors are fantastic. The bottom firing speaker isn't a big deal to me asls I rarely used my Pixel 2 in a way that the front firing speakers were an advantage and this speaker gets quite loud. When I pick up the phone the ambient display lights up, and double tap to wake works. Neither of these things worked consistently or reliably for me on the Pixel 2.
Is the camera as good, yes and no. I think the colors and the lighting can be better on the 6T, as the Pixel 2 always seemed to really darken the shadows. But detail is a little better on the Pixel 2. Honestly the camera seems to be getting better the more I use it which means I'm learning how it works better.
For me the 6T blows away the Pixel 2 in the software department. A lot of really nice custom touches that are things that bug the hell out of me with Google's version. Things like the brightness slider being at the bottom of the quick settings where you can reach it easily with your thumb. In recent apps, the clear all button is at the bottom of the screen no matter which app you scroll to. Not all the way at the end half way up the damn screen making me scroll through every recent app to get to it. There are thoughtful customization options that make it more user friendly and you can tailor them to your liking. YOU CAN HAVE A DARK THEME EVERYWHERE not a half assed few apps and you still have a white settings menu like the pixels but a dark settings menu, notification shade and quick settings. This is the first phone I can remember since IDK when that I've kept the stock launcher. There's no search bar in my way I can't remove. If you swipe down in the middle of the screen it drops the notification shade, swipe up and you get the app drawer, double tap and it locks the screen. All things I always had setup in Nova launcher that every launcher should do especially with 6" screens so I'm not reaching to the top awkwardly all the time. And the other nice touch, I can draw a "V" on the locked turned off screen and my flashlight turns on. Do it again and it turns off, not making me unlock the phone and hit the quick settings or saying ok Google and telling it to turn it on. Circle to launch the camera, two finger swipe to pause and resume audio.
Finally the hardware feels great. Outside of the pointless glass on the back it feels sturdy and well built. The alert slider is fantastic and so much better than any software implementation in my opinion. No stupid squeeze to accidentally trigger picking up your phone. I know it sounds like I hate the Pixel 2 and love the 6T and I don't hate the Pixel 2 but based on my experience the past few months with the Pixel 2 these are all the things I think the 6T does better. I think the software touches are fantastic and based on some of the issues plaguing the Pixel 3 devices I cannot recommend anyone get one of those over the 6T, for the price you are getting so much more with the 6T.
Also this is the best battery life I've gotten hands down on any Android phone going back to the first Galaxy S. I never get through a workday without topping up mid afternoon or on the way home in the car and I've had two days in a row that I'm going to bed with over 30%. The battery life is fantastic.
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