Pixel 2 XL review: A.I. magic on a 6-inch display

You'll want the Google Pixel 2 XL if you're looking for the purest, most elegant Android experience possible in a 6-inch phone. You'll want the Pixel 2 XL if you're looking for a stunning display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, amazing portrait photography, and a ton of surprise-and-delight features made possible by Google Lens and the rest of Google's A.I. tool chest. When the Pixel 2 XL was announced on Oct. 4, Google reminded us that its machine learning engine is watching our every move to improve its A.I. algorithms. So, yes, the Pixel 2 XL's ever-Googley magic tricks may keep robophobes up at night. And you'll rightfully want one it if you're due for a phone upgrade. But if you already own the original Pixel, your decision is more difficult. The Pixel 2 XL kicks ass, but much of what makes it special--stock Android, the Google Photos experience, Google Assistant in the home button, and Google Lens--are available in the first-generation Pixel phones, too. To this extent, the Pixel 2 XL (and the smaller Pixel 2, which I'll review soon) are victims of Google's success at creating a cloud-first, machine-learning platform that spans #MadeByGoogle devices. The Pixel 2 XL feels great in the hand. Before we drill down into features, let's get straight to Pixel 2 XL specs.