Hard time choosing: Pixel or Pixel XL

[Kaenon11]

I currently have both phones set up identically to one another in terms of apps, screens, widgets and wallpapers. I've got them externally outfitted with the same iCarez screen protector with Tech21 Evo Check case and both phones are really great.

Started with the XL for three days and right now I'm on day 2 with the Pixel.

I've fully tested the hardware and software on both, car BT, speaker phone, cameras in bright sun, etc. and I have two good units.

I read the AC article for the Pixel/XL one week later and that was spot on.

I feel the Pixel is a smidgen small and the XL is a smidgen big. My HTC10 is the right size and form factor but is going back due to all sorts of issues.

Wondering others thoughts on their choice for keeping or getting a Pixel or the XL. Have you tested and played with both?

 

[Dan L2]

Coming from a galaxy s4 to a pixel xl I was nervous of the massive size change. My sister has a iPhone 6s plus and that thing felt huge to me.

but once I got my hands on my XL it felt just right. It would be nice if the chins where a tad shorter but over all I can never go back to a 5" screen. I haven't tried an reg pixel but I went with the xl solely for the screen resolution and battery size.

 

[bhatech]

I got the bigger one because wanted more battery life from a bigger battery at the expense of ease of use. But from various AC editors looks like the the battery life difference between the two is not that much which tempted me to switch to the smaller one. But since mine was preordered from Google store and getting the free VR I decided to keep the XL instead of returning. I'm also pretty sure if I had the smaller Pixel I would have craved for the larger one. You always want the one you don't have

Best is go to Verizon store and play with both of them for a while to see which one you like.

 

[hpilot]

I guess it's all about what you are used to. I came from the 6P, and the XL actually feels a little small for me. I just can't imagine getting anything smaller. I remember thinking when the Samsung Note came out at 5.3" how huge it was. Everyone laughed at it. Boy how things have changed...

 

[psteve2005]

I know how you feel Kaenon11...

I had a 6P in the past but it was a smidge too tall, so I went with a 5X for the last 12 months and that for me was almost the perfect size.

I've had my Pixel for a week and absolutely love it...but...I'm wondering if the XL might be the better choice for battery longevity? And I'm within my exchange period... I'm sure stretching to an XL wouldn't be too hard having lived with a 6P for a while, but the Pixel/5X size is definitely more portable.

Having both handsets, which has the better battery life for you? Interesting that Jerry Hildenbrand said on the latest podcast that his Pixel battery was performing better than his XL?

I'm only interested in the XL for the battery. If manufacturers offered a choice of 5" or 5.5" phones with identical battery life I'd choose the smaller every time. But they don't!

 

[Kaenon11]

I know how you feel Kaenon11...

I had a 6P in the past but it was a smidge too tall, so I went with a 5X for the last 12 months and that for me was almost the perfect size.

I've had my Pixel for a week and absolutely love it...but...I'm wondering if the XL might be the better choice for battery longevity? And I'm within my exchange period... I'm sure stretching to an XL wouldn't be too hard having lived with a 6P for a while, but the Pixel/5X size is definitely more portable.

Having both handsets, which has the better battery life for you? Interesting that Jerry Hildenbrand said on the latest podcast that his Pixel battery was performing better than his XL?

I'm only interested in the XL for the battery. If manufacturers offered a choice of 5" or 5.5" phones with identical battery life I'd choose the smaller every time. But they don't!

I've got another 1.5 days of test to go with the Pixel so I'll make a battery comparison then.

You can actually tell a difference in the screen quality. The XL wins there.

1 handed use is obviously a win for the Pixel.

Everything is just back and forth with a lot of wins for each!

It's a great problem to have, lol.

 

[psteve2005]

It is indeed a great problem to have! Good luck with your decision and don't doubt yourself one you make it. Mind you I need to practice what I preach!

Well for my usage I'm regularly getting 4-4.5 hours screen on time from my Pixel which is immense for any Android phone in my experience. Also, this morning it charged from 10% to full in 1 hr 10 mins as it has the smaller battery.

I love it. I must stop reading articles on the XL as I chose the Pixel for the right reasons for me.

 

[hal1]

I look at this isn't this way, which would I regret less?

In other words, Pretend it's 6 months from now and you have the XL and are unhappy with it. Now imagine you have the Pixel and are unhappy with it. Which would you be less unhappy with. In other words, which would you still be able to live with easier?

I I use that same decision when choosing car colors, garage paint colors, many situations you can think of

 

[edgefever]

It's the perfect size .

I'm loving my Pixel.
Best Android I've ever used.

 

[chocmatic]

I went with the pixel and couldn't be happier. I always seem to compare phone sizes with 5.5 inch screens to my old lg g3 and they are always bigger. hence why I went with the regular pixel.

 

[gmermel]

My experience is bigger is better. What I'm gauging that on is partially my experience in that every time I'm happy with a phone and the next gen grows, I'm thinking dang it. Then, I fall in love all over again. This includes the massive Nexus 6, until I reluctantly gave it up for the Pixel XL when the Nexus slowed way down w/ Nougat upgrade. Now I know my limit for size because the XL is definitely "just right".

But I've also watched as my wife and brother both argue that they don't want a bigger phone, and then when they get it in their hands they say, whoa, this is great.

My point is that though you have the 2 side by side and you can't decide, I'm predicting that if you stay with the XL you will not regret it. But if you go with the regular Pixel you will, occasionally, wish you had more real estate.

 

[jln0]

When both are side by side, do you have more content displayed on the screen?

In a lot of videos, there is not much of a difference in "quantity". Everything is just bigger or zoomed in.

I currently have a 5.7" Note 4 and when I compare to a 5" or 5.2" device in a chrome webpage or in the play store, there ain't not much of a difference in content quantité for the discomfort of the wider device.

That's why I am tend to the regular 5" display. Although I am a bit worried of the downgrade to a less than 450 PPI display...

Hard time indeed...

 

[AjZ01]

I had a Glxy s6 and got the Pixel Xl thinking it might be too big but have had it for a week and love it. Perfect size.

 

[diver110]

I am as wondering about this too. I got the XL today. Once I have spent more time with it, I will report back, but one thing I am sure about now is that I like the XL size. I came from a Galaxy S5.

 

[udnh]

I have a Nexus 6 and I would go with the smaller pixel

 

[Tf407]

To me it's an easy choice. The screen is a major difference for when I saw the devices in person. Then again I like bigger phones so I would have gone xl either way

 

[diesteldorf]

I guess it's all about what you are used to. I came from the 6P, and the XL actually feels a little small for me. I just can't imagine getting anything smaller. I remember thinking when the Samsung Note came out at 5.3" how huge it was. Everyone laughed at it. Boy how things have changed...

Got the Pixel XL, since I also came from the Huawei 6P and even the Nexus 6 before that. I don't mind big phones, since I have big hands, and use them mostly for media consumption and surfing the internet.

If you can manage to use the XL comfortably, it's a great phone and if you can't, I would get the Pixel. It's also a great phone and the hardware is nearly identical.

I would've been happy if the Pixel XL was 5.7 or even 6 inches, and, while I would've liked it to be cheaper, I felt the extra $120 was not out of line.

If the $120 is not a deal breaker and you can comfortably manage the Pixel XL, get it. If the size is going to be an issue, get the regular Pixel.

I have absolutely no regrets.

 

[cbreze]

My last 3 phones were big ones. Got kind of burnt out on the bigger size and the pocketing and usability issues. Happy to be back with a smaller phone(HTC10). Would love a pixel and would get the smaller one if I were buying.

 

[davidnc]

I used the 6p and Nexus 6 combo for most of this year.I just wanted the smaller Pixel, for a change .I have had my Pixel for a week and glad I went with the smaller one.
But it all depends on what you want .
They are almost the same phone, the XL has a bigger battery, screen size and screen resolution .
I can get though the day easy on my Pixel by the way

 

[Kaenon11]

Back on the Pixel XL today after a few days on the Pixel.

The screen size is definitely welcomed, as the Pixel appears small. The extra real estate is awesome.

But, as far as the XL goes on pocket-ability, its definitely a struggle sometimes. If the XL is in your pocket and your shoe is untied, you will most likely have to take the phone out of your pocket.

I only have a few days left to make a choice and either way I'll lose just $100 due to device protection not being able to be refundable.