Would you have noticed any display problems if the media hadn't made an issue of it

Of course I noticed the problems. My screen is crap compared to my 3yo Nexus 6.

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Mine looks pretty much the same. I actually bought a second one (instead of going through RMA), hoping to get one of these ones that supposedly have little blue tint, but its blue tint was identical to the first one I bought. So, sent the second one back the very same day (this past Friday) that I received it.

My thought is that those that don't have much of a blue tint... they're not the norm.

That second one I bought also had the "graininess" problem that many report. But my first one has no such problem at all.
 
Mine looks pretty much the same. I actually bought a second one (instead of going through RMA), hoping to get one of these ones that supposedly have little blue tint, but its blue tint was identical to the first one I bought. So, sent the second one back the very same day (this past Friday) that I received it.

My thought is that those that don't have much of a blue tint... they're not the norm.

That second one I bought also had the "graininess" problem that many report. But my first one has no such problem at all.

100% of the Pixel 2 XL units that I've seen have a blue tint issue, but none of them have had the issue to the extreme that is reported here or elsewhere. I've also never seen the graininess, blotches or smears in person, though I have seen videos that make those issues plainly obvious.
 
100% of the Pixel 2 XL units that I've seen have a blue tint issue, but none of them have had the issue to the extreme that is reported here or elsewhere.
100% of the Pixel 2 XL units that I've seen have a blue tint issue and all of them, reported here and elsewhere, have the issue remarkably similar to the images that I've posted.
 
I probably would not have noticed a problem with the screen. The blue shift wasn't a big deal to me, and while the colors are a bit darker than I'd expect, I didn't really mind it and they say they're releasing a software update for people that want brighter colors.

However, the attached pic is the screen burn in on my phone after less than two weeks, which is why I swapped it out for a regular pixel 2. If this is what it looks like after two weeks, I'd hate to see what it'll look like after 6-12 months, and I'd be willing to bet I'd start seeing home screen icons show up too, not just the nav bar.

So maybe they are blowing the screen issues a little out of proportion, but had it not been reported on I would have never even thought to look for this and 3-6 months down the road when I did start to notice it be stuck into a phone that clearly has had some QC issues I'd rather not deal with.
 

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100% of the Pixel 2 XL units that I've seen have a blue tint issue and all of them, reported here and elsewhere, have the issue remarkably similar to the images that I've posted.

Weird. And here's why I say that:

Out of all the moderators and ambassadors (of Android Central) who bought the Pixel 2 XL and regularly chat with me about them, (at least 13 devices), only 1 had issues similar to what you describe. And these are people that are nearly fanatical about their criticism and praise of devices. Most (at least 92%) have incredibly minor blue thing going on and none of the other reported issues.

Of the entire trusted tester program, to include late accessibility testers, visual display issues didn't exist, at least in the forum threads. It's possible people could have submitted feedback privately, but that would be discouraged. These are folks whose job, in this context, it is to test things and report on every little nit-picky type thing they can. The more feedback the better. The reason a lot of it is in forums is because it's easier to get multiple voices on one issue and keep things organized.

Now I am NOT saying that the issues don't exist. I am saying that, other than one person that I trust, not a single person I know has ever seen one with any major issues aside from viewing it on the internet. That includes demo units in stores, the units they've purchased, etc. Obviously that's anecdotal and your experience is the opposite, but that's what it is.
 
To anyone who is having display issues I would suggest that you install 8.1. When I first got the phone the display seemed a little dull but I wasn't unhappy. I upgraded to 8.1 on Friday and since then I've been very happy with the display. When I put it side by side with my Nexus 6P it looks just as good or even a little better. I've checked for burn in and I don't see any indication. 8.1 doesn't offer a new palate option but I suspect that they've done something because the display on my 2XL looks really good.
 
Of course I noticed the problems. My screen is crap compared to my 3yo Nexus 6.

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Nexus 6 top, Pixel 2 XL bottom. HDR video.
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Nexus 6 top, Pixel 2 XL bottom.
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Wow! Your's is the first post that put this blue screen issue in perspective for me. Glad I'm stuck till the Pixel 3. I bet the Pixel 3's will have to best screen known to man, after this debacle.
 
Weird. And here's why I say that:

Out of all the moderators and ambassadors (of Android Central) who bought the Pixel 2 XL and regularly chat with me about them, (at least 13 devices), only 1 had issues similar to what you describe. And these are people that are nearly fanatical about their criticism and praise of devices. Most (at least 92%) have incredibly minor blue thing going on and none of the other reported issues.

It is weird. Because I can post a dozen respected reviews that clearly show the screen in all of its blue glory and the reviewers acknowledging it. I can't find a single review that praises the screen. Or shows a screen free of abnormal blue shift.

We don't even need to leave Android Central to find a review that is critical of the blue shfting screen.

https://www.androidcentral.com/pixel-2-xl-review-mrmobile-burn-down-house

From the review:
You'd have to tie yourself into a Windsor knot to argue that this display is a good one. It's just not.

Screenshot of the review on Android Central:
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Full video of review. Blue shift commentary starts at 3:26.

https://youtu.be/f1Tv3-yDp00?t=3m26s



Of the entire trusted tester program, to include late accessibility testers, visual display issues didn't exist, at least in the forum threads. It's possible people could have submitted feedback privately, but that would be discouraged. These are folks whose job, in this context, it is to test things and report on every little nit-picky type thing they can. The more feedback the better. The reason a lot of it is in forums is because it's easier to get multiple voices on one issue and keep things organized.

Now I am NOT saying that the issues don't exist. I am saying that, other than one person that I trust, not a single person I know has ever seen one with any major issues aside from viewing it on the internet. That includes demo units in stores, the units they've purchased, etc. Obviously that's anecdotal and your experience is the opposite, but that's what it is.

I agree again! It's weird that 13 nit picky testers had nothing to say about the blue shift when every review I've seen (and I think it's most of them by now) clearly shows abnormal blue shift. Abnormal is a strong word... The screen shifts blue more so than any of the ones it's being compared to.

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It is weird. Because I can post a dozen respected reviews that clearly show the screen in all of its blue glory and the reviewers acknowledging it. I can't find a single review that praises the screen. Or shows a screen free of abnormal blue shift.

We don't even need to leave Android Central to find a review that is critical of the blue shfting screen.

https://www.androidcentral.com/pixel-2-xl-review-mrmobile-burn-down-house

From the review:


Screenshot of the review on Android Central:


Full video of review. Blue shift commentary starts at 3:26.


I agree again! It's weird that 13 nit picky testers had nothing to say about the blue shift when every review I've seen (and I think it's most of them by now) clearly shows abnormal blue shift. Abnormal is a strong word... The screen shifts blue more so than any of the ones it's being compared to.

Yeah, I don't think anyone is saying it doesn't exist. It definitely does exist. I'm saying there's still a very active debate about how serious it is and whether or not all devices show it equally. They clearly do not all show the same thing equally.

As an example, the AC blog team doesn't even agree on how serious the issue is. For Alex it's the worst display ever and for Russell it's barely noticeable. The others fall somewhere in between. That's how it is among the volunteers as well. We have 1 ambassador that had a really bad one, returned it. We have a couple who are like, "what issue?" and then most of us are between, with (as much as I don't want to speak for everyone) most indicating that it's only noticeable with certain conditions, such as an all or mostly light colored screen (content wise), at a rather extreme angle and/or immediately after switching from the more amber colored night light, etc. It's also very possible that some people have different tolerances for the variance.

It is worth noting that 100% of these photos are at a beyond extreme angle which would make any phone unusable. Maybe that's the different. If you're looking for the issue, it's easy to find? But if you're just doing your thing normally and not worried, then it's more difficult to detect, even if you know about it?
 
Yeah, I don't think anyone is saying it doesn't exist. It definitely does exist. I'm saying there's still a very active debate about how serious it is and whether or not all devices show it equally. They clearly do not all show the same thing equally.

As an example, the AC blog team doesn't even agree on how serious the issue is. For Alex it's the worst display ever and for Russell it's barely noticeable. The others fall somewhere in between. That's how it is among the volunteers as well. We have 1 ambassador that had a really bad one, returned it. We have a couple who are like, "what issue?" and then most of us are between, with (as much as I don't want to speak for everyone) most indicating that it's only noticeable with certain conditions, such as an all or mostly light colored screen (content wise), at a rather extreme angle and/or immediately after switching from the more amber colored night light, etc. It's also very possible that some people have different tolerances for the variance.

It is worth noting that 100% of these photos are at a beyond extreme angle which would make any phone unusable. Maybe that's the different. If you're looking for the issue, it's easy to find? But if you're just doing your thing normally and not worried, then it's more difficult to detect, even if you know about it?

Agreed.

It boils down to this for me:

1. Google's QC is awful and they are manufacturing and distributing screens with widely varying display characteristics.

2. My previous phone (Nexus 6) has zero blue shift. It has no color shift at all. This is perhaps why it's so bothersome to me. 3yo OLED technology is better than what I'm looking at now.

3. Google's cavalier attitude about the whole thing. If we don't demand the best, we settle. And then blue shifting screens are accepted and then it becomes the norm. Gross.
 
Agreed.

It boils down to this for me:

1. Google's QC is awful and they are manufacturing and distributing screens with widely varying display characteristics.

2. My previous phone (Nexus 6) has zero blue shift. It has no color shift at all. This is perhaps why it's so bothersome to me. 3yo OLED technology is better than what I'm looking at now.

3. Google's cavalier attitude about the whole thing. If we don't demand the best, we settle. And then blue shifting screens are accepted and then it becomes the norm. Gross.

I'd say the very fact that some people have to dread whether or not the device that they're waiting a month or more for is going to have to go right back into the box is one big problem that I would be FURIOUS about if I were running product development on this. In fact I suspect the person in that role is experiencing that right now.
 
Still, it sounds like a crap shoot. Spending this kind of dough and possibly getting that nasty blue tint would suck.

Yeah, that's a problem. I'd heard a rumor that it might be associated with the ship date, but have seen no evidence to that effect.
 
I must of got lucky and got a real good display because mine looks great, very slight blue shift, today i compared my screen to my coworkers note 8 and his had more blue shift then my pixel, so no I wouldn't have noticed anything.
 
I have a Note 8. I just saw a friend's Pixel XL 2 and I couldn't tell much of a difference between the screens. The Pixel's screen looks very good. I just left wondering what all the noise is about.

He used an app that showed a bit of retention or maybe burn in, but you can only see it if you use that app and go full screen in Gray. Even then, it disappeared shortly thereafter. If you need to move the screen unnaturally to see it, or need a special app to see the problem, I don't understand why it's a problem.
 
The blue shift doesn't bother me at all. The angle needed to create the shift makes it almost impossible to read the letters on the screen and it makes video look distorted. I never look at my screen at that radical angle so it just isn't an issue.
 
My pixel 2 XL does have blue ting, but its not bad. Yeah I would've noticed, but I would not been concerned at all. Screen is fine when I'm using it. Over-hyped problem IMO. Sure it tints blue looked at from an angle, but I look at the screen head on. That's not a excuse or a cop out, its just fact.
 
The blue shift doesn't bother me at all. The angle needed to create the shift makes it almost impossible to read the letters on the screen and it makes video look distorted. I never look at my screen at that radical angle so it just isn't an issue.

Yeah, pretty much this. When you're pushing it more than 90 degrees forward or more than 45 degrees to either side... who cares if there is a bit of color shift? Because you can't really use the phone in that way regardless of what it looks like.
 
Question for you all that don't understand what the fuss is all about: What would be the threshold angle that would cause you to mind it or be bothered by it?
 

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