Getting my Pixel 2 xl

[Morty2264]

That's super exciting, OP! Congratulations! Let us know when your new phone comes! Did you end up buying Google's insurance? Still not sure if I'm gonna do that.

 

[straygator7]

I picked up my Pixel 2 XL 128gb Black device at Best Buy this afternoon (ordered two weeks ago to take advantage of the $400 discount promotion), and so far I'm delighted with the device. Although the so-called "blue shift" effect is readily apparent, it doesn't bother me in the least; as others have observed, whenever I'm using the phone, I'm looking directly at the display, so the fact that a tint appears when it's viewed at an angle is immaterial. And FWIW, the "Boosted" color setting is perfect to my eye.

It required a little bit longer than I had anticipated for all of my data to be transferred from the MXPE to the new phone, but the process went smoothly and it appears that everything is in order. Since then, I've been able to set up the Pixel 2 XL to match the options and customized settings on my MXPE -- including downloading and installing the same notification and alarm sounds to which I've become accustomed (or conditioned) to respond, but which are not among the included choices on the Pixel 2 XL.

I do have one question on which I would appreciate some advice: I like the way the Motorola Gallery app on my old MXPE presented photos and albums much more than the Google Photos format native to the Pixel 2 XL. Has anyone tried to use that app on the Pixel 2 XL, or can anyone recommend another app that facilitates organizing photos in a manner similar to the Motorola Gallery app? Thanks in advance for any helpful information you can provide.

If I encounter any problems, I'll report back and seek assisance. But for now at least, count me as a satisfied purchaser.

 

[sftl97]

That's super exciting, OP! Congratulations! Let us know when your new phone comes! Did you end up buying Google's insurance? Still not sure if I'm gonna do that.

I'm excited waiting on delivery. I did not get the Google insurance and been having second thoughts about it. It is a very expensive phone and maybe the insurance might be worth it for peace of mind. Don't know if I can still get the GI but there's always "Squaretrade".

I've already ordered a carrying pouch and looking at maybe getting a case as well.

 

[Joltcola1234]

I ended up ordering this case:

https://www.amazon.ca/Google-Pixel-...hawk-future-ca-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU6210373

Doesn't provide much protection other then against scratches and dings (no protection for the screen).
I like how minimal it is though, and I generally don't drop my phone. Over the past fifteen or so years with mobile phones I've never damaged any of my phones from a drop.

As much as I want to buy a screen protector for the Pixel 2 XL, I never like the way screen protectors feel. From tempered glass to plastic, whatever, nothing ever feels as good as the real screen. So I think I'm going to go without one on this phone.

 

[Mike Dee]

I'm excited waiting on delivery. I did not get the Google insurance and been having second thoughts about it. It is a very expensive phone and maybe the insurance might be worth it for peace of mind. Don't know if I can still get the GI but there's always "Squaretrade".

I've already ordered a carrying pouch and looking at maybe getting a case as well.

You have to buy Google insurance at the same time you purchase your phone. Your only option would be to cancel the order if you could still cancel or return it and repurchase.

 

[Morty2264]

I'm excited waiting on delivery. I did not get the Google insurance and been having second thoughts about it. It is a very expensive phone and maybe the insurance might be worth it for peace of mind. Don't know if I can still get the GI but there's always "Squaretrade".

I've already ordered a carrying pouch and looking at maybe getting a case as well.

I'm in the same boat as you - I'm hesitating to get insurance. But at least you can always go through SquareTrade!

Nice choice with the accessories! What kind of case are you thinking about getting?

 

[sftl97]

I'm in the same boat as you - I'm hesitating to get insurance. But at least you can always go through SquareTrade!

Nice choice with the accessories! What kind of case are you thinking about getting?

As far as insurance goes, In the years that I carried insurance never had a claim and decided to stop carrying it. Been more than 10yrs without it and so far never had an experience for shoulda, woulda, coulda. The Google Ins. appears to be the better choice but that option is off the table, I think I'm gonna take my chances without Ins.

On the case, been reading what some people on here have recommended. Leaning towards the Otterbox Defender and will go sometime today to the VZW store or Bestbuy and take a look.

 

[Morty2264]

As far as insurance goes, In the years that I carried insurance never had a claim and decided to stop carrying it. Been more than 10yrs without it and so far never had an experience for shoulda, woulda, coulda. The Google Ins. appears to be the better choice but that option is off the table, I think I'm gonna take my chances without Ins.

On the case, been reading what some people on here have recommended. Leaning towards the Otterbox Defender and will go sometime today to the VZW store or Bestbuy and take a look.

For sure - if you never file a claim and/or if you're super careful with your phone, having insurance can be a waste of time. Google still allows you to send your phone in for repair even if it's uninsured - so I may just roll the dice and go that route if I ever need to.

 

[sftl97]

Got the phone late this afternoon, was surprised that a signature was not required. I was home so not an issue just surprised.
Set-up was a peace of cake just plugged in the cable and everything gets done for you. Also, found a few apps I didn't recognize (Allo, message+ and go90) so I deleted them. Will need to bluetooth to my car, but will do that tomorrow.
The screen is gorgeous I do not notice any blue tint and have tried looking at phone from several angles. Could be my old eyes but I'm pleased with it.

Also, have to figure out how to add new ringtones, some of the ones I had didn't not transfer over.

 

[Joltcola1234]

Allo is an awesome messaging service if you have any friends who also use it. No idea what message+ or go90 are though. Give Allo a shot, it's maybe the best data messenger I've tried, it's great having the Google assistant baked in.

 

[Morty2264]

Got the phone late this afternoon, was surprised that a signature was not required. I was home so not an issue just surprised.
Set-up was a peace of cake just plugged in the cable and everything gets done for you. Also, found a few apps I didn't recognize (Allo, message+ and go90) so I deleted them. Will need to bluetooth to my car, but will do that tomorrow.
The screen is gorgeous I do not notice any blue tint and have tried looking at phone from several angles. Could be my old eyes but I'm pleased with it.

Also, have to figure out how to add new ringtones, some of the ones I had didn't not transfer over.

That's so exciting! So glad that setup went well and that your screen is beautiful!

With regards to ringtones, the Zedge app has a wonderful (and vast) assortment of ringtones, text tones, wallpapers, and widgets/icons - check it out! Happy Phone Day!

 

[NMCynthia]

Message+ is the Verizon Wireless text messaging app, and it's a good one. I have no idea what go90 is ... I deleted it, too. I was rather hacked that you couldn't delete the Play Movies, Play Music and YouTube apps ... if you know that you're not going to use them, I don't want to waste my precious little bit of data on continuously updating them.

 

[TraderGary]

Message+ is the Verizon Wireless text messaging app, and it's a good one. I have no idea what go90 is ... I deleted it, too. I was rather hacked that you couldn't delete the Play Movies, Play Music and YouTube apps ... if you know that you're not going to use them, I don't want to waste my precious little bit of data on continuously updating them.

In settings you can choose to have all updates be done only over WiFi.

 

[GSDer]

I was rather hacked that you couldn't delete the Play Movies, Play Music and YouTube apps ... if you know that you're not going to use them, I don't want to waste my precious little bit of data on continuously updating them.

You can't uninstall them but you can disable them. That'll solve your update issue.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

The screen is gorgeous I do not notice any blue tint and have tried looking at phone from several angles. Could be my old eyes but I'm pleased with it.

You got very lucky, though you should do a thorough check with all the known issues to make sure your screen is good.

Unfortunately I have an October build phone and the screen isn't very good. Severe blue tint, grain, horrible black crush on low brightness, black jelly wobble on low brightness. It really isn't an acceptable screen for a flagship phone, but they're just traits of the phone's screen and not a 'defect' so I have been refused an exchange.

When I see the screens on the iPhone X and Galaxy S9, I do get green with envy. They have gorgeous screens.

 

[Mike Dee]

You got very lucky, though you should do a thorough check with all the known issues to make sure your screen is good.

Unfortunately I have an October build phone and the screen isn't very good. Severe blue tint, grain, horrible black crush on low brightness, black jelly wobble on low brightness. It really isn't an acceptable screen for a flagship phone, but they're just traits of the phone's screen and not a 'defect' so I have been refused an exchange.

When I see the screens on the iPhone X and Galaxy S9, I do get green with envy. They have gorgeous screens.

They are not traits if you have all of those problems because I have none of them

 

[sftl97]

So far I like this new phone. Noticed I need to buy USB-C to USB adapter/cable otherwise can't connect phone to either computer or to my car with android auto.
Downloaded a few mp3 files I created for use as ringtones, just need to find out how to get them to ringtone folder.

If I run into any of the issues others have posted I'll mention it here. But so far so good.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

They are not traits if you have all of those problems because I have none of them

Well if they're not traits of the screen (despite having been reported on through multiple outlets and I myself having all those issues listed) then my screen would be defective and should warrant a replacement. Google have told me that the screen doesn't warrant a replacement and is working as intended.

 

[straygator7]

My Pixel 2 XL, which I purchased through Best Buy and picked up this past Saturday, was built on November 14, and has a prominent "blue shift" screen tint when viewed from even a moderate angle; but I haven't discerned any grainy appearance or "black crush" effect in the display -- perhaps because I never use a low brightness level. Based on the comments I've seen here and elsewhere online, it's difficult to determine the extent to which these problems with the Pixel 2 XL displays are due to the production variations among the devices or the differing perceptions of individual users. In some cases, it's probably a combination of both.

In any event, it's unfortunate for those who find these issues so troubling that it leaves them dissatisfied with the device, which otherwise seems to be an excellent product. I'd certainly prefer to have a display that does not exhibit the "blue shift"; but after weighing the options, I've concluded that this singular "defect," if it can be classified as such, is one that I can easily tolerate as a trade-off for all the features I like about the Pixel 2 XL. Frankly, I thought my Moto X Pure Edition was about the closest thing to a perfect smartphone, and I would have loved to continue using it indefinitely; but after two years of superb service, the onset of severe lag and decline on the battery life forced me to seek a replacement. After surveying the market, I decided that the Pixel 2 XL was the best available device for me, even though I was well aware of the potential display issues. Now that I have the phone, I'm convinced that I made the right choice for me. Nonetheless, I can understand why others might reach a different conclusion, and I hope that they can find another device that satisfies then as much as the Pixel 2 XL pleases me.

 

[Mike Dee]

Well if they're not traits of the screen (despite having been reported on through multiple outlets and I myself having all those issues listed) then my screen would be defective and should warrant a replacement. Google have told me that the screen doesn't warrant a replacement and is working as intended.

I would push the issue with Google