Last year's inaugural Pixel was such a slam dunk, I expected this year's Google Pixel 2 -- and larger Pixel 2 XL -- to carry Google's phone even further. In the most important ways, it has.

Google's Pixel 2 has a superb camera with OIS and excellent low-light shooting; It's water-resistant and Google Lens calls up a trove of information to help you explore your surroundings

The phone's battery doesn't keep pace with the Pixel's competitors and its Portrait Mode isn't as smooth on dual-camera phones; Its design feels dated and it doesn't have wireless charging or a headphone jack

The Google Pixel 2 is packed with some amazing internals in a humdrum design. Comparing to its predecessor, it has a speedy processor, improved camera modules, and offers outstanding Android experience. If you don't mind the big bezels, the Pixel 2 can easily satiate your hunger for power.

I have a hard time keeping phones for more than six months. The promise of a better experience with new hardware is often too hard to resist, but every once in a while a phone is good enough to keep me grounded. The Pixel 2 is probably one of those phones.

The Google Pixel 2 launched at Rs 61,000 and it made no sense to buy it at that time. However, the prices have dropped and I've seen Flipkart selling it for as low as Rs 39,999. At that price, it makes for a great premium compact smartphone.

The Google Pixel 2 clearly wins the heart of the user with top notch camera performance, immersive response and light weight design. The smartphone runs like breeze throughout no matter which type of game you're interested in.

The Pixel 2 has everything good about the guts and software of its larger 6in sibling, the Pixel 2 XL , but squeezed into a smaller phone. On paper that sounds fantastic, but the large bezels around the screen, with big top and bottom panels, make the Pixel 2 look dated next to its top-end Android...

very fast; long battery life; great screen; squeezable sides; latest version of Android and rapid updates; interesting built-in AI; water resistant; fantastic camera; unlimited photo and video backup

large bezels; dated design; expensive; no expandable storage or removable battery; no headphone jack; no wireless charging

Upgraded from a Nexus 5x, about 3 weeks ago. What a great phone! Don't let the size fool you. The phone runs so smoothly and effortlessly. Apps that I thought were fast on my old phone are 10x faster. And so far, the battery life is incredible!

I have just spent the last month using both the new Samsung S9+ and a Google Pixel XL as a second device. The difference is significant, with the Samsung Gal

With the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, it's clear that Google has chosen AI as its weapon of choice to fight the smartphone war. And given the company's prowess in machine learning, this is a smart move that has paid off.

The Pixel 2 is a great phone with excellent hardware and performance, a relatively boring design, respectable (but not amazing) battery life, and the best camera available in a smartphone today (if you don't need dual cameras).