Sameed Khan·

Apple iPhone X Vs Google Pixel 2 XL: Which Is The Best Smartphone To Buy?

Google unveiled its new duo of flagship smartphones today, taking a few jabs at Apple’s latest iPhone lineup along the way. The iPhone has become so synonymous with the industry it inhabits that competitors can’t help but either draw inspiration from it or to set up a favorable comparison. The modern consumer might not be so easily convinced, however. It takes more than just a few tidbits to determine whether a smartphone is decidedly better than another, after all.

Of course, before the devices hit the shelves, we can only make do with the hard data that we have on hand, namely, technical specifications. Because interest in the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus seems to have suffered thanks to Apple’s own high-end iPhone X, the question likely on most prospective consumers minds will be how the latter holds up against Google’s new offerings, specifically the larger Pixel 2 XL.

It might not be the most fair comparison, given the $150 difference between the lamented iPhone X price tag and that of the Pixel 2 XL, though a value-for-cost case may be made here. The new A11 Bionic SoC that powers the iPhone X is set to blow the competition away, or so benchmark scores would suggest, and while the Pixel 2 XL takes the lead in screen size, resolution, and density, it falls behind in screen-to-body ratio. You might get a slightly bigger and much sharper display with the Pixel 2 XL, but it’ll be at the cost of having to deal with a bulkier device with thicker bezels.

Speaking of bezels, the Pixel 2 XL’s relatively bulky footprint is set to look a tad outdated when placed alongside an iPhone X, though the mixed reaction to the latter’s “notch” would suggest there is definitely a market for the former’s more symmetrical design.

Audio purists might be displeased that Google opted to follow in Apple’s footsteps, removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from this year’s Pixel lineup after having mocked Apple for the same last year. It’s not the only Apple-inspired change to have made the cut, though. The new Pixel phones will also come with their own versions of Live Photos and Portrait Mode, though the duo will retain its single rear camera setup from last year in contrast to the dual-lens system on the iPhone X. The rear camera on the Pixel 2 also comes with a slight bump unlike last year’s Pixel devices. For those who don’t remember, Google has poked fun at the iPhone’s camera bump as well. We’re beginning to see a pattern here.

Moving on to video recording, the iPhone X might be the better choice, with its ability to capture 1080p video at 240fps and 4K video at 60fps – feats beyond the Pixel 2 XL and even most DSLR cameras. That said, the Pixel 2 XL does offer three-year unlimited cloud storage for all the media one can capture, including 4K footage, while Apple’s free iCloud storage falls short at an embarrassing 5GB.

iPhone X

The biggest difference would have to be Face ID – Apple’s all-new authentication system, which it claims is more efficient than fingerprint scanning. If a recent report by KGI securities is to be given weight, the TrueDepth module that powers Face ID is 2.5 years ahead of the competition.

Pixel 2 XL

Informed decisions can, of course, only be made when both devices are released this November. If there is one major takeaway based purely on specifications, it’s that while the Pixel 2 XL does little in the way of convincing a Pixel XL user to upgrade, the iPhone X is clearly a significant leap from its predecessors. There’s just one huge obstacle in its way, however, and that is its own price tag.

iPhone X Vs Pixel 2 XL specs comparison:

So, iPhone X or Pixel 2 XL? Which one would you rather go with? Cast your vote and sound off in the comments below.

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