Likes:

It’s Google

Let’s face it, Google plays a huge role in most of our lives.  Like many of you, I already had a Google account upon purchasing the phone.  Google has many of my passwords saved.

When I opened the Pixel 2, I entered my Google account information and…whammy, I’m connected.  Instead of entering my name and password for the plethora of sites I use, Google already had me logged in.

I then took a minute to register my finger print and I had access to all my information as if I was sitting at my laptop.

Sound

The Pixel 2 has wonderful sound quality.  Granted, it only has one speaker (like most phones), but the conversations I have and songs I listen to come through loud and clear.

Speaking of loud, the Pixel 2 gives me the volume I need in any situation.  For example, I can use it to listen to music in the shower even with the dryer, fan and water running.

Picture

With a name like the Pixel, it’s no wonder this phone has excellent picture quality.  I can quickly capture images for a social media campaign or a video of my son to send to Mom.  The quality is actually good enough that I can shoot good YouTube videos on it.

Dislikes:

Google Assistant

The Google Assistant is OK for what it is.  You ask it a question and it gives you an answer.  However, instead of hitting a button, you squeeze the phone.

This is an interesting tool, and it is adjustable, but I find it difficult to locate a setting that’s right for me.  Either it’s too sensitive and goes off all the time, or it’s not sensitive enough and I have to squeeze real hard.  Perhaps this will be updated in the future.

Redundant Apps

Google likes to have multiple apps for everything.

For example, for messaging, the phone came with Allo, Messages and Message+ (because my service provider is Verizon).  On top of this, I have Duo for video chat, Phone for calls and a standalone Contacts.

To be fair, the Contacts links to some (but not all) of these features.  After coming from the iPhone, where this could all be accessed from the same Contacts app, this is a bit frustrating.

Adaptive Brightness

The Adaptive Brightness tool on the Google Pixel 2 seems like a good idea.  Its purpose is to change the backlighting on the phone based on the lighting of the room you’re in.

While this sounds like a great idea (keeping you from going blind when you turn on your phone at night), in practice it has some major flaws.

Often, I’ll be sitting on the couch with the Pixel on my knee watching a YouTube video.  Suddenly, the screen will go dim.  Not black, but dim.  And I have no immediate way to correct this.

Again, you can turn the Adaptive Brightness off, but it could affect battery life.