Flagship phones certainly shook the tech industry in 2017 with Samsung, Apple, LG, Essential and recently Google unleashing specs with revolutionary features.
While it’s too early to say which of 2017’s smartphones will reign supreme, with the announcement of the Pixel 2 XL, it’s finally possible to see how the best phones from Apple, Google, Samsung, and more stack up head-to-head.
This review will compare the specifications and features of the "Big Three" flagship devices.
Galaxy Note 8 vs iPhone X vs Pixel 2 XL
1. Size: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
The Pixel 2 XL is only slightly larger than last year's Pixel phone. Google has increased the screen-to-body ratio by a few millimeters despite a half-inch more of display. It’s still a good deal bigger than the 5.8-inch iPhone X and only slightly smaller than the 6.3-inch Note 8.
Pixel 2 XL
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157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm
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iPhone X
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138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
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Note 8
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162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm
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2. Display: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
For the first time, all three phones feature AMOLED screens (Apple has long used LCDs in its iPhones). However, Note 8's Infinity Display is the only one with a true edge-to-edge screen. Apple's iPhone X stretches the limits by completely eliminating the top and bottom bezels on the iPhone X, even going so far as to design a notch in the center of the screen for the camera. The Pixel 2 XL is relatively pedestrian by comparison. All three displays feature rounded edges, and each differs a little in size.
Pixel 2 XL
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6-inch, 2880 x 1440 P-OLED, HDR, 538ppi
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iPhone X
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5.8-inch, 2436 x 1125 Super AMOLED, HDR, 458ppi
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Note 8
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6.3-inch, 2960 x 1440 Super AMOLED, HDR, 532ppi
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3. Performance: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
The iPhone X features Apple's own A11 Bionic chip.
Unlike last year, when Google debuted a new chip in its first Pixel phones, the Pixel 2 XL uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor as the Galaxy Note 8. The iPhone X, on the other hand, uses Apple's homegrown A11 Bionic chip, which has blown away benchmark scores.
But while the iPhone X is a good deal faster on paper, in real-world tests, all three phones should perform about the same. The Pixel 2 XL will likely have a long-term advantage over the Note 8 due to Android optimizations and steady updates, and the same is true for the iPhone X and Apple's regular iOS care.
4. Storage: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
All three phones start at 64GB of storage, but you can get a 128GB Pixel 2 XL and a 256GB iPhone X, both of which should provide plenty of space for apps, movies, and photos. While the Note 8 is available only in a 64GB version, it does have an SD Card slot for expanding storage up to 256GB. Pixel 2 XL and iPhone X do not have any expandable storage.
5. Water Resistance: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
Any of these phones can get really, really wet.
Each phone offers some level of water resistance, but the Note 8 wins this round:
Pixel 2 XL
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IP67 (submersion of 1 meter for 30 minutes)
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iPhone X
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IP67 (submersion of 1 meter for 30 minutes)
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Note 8
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IP68 (submersion of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes)
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6. Battery: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
The iPhone X features wireless charging, but the Pixel 2 XL doesn't.
All three phones have big batteries and either of them should easily get you through a full day of use:
Pixel 2 XL
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3,250mAh
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iPhone X
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2,716mAh
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Note 8
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3,300mAh
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The Pixel 2 XL sports a 3,250mAh battery, which is on par with most of its Android peers. Plus, Google promises that the Pixel 2 will get 7 hours of battery life from a 15-minute charge. The Note 8's is slightly larger with a 3,300mAh battery, and our testing showed it lasted about 10 hours.
It may not be a game of numbers for iPhone X since Apple's iOS optimizations do much of the heavy lifting and OLED is generally more power efficient then LCDs.
However, the Pixel 2 XL does not support wireless charging, something that is available on the Note 8 and the iPhone X.
7. Camera: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
The Note 8 has one of the best smartphone cameras... but the Pixel 2 XL's might be better.
Here's where things get interesting. All three of these phones feature awesome cameras, but DxO says the Pixel 2 XL has the best camera they've ever tested, achieving a near-perfect score of 98. For comparison, the Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both got 94s, the previous highest score.
On the video side, the Pixel 2 XL film 4K in 30fps, while iPhone X films at 60fps. The Note 8 also tops out at 30fps, though Samsung says a 60fps update is coming soon. Additionally the Pixel 2 XL and iPhone X both have slo-mo video support for 1080p at 240fps, while the Note 8 only supports 720p.
8. Special Features: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
Each of these phones has something about it that sets it apart from the other:
Pixel 2 XL
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Active Edge, squeezable sides to launch Google Assistant
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iPhone X
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S-Pen for taking note, drawing
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Note 8
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Face ID for unlocking and Animoji
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The Pixel 2 XL's defining feature is actually borrowed from the HTC U11. Originally called Edge Sense, it lets you physically squeeze the sides of the the phone to launch apps and actions. On the Pixel 2 XL it's tied to Google Assistant, giving users one more way to summon the digital helper. Whether it's more useful than the Note 8's S Pen or Face ID on the iPhone X will depend on the user, but it's pretty gimmicky.
9. Price: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
Neither of these phones are cheap, but the Pixel 2 XL comes in a bit less than the Note 8. The iPhone X is the most pricey with a tag of $999.
Pixel 2 XL
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$849 ($64GB), $949 ($128GB)
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iPhone X
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$999 (64GB), $1,149 (256GB)
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Note 8
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$930 (64GB)
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10. Availability: Pixel 2 XL vs iPhone x vs Galaxy Note 8
You can buy the Note 8 anywhere, but the Pixel 2 XL is still a Verizon exclusive.
This is a big difference. You can walk into any carrier and buy a Note 8 or an iPhone X (once it's available), but the Pixel 2 XL is still exclusive to Verizon stores. Unlocked phones will be sold through Google.com and can be used with any carrier.
