Getting my Pixel 2 xl

[I Can Be Your Hero]

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.

If you want to see the grain, go to the Play Store app then scroll down so the "home", "games", "movies & tv" start getting pushed up - you can see the grain on the green background as the words are pushed up the screen and then go back down again. Looks like grain or the texture that's on paper or something. It's bad for when I'm on a site and scrolling down, looks like the text is hovering over grain/textured back. Coloured backgrounds I find it easier to see.

Black crush can be seen when the screen is on low brightness (which I use at night) and have some image/video with shadows. The screen can't seem to accurately separate the gradients of darkness and just makes all shadow area the same pitch black darkness, which doesn't look right at all. Check here to see a black crush test: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php

If your screen can't accurately separate the boxes (there are 4 rows of 5 boxes, so 20 boxes total of different shades of darkness), then your screen has the issue. Try looking at that link on your PC and on your Pixel 2 XL to see the difference. Even on the highest maximum brightness, my screen can't see the top three rows of boxes and can only make out the bottom 4th row of boxes. My PC monitor sees all rows.

If you want to see jelly wobble, go to the link I posted and where the boxes are, and with the screen on a low brightness, move the screen up and down at a moderate pace, you'll see the grey boxes compress then expand like a jelly effect. The pixels here aren't lighting up and deactivating fast enough so you get the jelly effect.

These are the issues that are present on my phone's screen. It's an October 2017 build, so that could be a reason, but I'm just not really happy with the screen. Everything else about the phone is great, but the screen is the one real flaw with the phone, and imo it's a big one.

 

[straygator7]

I guess I'm either lucky or my vision is not as sharp as yours, because (a) I went to the Play Store app and focused on the green background bar as you suggested, but didn't notice any grainy appearance when I moved the page up or down; and (b) I followed your link to the "black crush" test, and although I had to go into a completely dark room (as the page instructed) to see the upper rows, I could easily discern the bottom three rows of black/dark gray squares, and could barely distinguish the last couple of squares on the top row (though it could have just been my brain imagining it could see them because it knew they were supposed to be there). I also tried the same test using my old Moto X Pure Edition and my Lenovo Yoga 2 laptop, and got identical results -- if I took the device into a completely dark room, I could see the same squares, but not the first few on the top row.

To be completely honest, subjecting the phone to those tests seems like a lot of effort to look for problems that, as a practical matter, are unlikely to affect my normal use of the device. Of course, your usage may well differ in ways that might be materially impacted by these imperfections in the display. If so, I can understand why you would be disappointed and dissatisfied with this phone. It's unfortunate that the Pixel 2 XL does not fulfill your expectations or meet your needs, and I hope that you're able to find another device that works better for you.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Cool, looks like you got a good screen on your phone.

You don't have to do those tests to see them, they're just easy ways to see them rather than me saying 'go watch a movie trailer' when you don't know what you're looking for. They're a problem for me because I see the grain when web browsing/reading, and the black crush ruins video when the screen brightness is low. Anything with a shadow or dark gradient just turns to pitch black. So I have to crank the brightness up to try to reduce the black crush and jelly effect, or I just save the video to watch for later and view it on my PC.

Maybe it's an early batch screen issue, I'm not sure, but I don't think it's good and the varying degrees of the screen quality is pretty troubling, as some people don't have issues, such as yourself, and others like me have the blue tint, grain, crush and jelly effect. The QC seems to be all over the place.

 

[sftl97]

I'm liking this phone, yesterday I purchased the Otterbox defender makes the phone larger but I think it's better protected. Considering the cost of this phone $50 for a case seemed reasonable.

So far I have one gripe, it keeps downloading Apps that I've never used nor recognize and I've been uninstalling.
Does get annoying.

 

[Morty2264]

I'm liking this phone, yesterday I purchased the Otterbox defender makes the phone larger but I think it's better protected. Considering the cost of this phone $50 for a case seemed reasonable.

So far I have one gripe, it keeps downloading Apps that I've never used nor recognize and I've been uninstalling.
Does get annoying.

So glad you are liking it! Hmm, that app situation must be annoying! Did that start happening as soon as you got the phone; or has it happened since a recent/the last OS update?

 

[sftl97]

So glad you are liking it! Hmm, that app situation must be annoying! Did that start happening as soon as you got the phone; or has it happened since a recent/the last OS update?

Not really sure. When I first activated and did all the initial stuff, I noticed apps that I didn't recognize (allo, message+) so deleted those and as it turns out they are vzw apps. This morning powered up the phone and had several apps installing/updating also with some I've never used (Allo returned, Dreamxxx something) and a couple with VR as port of the title and again I uninstalled.
Maybe it's google bloat, which I didn't think they did.
Also, today I went out and tried to use Android Auto and for some reason my car radio (2017 Sonata limited) displayed msg 'cannot connect android auto check your phone' tried several times and it just would not connect, tried the App on the phone worked ok just would not switch over to the car. Never had that issue with my previous phone (Moto XPE) just plugged the cable and everything worked fine. Maybe I missed a setting somewhere, or might be the cable I bought yesterday not sure but the phone was charging seems to work for that.

 

[Mike Dee]

Not really sure. When I first activated and did all the initial stuff, I noticed apps that I didn't recognize (allo, message+) so deleted those and as it turns out they are vzw apps. This morning powered up the phone and had several apps installing/updating also with some I've never used (Allo returned, Dreamxxx something) and a couple with VR as port of the title and again I uninstalled.
Maybe it's google bloat, which I didn't think they did.
Also, today I went out and tried to use Android Auto and for some reason my car radio (2017 Sonata limited) displayed msg 'cannot connect android auto check your phone' tried several times and it just would not connect, tried the App on the phone worked ok just would not switch over to the car. Never had that issue with my previous phone (Moto XPE) just plugged the cable and everything worked fine. Maybe I missed a setting somewhere, or might be the cable I bought yesterday not sure but the phone was charging seems to work for that.

Try reinstalling Android Auto while you are in the car and ready to connect. I would also try a different cable in case you haven't already

 

[B. Diddy]

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.

Try Francisco Franco's Focus gallery app. Ever since QuickPic was sold to Cheetah, it's hard to find a good 3rd party gallery app that won't throw tons of ads or worse your way, so this is a good option.

 

[straygator7]

Thanks for the recommendation -- I'll check it out.

 

[Joltcola1234]

what I don't get is why people are so critical of a phone screen. I mean, of course I get that everyone wants everything to be perfect. the phone is fairly expensive, so you want everything to be perfect...but what I don't get is why people need to go picture quality online tests to descern black boxes in crush or grain tests. it's just a phone...and this is coming from someone who's very critical of tv viewing. I professionally calibrate my 4k tv. but this is a phone...it's not intended for critical reproduction of images. I have my phone on the saturated color profile because it looks bright and fun. I don't care nor what my phone to reproduce an accurate natural color profile. I mean, no offense to anyone, different strokes and all that...but does it really matter?

 

[TraderGary]

I use a Pantone X-Rite calibrator to color calibrate the PC screen I use to work with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. When I copy some of my photos to my phone to use as wallpaper, I want them to be close to the same color as my calibrated PC screen. When I take a picture with my phone I want it to look like it did in real life. So yes, to me it really matters.

My Pixel 2 XL screen color is close enough to my calibrated PC screen to satisfy me. I use the Natural setting. For me Saturated is distasteful and unnaturally oversaturated. As you say, different strokes. Something for everybody.

 

[Mike Dee]

what I don't get is why people are so critical of a phone screen. I mean, of course I get that everyone wants everything to be perfect. the phone is fairly expensive, so you want everything to be perfect...but what I don't get is why people need to go picture quality online tests to descern black boxes in crush or grain tests. it's just a phone...and this is coming from someone who's very critical of tv viewing. I professionally calibrate my 4k tv. but this is a phone...it's not intended for critical reproduction of images. I have my phone on the saturated color profile because it looks bright and fun. I don't care nor what my phone to reproduce an accurate natural color profile. I mean, no offense to anyone, different strokes and all that...but does it really matter?

To some people it's important.... Not me though