Google Pixel (1st Gen) vs Google Pixel 2
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Google Pixel (1st Gen) and the Google Pixel 2, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Our rating | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Battery | 2,770 mAh | 2,700 mAh |
| Wired charging | 18W | 18W |
| RAM (max) | — | 4 GB |
| Storage (max) | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Screen size | 5 in | 5 in |
| Main camera | 12.3 MP | 12.2 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 143 g | 143 g |
| Released | Oct 2016 | Oct 2017 |
Summary: Google Pixel (1st Gen) is ahead on battery, main camera. Google Pixel 2 is ahead on our rating.
★ Which should you buy? Google Pixel (1st Gen) is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.
Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Features | — | Always-on display |
Platform
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | — | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 11 |
Memory
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4 RAM | — |
| Internal Storage | 32GB or 128GB UFS 2.0 | — |
| Card Slot | No | — |
| Card slot | — | No |
| Internal | — | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Type | — | UFS 2.1 |
Main Camera
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Single | 12.3 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.3", 1.55µm, PDAF | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS |
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, Night Sight |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@240fps | 4K@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@30/60/120fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@240fps (gyro-EIS) |
Selfie Camera
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2", 1.4µm | 8 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Features | — | HDR |
Battery
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 2770 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 18W wired (PD), Fast charging (7h talk time in 15min) | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Wireless Charging | — | No |
Body
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Dimensions | 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5 mm (5.66 x 2.74 x 0.33 in) | 145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm (5.74 x 2.74 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 143 g (5.04 oz) | 143 g (5.04 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum/glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM |
| Other | Water-repellent coating (not official IP rating), 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C 3.0 | — |
| Water & Dust Resistance | — | IP67 certified (up to 1m for 30 min) |
Comms
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | — |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| GPS | — | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
Launch
| Google Pixel (1st Gen) | Google Pixel 2 |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, October 04 | October 4, 2017 |
| Released | 2016, October 20 | — |
| Original OS | Android 7.1 (Nougat) | — |
| Last OS Update | Android 10 | — |
| Status | — | Released 2017, October 19 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Google Pixel (1st Gen) or Google Pixel 2?
Google Pixel (1st Gen) — 2,770 mAh for the Google Pixel (1st Gen) versus 2,700 mAh for the Google Pixel 2.
Which is newer, Google Pixel (1st Gen) or Google Pixel 2?
Google Pixel 2 — Oct 2016 for the Google Pixel (1st Gen) versus Oct 2017 for the Google Pixel 2.
Is the Google Pixel (1st Gen) or the Google Pixel 2 rated higher?
We rate the Google Pixel (1st Gen) 5/10 and the Google Pixel 2 8/10.
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