Vivo X20 Plus UD is the world's First on-screen fingerprint scanner smartphone

The year 2017 was one of those years that can be marked as the inception of an era which gave a completely new perspective of what a smartphone could be in the near future. Then, for the first time there came the intimidating mobile phone design from Samsung in the smartphone series Galaxy S8/S8+ followed by major mobile phone brands like Apple, Google, Xiaomi, etc. While most of us speculated that Samsung will be the first to implant fingerprint sensor into the display to its Galaxy S8/S8+ which was not possible at that time then our concentration changed to Apple's iPhone X which again rumoured to accommodate similar tech, Vivo is the first mobile phone manufacturer in the world which made it possible to place fingerprint sensor below the screen of the smartphone. Vivo X20 UD Plus There was an announcement made by Synaptics (which is another tech giant specialising in manufacturing touch interface devices like fingerprint sensors, touch controllers, etc.) which stated tha

Google Pixel & Pixel 2 unveiled, see whats new

Google has announced its another flagship series of phones in this month of October which are Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. These smartphones' name is currently everywhere in the wind, I mean, Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is being discussed in every forum, blog, news, tech spots, etc., literally every techie is talking and discussing about these phones which is exactly the case with us because these are new, hot and sexy going to be releases by the world's well known tech giant. This is also because of the success of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL (predecessors). Well, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have just been unveiled a few days ago and lets see how these devices perform in the wide smartphone market and how it stands on the customer anticipation. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be released sometime in October and speculated to go on sale in the November beginning.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL front and back panels.

Design of this phone isn't as it would have been expected but still loved by most of the people. I personally like the design of the Pixel 2 XL rather than the Pixel 2 because of its appealing looks (considering the whole Flagship phone segment, I would prefer iPhone X over the Galaxy Note 8, then S8+ and S8). If comparing in the flagship segment, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are not that good as they should have been. Its simply because Google said that they are working on a 'bezel-less future' while, there are certainly sized bezels on these phones.

Google Pixel 2 XL front and back panels, standing upright on a display table. (Courtesy: Android Central)

These devices are going to be launched with most of the specifications remaining same. Both phones will come up with Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Adreno 540 GPU, 4 GB RAM with 64 GB or 128 GB internal storage, CDMA/GSM/HSPA/EVDO/LTE network connectivity, 12.2 Megapixels f/1.8 rear camera rigged in Optical Image Stabilisation set-up,  8 Megapixels f/2.4 front facing camera, Bluetooth 5.0, USB type-C port which is becoming common in all the latest smartphones (specially flagship phones), 2700 mAh non-removable battery in Pixel 2 and 3520 mAh non-removable battery in Pixel 2 XL, with fingerprint sensor at the back panel of both the phones, and of course, both these phones will be running Android 8.0 Oreo.

Pixel 2 will come up with 5.0" AMOLED 1080p and 67.9% screen to body ratio display while Pixel 2 XL will come with 6.0" OLED Quad HD display, 18/9 aspect ratio and 76.4% screen to body ratio. Also, corners of the screen on the Pixel 2 XL is curved like those found on Note 8, S8 series, LG G6 and V30, iPhone X, but it is not curved on the edges.

Design of both these phones isn't a major step which was announced by Google and expected by people. This is evident from the bezels which were reported to be narrower like those in the competitors of this phone. In fact, this is the only major disappointing thing about this phone. Rear part of the phone looks very much similar to the predecessors, which is okay and mostly loved by the users.

Another disappointing fact about this phone can be that there is no 3.5 mm jack, but wait, Google announced that the USB type-C connector would also act as an audio output jack, which can be used to connect earphones, etc. Pixel and Pixel XL were not rated with any water or dust proof ratings, while Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL secured IP67 rating (waterproof till 1 m and 30 mins, dust proof).

Most of the smartphone manufacturers have started to equip the rear camera of the smartphones with double lens technology (like Samsung, iPhone, LG, Motorola, Lenovo, and many more), yet Google has decided to stick with the single lens. Besides, Pixel's and Pixel XL's cameras were far better than that of any other competing phones. Lets see if that will still be the case with Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Well, the lens of rear camera on these phones looks much larger than the previous ones. Photos taken from Pixel 2 looks amazing.

Photo taken on a Google Pixel 2. Click to view larger image.

Photo taken on a Google Pixel 2. Click to view larger image.

Photo taken on a  Google Pixel 2. Click to view larger image.

Photo taken on a  Google Pixel 2. Click to view larger image.

Photo taken on a Google Pixel 2. Click to view larger image.

Photo taken on a Google Pixel 2. Click to view larger image.


Google Pixel 2 and  Pixel 2 XL will be available in Kinda Blue, Just Black, Clearly White and Just Black, Black & White colors respectively. Pixel 2's price is said to start around 649 USD (~61,000 INR in Indian market) for 64 GB and (~70,000 INR in Indian market) for 128 GB and Pixel 2 XL's price is said to be around 849 USD (~73,000 INR in Indian market) for 64 GB and 949 USD (~82.000 INR in Indian market) for 128 GB.

Price of these smartphones are high (specially Pixel 2 XL), but there is good news for those who want to buy this new phone, more specifically, exchanging there old phones with the brand new Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Google is giving discounts of up to 500 USD in exchange. If you are a Pixel or Pixel XL user,  you are surely gonna get a high discount rate, which will lower the price nearly half the market value. This sounds an exciting offer for most of the buyers, while you will get a good discount if you exchange other manufacturer's smartphone with Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL.








References:
https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_2-8733.php
https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_2_xl-8720.php
https://9to5google.com/2017/10/07/google-pixel-2-photos-videos-samples-gallery/

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