For any average user, the answer is a firm no. Even a budget "A-series" Pixel from a few years ago will offer a vastly superior camera, better battery life, and, most importantly, the security updates necessary for modern life. The Pixel 2 XL is a classic, but it is a classic that belongs on a shelf, not in your pocket.
Released in 2017, the Pixel 2 XL earned its legendary status through its computational photography and the "Panda" aesthetic. However, time has not been kind to its internals. The Snapdragon 835 processor, once cutting-edge, now struggles with the bloat of modern applications and web scripts. Furthermore, with only 4GB of RAM, multitasking—something we now take for granted—becomes a lesson in patience as the system constantly kills background processes. should i buy the pixel 2 xl
The only compelling reasons to buy one today are niche: you are a collector of mobile history, a hobbyist looking to experiment with custom ROMs, or you specifically want a cheap, dedicated device for its unlimited (high-quality) Google Photos storage—a perk that was grandfathered into these older models. For any average user, the answer is a firm no