MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – After glitches found by some reviewers, like the burn-in problem of Google Pixel 2 XL, the company said that they were already actively investigating the reports last Sunday.
Less than a week later, there are already results of the said investigation. Google is standing by the Pixel 2 XL screen but is also going to release some software updates. These include expanding the smartphone’s color scale and protecting it from any possible burn-in. It also comes with a 2-year warranty on both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones.
In a post from Mario Queiroz, the vice president of product management, in the Google Pixel forums, he said that their investigation had given them confidence that their display is as great as they have hoped for. He also stated that, despite their firm belief in their product’s quality, they are taking steps to fix the concerns they have heard.
One of the primary concerns about Google Pixel 2 XL is the screen burn-in. It came after several ghost images have surfaced which is still unclear if those are actual burn-in or just image retention.
However, Google said that the tests they’ve done showed that Pixel 2 XL is just like most phones when it comes to screen burn-in. This problem can affect the display panel through time, but they believe that Google Pixel 2 XL is not going to be worse than other smartphones.
From their extensive testing, they found that the decay characteristics of Pixel 2 XL are similar to the OLED panels which are used in premium phones. It shouldn’t affect the user experience when used under normal condition.
However, the team also understands the concern about the evidence of aging. So they are set to issue several software updates to help alleviate the masses’ fear.
Google said that they are currently testing a particular update that will enhance protection much further by putting an additional fade-out at the navigation bar buttons. They are also working with some other applications that can use a light navigation bar that is in line with their new color scheme.
The software update also includes reducing the maximum brightness by about 50 nits. It can significantly reduce the load on the screen with the subtle change in Pixel 2 XL’s observed brightness.
Another concern about the Google Pixel 2 XL feature is its rather narrow color scheme which is a little muted compared to what most Android users are fond of.
While Google said that their latest Oreo update was designed to create a better handle with the color spaces, another software update of the color gamut is coming.
Queiroz said that they are going to add another saturated color mode. It will be able to put the screen in an unmanaged configuration which provides a more vibrant color. But it will be less accurate than the Oreo update like most smartphones which feature dynamic color schemes.
Google already said that there was absolutely more smoke than fire, referring to problems about the smartphone. However, the recent post of Queiroz went into detail about the company’s plan to alleviate the concerns about Google Pixel 2 XL.
