The Google Pixel 2 XL is the phone I have been waiting almost 12 months for. Ever since Google first launched its Pixel line-up of phones, I have been eagerly waiting for the second-generation handsets.

Why? Because second-generation handsets, generally speaking, are better, more refined, and tend not to feature the same issues as maiden handsets. Not that Google had too much to improve on though, as the Pixel XL was generally excellent.

I never had any issues with my Google Pixel XL. Not one. It has worked diligently and more or less seamlessly for 12 months straight. I’ve always thought the design was a bit, well… dull, but that didn’t bother me too much, as I was predominantly using it for the software experience (and the camera).

Google Pixel 2 XL – New Looks, New Feel

The Google Pixel 2 XL is quite different looks-wise when compared to the original Pixel XL. It feels slimmer and longer in the hand, as well as more premium. The display is bigger – a 6in OLED setup – and it sports stereo speakers on the front.

Up close, the handset – mine’s the black model – looks almost like a merging of the LG G6 and LG V30, though this shouldn’t come as a surprise, as LG is the company behind the Pixel 2 XL.

Again, the phone isn’t really all that good-looking; it’s not ugly, but it also isn’t going to win any beauty contests. Instead, it feels like Google has deliberately designed the phone to simply get out of the way (save for the two big bezels at the bottom).

These bezels have been quite a hot topic of late; a lot of people really don’t like them. But here’s the thing: they serve a purpose, they pack in a decent pair of stereo speakers and this fact alone, for me personally, outweighs any counter-argument citing aesthetics.

The software on the Pixel 2 XL is a big improvement too; this is why most people buy Pixel phones, so it’s obvious why Google has paid so much attention to it. The Pixel phones are designed to be Android’s iPhones, and getting them to that level requires massive commitments to software, USPs, and optimisation.

Despite the similarities between the Pixel XL and the Pixel 2 XL, once I unboxed and set up the Pixel 2 XL, it really did feel like I was using a brand new phone. And I didn’t expect this; I figured it’d feel really familiar after 12 months of Pixel XL usage, but it didn’t – it felt new and exciting and I really didn’t expect this.

What I like most about the new Pixel phones are the little things that are peppered throughout. Things like the squeeze-to-activate-Google-Assistant feature, which sounded to me like nonsense prior to testing, has actually become something I use all the time, as it’s just so convenient.

The re-positioning of the Google search bar at the bottom, which, again, might not seem like much makes the process of searching for stuff a lot easier, especially given the length of the Pixel 2 XL.

Is The Google Pixel 2 XL's Display REALLY That Bad?

A lot has been made about the Pixel 2 XL’s display, which is now OLED, though it is LG OLED, not Samsung OLED. Quite a few people aren’t too happy about the way it looks or performs. They say it is dull, flat, and lifeless.

And there is some truth to this; the Pixel 2 XL’s display does look a little off when viewed from a less-than-perfect angle, similar to what we experienced with Samsung’s OLED displays back around 2011.

The colour palette of the display, however, at least to my eyes, appears to be decent enough with colours looking fairly accurate. Samsung OLED ramps up everything, so things really pop, while the Pixel 2 XL’s display is a lot more sombre – like Nick Cave compared to Mastodon.

Google even discussed this at launch: “We designed the Pixel display to have a more natural and accurate rendition of colours this year but we know some people prefer more vivid colours so we've added an option to boost colours by 10% for a more saturated display. We're always looking at people's responses to Pixel and we will look at adding more colour options through a software update if we see a lot of feedback.”

The OLED panel itself, however, is not as good as the one you’ll find inside the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 9. Why? Simple: Samsung is WAY AHEAD of LG when it comes to OLED panels, it’s invested billions in the technology, which is why it is a market leader in this regard.

STILL, I wouldn’t write the Pixel 2 XL off just for this reason alone. Personally, I find the display fine, for the most part, and I get the impression that a lot of reviewers are picking up on this issue in a bid to find an actual fault with the phone. Again, I do not see this as a terminal fault, far from it, it just lacks the quality of OLED we’re used from Samsung.

And then there’s the camera….

The Pixel XL’s imaging was superb. In my view, it was probably one of the best in the business. But things have shifted gears considerably with the Pixel 2 XL – and it’s noticeable right off the bat.

I’ll go into more detail in my review, but for now, here are some samples I took over the weekend.

Overall, the performance is markedly better too; it seriously flies and will handle anything and everything you throw at it. The way heat is handled is utterly mind-boggling, it’s almost like the Pixel 2 XL has a built-in cooling system, as nothing makes it get even remotely warm.

When I set it up, I batch installed about a gazillion applications. I expected it to get a bit warm, as this is a fairly intensive process, but, no, nothing – the Pixel 2 XL just did it and didn’t even break a sweat. How this is achieved, I have no idea – but it’s likely down to Google and LG's clever use of build materials and excellent component optimisation.

I’m only a few days into my testing period, but already I am more than impressed. This handset, from the perspective of an existing Pixel XL user, really does deliver the goods in a meaningful, palpable manner.

The only thing I kind of hate about the phone is that it doesn’t feature a headphone jack. Mostly because one could have easily been included without any break in the design. Google does provide USB Type-C converters in the box, but using these is annoying and rather unsightly.

Other than that, the Pixel 2 XL is bloody marvellous. I’ll be posting my full review next week, so keep your eyes open for that.

Any questions, stick them in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer them.