Apple seems to have captured the flagship (top range) smartphone market with its iPhone X. The company has taken the first step towards bezel-less smartphones with its new OLED design. Furthermore, new innovative features like Face ID abandon the fingerprint sensor in favor of facial recognition. Meanwhile, Google is not to be outdone as they offer their own flagship models - the Pixel 2 and 2 XL. The new handset models both ship with Android 8.0 Oreo along with some nifty new features. We look at some of the notable new functions that accompany the new units and what they offer.
Google Pixel 2 & 2 XL display color adjustments
When Pixel was released, the phones reportedly relied on the sRGB setting as its default, which apparently caused users to criticize the manufacturer’s decision. Compared to other flagship models from OnePlus, LG, Samsung, and others, it was pointed out that their colors look a bit muted. The search giant took immediate action and included more color profiles together with the latest software update. Two new options made available are “Saturated” and “Boosted.” Most users recommend the former to give the display a much-needed pop.
Disable annoying notifications
According to PC World, Android 8.0 Oreo is quite focused on battery life and performance.
Notifications are some of the notable battery hogs that sometimes sap out power unnecessarily. Due to some apps that are required to run in the background, the new OS will continuously prompt the user regarding their battery usage. Thankfully, Google Pixel 2 & 2 XL users can opt to disable these notifications via its notification channels.
Owners can finally turn off those annoying pop-ups reminding them about certain apps’ power consumption. Just long press the annoying notification and turn off its toggle.
Adaptable themes
Another extra thrown in by Google automatically tweaks the smartphone’s theme during a wallpaper change. Moreover, the OS likewise changes the tint on some elements depending on the color of your background.
Lighter colors trigger the standard light theme default on Android 8.0 Oreo, while darker shades prompt the system to switch to a similar theme.
Enhanced HDR mode
Google’s flagship smartphones are known for their excellent imaging. Their units reportedly rely on the company’s HDR+ processing technology. Their 2017 models take it another step further with Enhanced HDR mode albeit with a small compromise. The setting can be accessed under the Advanced submenu from Settings. Once enabled, users can toggle between HDR+ and HDR+ Enhanced directly from the viewfinder options. The new mode will reportedly take breathtaking snapshots as long as the subject is stationary.
View Bluetooth device battery level
The Google Pixel 2 & 2 XL done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack just like other brands. Since most Bluetooth devices like headphones lack a battery level indicator, it might be difficult to gauge the accessory’s current charge level. However, the flagship smartphones come with a new feature that indicates the estimated battery life of wirelessly connected devices via the Bluetooth drop-down list.
