yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] obsanity:
None of the Samsung phones until the Galaxy 8 series had onscreen navigation keys. Your "Samsung AMOLED screens don't burn" theory does not apply.

Samsung avoided onscreen navigation keys for the longest time because of that very reason. Now that they have to use them, they made sure to mitigate burn effect with tricks. The most important trick is to fill the unused area with color. Transparent navigation keys are ideal because it's not the navigation keys that are burning the screen, it's the stuff around it.

Your entire screen is wearing off pixels including navigation key symbols and degrading it over time but Google's navigation area is black most of the time. This is why it looks brighter when looking at the gray test image. Because it's fresh and unused.

So... Use an app to fill it with color:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.damianpiwowarski.navbarapps

PS

Only Blue and Green pixels experience this life wear. Red pixels do not.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] meboy:
Nope. It's your theory that's incorrect.

What about a black top status bar with white battery icon clock and signal in the same place all the time?

That would show right? But it doesn't on my S6 that has always been like that and in normal use for 3 years.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] brooklynchildxbc:
i just checked out a xl in the verizon store didn't see burn in or the grain or even the uneven blotchy look did see a bit or the blue tint wasn't too bad and the color wasn't as vivid as the galaxy or even my pixel xl it could hopefully just be a bad batch of phones hoping it's not all phones but if anything i'll root and remove the navbar and go pie controls
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] rsbenedict:
If you really want to put this in perspective, use some realistic analogies. I'm not going to eat my phone and my phone isn't going to kill me. It's an imaging device and to be honest, if it has it or not, it's just not a big deal. If it is to you, then cancel and make sure you only get an LCD paneled phone. It's a byproduct of OLED screens. If you prefer OLED over LCD, then you deal. Samsung or any other manufacturer who uses OLED screens are not immune.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] meboy:
It would seem that Samsung displays are indeed much more immune though.

So no. You don't have to deal. Just don't have your screen brightness on Max on all the time and don't buy a phone with a crappy OLED screen.

You should thank God that other people are willing to try and stand up to companies on your behalf.

Otherwise things like that would be much more common.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] chrisc93:
Status bar usually changes color with the app. So we'd need to investigate this further to see what's up.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] meboy:
In some launchers and some versions of android. Being XDA, many have customized behavior. But for many it's always black. Or at least very often if they are using dark themes.

Enough by far that it would be much more widespread if Samsung screens were equally susceptible.

Here's more to consider regarding what's up with the on screen keys..

Thank God it's a "pure" and "clean" Android experience without that horrible Samsung "bloat" like pixel shifting right guys?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] sirlinux03:
This is getting out of control, phone = meat... Lol. I see people here first thing they gonna do before logging in to Google acct is download a gray image just to see every 2 minutes the screen and then come here to post the "burn". "I just got screen burn, I'm returning this piece of $#!+, shame on Google you just loose a customer". Smh. I just see it coming. Y'all made my night. Rat ground beef... Y'all crazy.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] clothednblack:
My phone isn't here yet, but Holy crap, it's GOING to have the screen retention/burn/ghost image thing that's flooding the internet!

Yet, I don't care, even though I paid in full.... I still don't care. Solid gray wallpaper is ugly and substratum will be my go to for color anyways. Lol.

Thanks for the laugh!
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] blcklab:
This is great. Thanks. Put it on my pixel (which has burn in, but maybe image retention) just to play with it.

Are you using active app color or a static color?

---------- Post added at 05:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:29 AM ----------

Google s8 oled burn in. Reads like pixel 2 xl.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] obsanity:
I used per app but now I'm using a all white. You can do cyan which is both greed and blue pixels without any reds.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] mkouk:
More issues with the XL2 screen: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_2_xl_display_reportedly_has_black_smear_issues-news-27886.php

It looks like Google will have to quickly come out with an official response that addresses all the issues with the XL2's screen else it will turn into a big PR disaster.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] Redrockzz:
It already is a PR disaster imho.

But we'll see how google reacts to all these issues.

Maybe they just say: all works how it should. :D
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] eep2378:
Mkbhd review is up....more thoughts on display, not all bad.

https://youtu.be/KvNis_A6UaI
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] Poloasis:
And the hits just keep on coming!

https://youtu.be/upLTjUzrRxw
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] proof2006:
He perfectly summed it up. Bravo to him.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] Poloasis:
I think he's review was on point but It may be too early. What's that means? What if the screen burn-in that appears just after few day gets worst. What about screen burn-in after 1 month if this continues on affected phone. Like he says, some may come with it some may not, so this becomes like a lottery. Remember overclocked CPU's?

So if this gets more widespread and becomes worst about the screen, his review videos may be inconsistent.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] LordGrahf:
You think they can continue to sell this phone starting at $850 after a month or two? Making me think I should return mine now before the inevitable price drop. This is a pretty big PR cf for Google which I think will also affect people's perceptions of the smaller pixel 2 and all of their recent and soon to be released hardware offerings.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] sirlinux03:
MKBHD hit it. The "burn" thing is going to be there no matter what. I'm 100% sure, it is on the pixel XL. You won't see that ever unless you use the gray photo and look for it, which is non-sence, period. So, don't expect Google recalling phones or something like that. If you request a replacement it will be the same and you just wasted a RMA. If you are not willing to live with the ghost, then don't break ur head and don't buy it. Simple as that.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] blcklab:
So White buttons on a white background?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
All of these complaints from reviewers and people and I have yet to see an actual review that actually scientifically tested the screen calibration. Seems like a huge amount of reviewers and people that have no idea about calibration and are used to the OVER SATURATED OLED displays from companies like Samsung. Also regarding the blue shift at different angles did everyone forget that Google did state during the keynote that they optimized the screen so that viewing with polarized sun glasses was possible or did this just slip everyone's mind?
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] mrhumble1:
*sigh*

This is the last straw for me. The Verge is pulling its review score for the XL along with its recommendation.

I've decided to cancel my pr-eorder. I understand that these issues might not have a huge impact on me but I just don't want to risk it, and I don't really want to bother with the hassle of getting the device and then returning it. I have a perfectly excellent Nexus 6P that is working very well so I have no pressing need for new hotness.

That being said, I do like new hotness, and am disappointed that this has blown up. I hope Google gets a handle on it, and I will get one when that happens. It really comes down to Google's insistence this phone be sold at a premium. If this were a $500 phone then I would not sweat it, but for the +$900 it would cost me, it's gotta be more solid than this. I paid $599 for my 128GB Nexus 6P a year ago and it's been an excellent phone. It still is, so I am not pressed at all to get the Pixel 2 XL. I just want one because it's the new hotness, but that's turning into new notness for many and I just don't want to bother with it. I have plenty of other things I can drop $900 on right now, especially with the holidays coming up.

Hopefully Google will get this sorted and I can feel confident in placing another order in a few weeks or months. Until then I am not going to bother with it. Boo on that. :(
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] sdelcegno:
My pixel 2 xl has been great not sure what the issue is. I mean yeah Samsung has a better screen but I have no issues with the one it comes with..maybe it's just me.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
Why not go into a Verizon or Bestbuy store and actually look at the device instead of relying on pointless reviews from The Verge which basically just grabbed uneducated info from the internet to pull the recommendation instead of actually testing this themselves.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] chrisc93:
I feel the same way. I've had the phone for almost a week now, and have loved every single part of it...except the display. I kind of got it as an impulse buy, and now I'll be returning it. The price is just way too high for this kind of quality/hardware. A $600 2 XL and $400 2 should have been the pricing. It's a shame really. But the more I think I can just "deal" with these hardware issues the more I realize that a $1000 phone shouldn't have these problems.

To all those who say just RMA till you're good, I don't want to do that. It's a waste of my time and a waste of Google's time. They should have had stricter QC for this release period. A $1K phone shouldn't have to be RMA'd until it's good.

Anyways, hoping Google learns from this and iterates better next year.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
I hope you are not relaying on the colors because this NOT a hardware issue. Google can tweak the display to show the full DCI-P3 colors or give you the option to increase saturation.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] mrhumble1:
Because I get to choose how I spend my $902, and I choose to wait until this is sorted. As I said, I already have an excellent phone (though it's a little old and a little slow). I can easily wait a few weeks or months until the final chapter is written.

As for going into a Verizon store, I just don't wanna. Regardless of what I saw there, I would know there are known issues that are unresolved.

Finally, calling The Verge "uneducated" is ridiculous. Plenty of phones are reviewed and tested by various tech media and have no issues like the ones found with the Pixel 2 XL. These issues have been reported by MULTIPLE tech sites, blogs, and media outlets. It's not like The Verge is by itself here. I have taken all this info into account, and still waited a week to decide to cancel. Trust me, I am not happy about it, but I know I would be uneasy with a $902 device that has known issues.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] chrisc93:
Nah, it's the blue shift and burn in/image retention. I was going to flash a custom kernel so the sRGB thing never bothered me. And TBH, I should have probably just stayed off the internet reviews for the phone. But now that I know there are so many inconsistencies with the product it make me wonder if mine could be better? The blue shift is pretty bad, I see it at the slightest tilts. The screen burn doesn't bother me THAT much, but it still just adds to the mix that this phone is overpriced. Saying that the you get more out of software is kind of ridiculous. I understand that software is important, but using hardware that's been out since spring should have lowered the price a bit. Google is making you pay more for software that can pretty much be ported to a lot of newish phones. Let's face it... you're on XDA so you probably are familiar with ROMs and such so you should know that the software that's in the Pixel will be leaked soon

I'll stick with my OP3T rocking Oreo with all of the Pixel 2 software goodies (launcher, assistant, etc).
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] MarcianoS:
Erica Sadun did. The numbers show confirm people's perception that the screen is muted. If I recall correctly, the 2 XL's screen does not quite cover the entire sRGB spectrum, and is lacking in the reds in particular. The "Vivid mode" toggle moves the covered area in the direction of the reds, but at the expense of other colors.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
While you are perfectly entitled to spend your money the way you wish, one thing that I want to mention is that all these "reviews" have yet to actually scientifically test the screen colors with a spectrometer and color meter, this is the problem I have with the spreading of all these screen issues.

The screen is calibrated to sRGB that is why the colors are more muted, but it is capable of displaying DCI-P3 if Google should so choose.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] Pappy35:
Screen burn, blue shift, clicking or noise problems. Any one of these I could take but all of them together? On a nearly thousand dollar phone? No way. I just cancelled my order. I really want this phone but I'll just have to nurse my 6P along until either it dies completely or people start reporting that Google has acknowledged and definitively fixed all these issues. I can't justify spending that much on a phone with all these initial problems. I think Google's good, but until they say something I can't get it on the assumption that they will do something.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] skip24ftlb:
What's really sad is pixelgate has killed the excitement, the thrill of getting something new. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling rather deflated over it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] rsbenedict:
Marques Brownlee talks honestly about the screen in his 17-minute review. He says the blue shift is there and so are the muted, more realistic colors, but has not experienced any of the other defects like burn-in, black smear, popping or clicking, etc. They could just be QC issues and an RMA could fix it.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] turbo23:
Okay, this is me signing off and leaving this P2XL thread. There will be fanboy retaliation and go ahead, vent if it makes you feel better. I cancelled my order, waited a week...reordered. The news is not getting any better. I decided that I would return to Touchwiz (ugh) and ordered an 8+ and dumped my #2 Pixel 2XL order. Maybe when Pixel 3 comes out or they revisit the Nexus line, I may try again. I realized the ONLY thing that kept me with a google device was the fast updates and Fi service, I really liked it too, gonna miss that $40 phone bill!

Sure Samsung and all manufacturer have bad products every now and then. They all can suffer from burn-in. My Nexus 6 has a little and its not horrible. I decided the features I was losing with the P2XL would haunt me daily, especially with my wife getting a Note 8. Wireless charging, microSD, HEADPHONE JACK, yeah...I'm so old school. Google is turning into apple, taking things away and charging more. I went with Android/Google to run away from Apple and they are turning into just that.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
Screen burn-in still is unknown at this point its too early and OLEDs can all have some screen burn in. Regarding Blue shift, not really sure why this is such an issue, because I know I do not look at my phone at an angle all the time, but to each their own. The clicking noise from I understand was isolated to the regular Pixel, not the XL and I have two XLs here that have none of these issues, I see the blue shift, but I believe that was due to the polarization and again not an issue when normally using the phone.

The color "issues" are what are annoying me because people think that there is a hardware issue and that is really software/calibration related. I agree that some people will not like the muted colors, but please do not say this is a hardware issue.

These are simple FACTS not fanboyism.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] skip24ftlb:
And more issues coming up...

https://www.androidcentral.com/some-buyers-experiencing-clicking-and-hissing-sounds-their-pixel-2
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
Yeah I saw that issue, I tried to see if I could get it to occur on the two XL's that I have, but I couldn't. Also most people that were having the issue had the regular Pixel, there is a thread on here regarding this issue. I suspect that this is a bad batch and does not affect all of the units.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] skip24ftlb:
Still doesn't bode well pr wise raidflex. The bad news just keeps coming for Google...
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] mrhumble1:
Dood, you are not listening to what anyone is saying. You type the same reply to everyone that doesn't have positive views, but you are not paying attention to our comments.

People disagree with you, and that's ok. You don't have to reply to every post trying to change everyone's mind.

As for fanboyism, I'm the biggest Android/Nexus fanboy there is. I bought the first Android phone ever released on launch day (T-Mobile G1, 2008) and have rooted/ROM'd almost every Android phone I have ever owned, and I have owned MANY. That being said I am still not spending $902 for a device that is sub-par. For that money, I don't want to make any concessions. The device should be ultra-premium, and it isn't. Until it is, we have every right to expect better and to wait or return the phone until WE FEEL everything is in order.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] ProAm500:
I don't think that it too much to ask....
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] jimv1983:
No phone is perfect. No matter what you get you will have to make some kind of concessions.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
People disagree which is fine, that is not the issue here. The issue is the bad PR that has been going around about so called hardware problems with this pOLED panel, when we basically have no reviews that actually used equipment to test the display scientifically. So how can all these reviewer's say there is an issue when they actually have not proven there is a hardware issue and just say the colors "look" dull/muted when this is due to the sRGB setting that Google has calibrated the device to.

Not trying to argue if you should buy or not buy this phone, I just hate the lack of proof and the way people jump to conclusions. It shows you how much power these reviewers have and that people should also take this with a grain of salt and really check the phone out for themselves. Or at least wait for an official response from Google.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] jtwlbz:
I returned mine due to screen issue and bad audio quality when record video. I am waiting on googles resolution on this. I really wanted to love this phone. I am really curious to see how google overcome this disaster.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] quickstang:
100% exactly me. Have the 6P, spent nearly (or almost did) $1000 & I'm not messing around with it. Luckily the 6P still works, & worst case scenario is I use my wife's old 5X that was refurbished by LG. I canceled my order this morning. It was supposed to ship today. I can wait until this all gets sorted out. What I'm not going to do, is return phones, wait for new ones, activate an older one, etc etc. And with this being the most I've ever spent on a phone, everything combined is unacceptable.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] meboy:
You have a few pages to read.

There are at least two but one is from phone arena who I don't trust for anything and another is from some YouTuber that seems legit but I don't know her well.

Both reviews are rather half assed but at least have some test results.

Pretty interesting how much difference there is between the two. Another sign of a very poorly made panel.

Probably the blue is more annoying in more situations than people wearing polarized sunglasses.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] gm007:
Is this one true?

https://www.slashgear.com/pixel-2-unit-fails-quality-control-still-shipped-to-buyer-24505182/amp/
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] quickstang:
You couldn't have said it any better. Exactly why I canceled this morning before it shipped today.

This right here..

"I am still not spending $902 for a device that is sub-par. For that money, I don't want to make any concessions. The device should be ultra-premium, and it isn't. Until it is, we have every right to expect better and to wait or return the phone until WE FEEL everything is in order."
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] Shuthefrontdoor:
It's not like it was impossible to use a oled screen with polarized sunglasses before, I don't see a need to cause blue shift for the 1% of people's lives that they wear polarized sunglasses. I'm sure 99% of consumers would prefer not to have blue tint at the expense of a slightly funny looking screen when using polarized sunglasses
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] RiffyDivine:
Mine turned up I used it just to get tmob to send me a 350 visa card and already told google I want to return it. I am not getting stuck with something that may crap out weeks from now. I'll just go back to a note 8 or just not upgrade this time around.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] obsanity:
I'm actually still experimenting but the app allows you to use an image which would need to be an inverse of the background and buttons, black buttons on white background. The other app I mentioned, custom navigation bar, allows you to customize those buttons but the option I'm looking at is the option to just remove them. The buttons are still there and work just fine.

I believe that would largely negate the burn in. In some cases like the launcher, the buttons are back to normal and having his alternate should wear that area evenly.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] meboy:
There is no way this display can do full DCI-P3.

Of the two tests I've seen one was close to full sRGB and the other was not even close.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] raidflex:
Okay maybe not full DCI-P3 but my main point was that this was not a hardware issue and just the way Google calibrated the display to sRGB. They could provide an update to allow more control over colors and possibly calibrate the display for DCI-P3. With all the complaints I would not be surprised if they do allow additional settings in an later update.
[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] blackhartct:
FYI I have my pixel 2 xl and I love it.

The blue tint is only noticable if you hold your phone at a sharp un-natural angle. You would never hold your phone like that trust me. And with polarized sunglasses you never see the tint so the sunglasses thing is true. This is a non issue.

The color temp is natural! I can actually edit photos in my phone now. I actually turn off the vivid mode.

Review units are the ones suffering burnin issues at the moment. It's possible that retail units are unaffected but that's yet to be know... At the same time idrc. If it's true that means I'll just get Google to replace my phone b4 the year warranty is up.

0 over heating while charging (big improvement in temps compared to the pixel Xl)

The slight curve on the screen mean no tempered glass protectors. OtterBox is the way to go if you care about such things

The ? sound amazing.

Bluetooth is finally good.

Battery life is kinda outrageous...

The camera is amazing.

At the end of the day is a throw away device. In a year most of us will be replacing it so... The screen is really a non issue. If it matters just buy the smaller phone or buy a Samsung or buy an iPhone..