Google will unveil the latest in its smartphone lineup, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL, on October 15 in New York City, possibly alongside new Google Home speakers and a Pixelbook 2. As the excitement mounts, one thing is certain: Their prices are going to be astronomical. Naturally, now is the time to consider buying a previous Pixel model instead as their prices will surely go down. Right now, you can score a Google Pixel 2 XL on Amazon for a cool $64 off. Get it for $436 instead of $500. The Google Pixel 3 XL is enjoying an even bigger discount of $334, letting you snag one for $565 instead of $900. And if you pay via the Amazon Rewards Visa Card and it gets approved, you’re entitled to an additional $50 off, cutting the Pixel 3 XL’s price down to $515.
GOOGLE PIXEL 2 XL – $436
The Google Pixel 2 XL sports the same gorgeous two-tone glass and aluminum back that has become the Pixel series’ signature look. Its 6-inch OLED screen has an extremely high pixel count – 2,880 x 1,440 – which makes images appear even more finely detailed and spectacularly vibrant compared to other phones of a similar size. Unfortunately, there is no headphone jack, which can be a dealbreaker for most people.
Underneath its hood, the Pixel 2 XL is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 processor. Being a Google phone, the company worked extra hard in its software and hardware integration. The result is a blazingly fast performance with virtually zero lag. The Pixel 2 XL runs better than most Android phones, though not as well as the iPhone (its A11 Bionic processor is yet to be beaten).
Another high point of the Pixel 2 XL is its cameras. Its 12-megapixel rear camera can capture images with precise colors and outstanding sharpness, regardless of light conditions. The 8-megapixel front camera is also equally impressive. Selfies taken with it are finely detailed and DSLR-like. Honestly, we couldn’t ask for a better camera on a smartphone.
GOOGLE PIXEL 3 XL – $565
Google got so many things right with the Pixel 3 XL. First is how great it looks. Sticking with the same two-tone look as the rest of the series, this one is unique because its rear is made entirely of glass instead of a combination of glass and metal. Despite the material, its surface has a matte finish so it isn’t slippery and it effectively hides fingerprints.
Much like the Pixel 2 XL, the 3 XL’s 6.3-inch display is packed with more pixels than usual, resulting in a more strikingly detailed and boldly beautiful picture. Paired with bottom-firing speakers with the volume loud enough to fill a room, this phone is perfect for watching movies. However, there’s no denying that the notch on top of the screen is ugly and obnoxiously large. Oh, and there’s also no headphone jack. Thankfully, the unit includes USB Type-C earbuds that sound great. There’s also a 35mm headphone jack adapter so you can still use your favorite wired headphones.
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor with 4GB of RAM, this phone is quick to load, and multitasking is a breeze. And just like the Pixel 2 XL, this phone’s camera system is the primary reason why you should consider buying it. Its single 12.2-megapixel rear camera can capture incredibly detailed and sharp photos that look great in any environment, well-lit or not. And there’s a good reason why the notch in front is so big: There’s a second telephoto lens for taking portrait shots with a beautiful bokeh effect.
Both the Google Pixel 2 XL and 3 XL are remarkably fast phones, with brilliant cameras and gorgeous designs. The latter offers a bit more features, a second front cam, and a quicker processor. Too bad they lack headphone jacks. Still, they’re undeniably excellent phones despite being a few years old. We have yet to see if the Google Pixel 4 will be up to par with its predecessors, although we have a strong feeling that it will, and may even exceed them. For now, you can get either the Pixel 2 XL and 3 XL on Amazon and save as much as $334.
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