10 Best Google Pixel 2 Alternative in 2024
The Google Pixel 2 is a phenomenal phone — it brings us what stock Android is supposed to look like in a premium device with top of the line hardware. With a great camera, great display, and long lasting battery, it’s hard to pass up the Pixel 2. However, the Google Pixel 2 isn’t for everybody — not everyone likes vanilla Android, opting for OEM skins and better built-in software. If you’re that person, there’s still some great options on the market for you. There are plenty of Google Pixel 2 alternatives out there with the same great hardware, but different experiences. If you follow along below, we’ll show you the best of the best. Here are our top picks.
At A Glance: 10 Best Google Pixel 2 Alternative in 2022
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Our Top Pick
- Essential Phone
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Product | Brand | Name | Price |
---|---|---|---|
SAMSUNG | Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | Check Price on Amazon | |
Apple | Apple iPhone X | Check Price on Amazon | |
SAMSUNG | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Check Price on Amazon | |
LG | LG V35 ThinQ | Check Price on Amazon | |
Essential | Essential Phone | Check Price on Amazon |
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Best Google Pixel 2 Alternative
1. Samsung Galaxy S9
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a phenomenal alternative. It’s still got a large and beautiful 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display, as well as all the best hardware packed in it. The Galaxy S9 actually has a lot of similarities to the Galaxy S8 — it’s not very different at all; however, there are some small changes that Samsung made to essentially perfect the Galaxy S8. There were a few flaws in the Galaxy S8 that were corrected and changed in the Galaxy S9 to make the perfect smartphone. So, if you’re looking for something on the edge of perfection, you cannot go wrong with the Galaxy S9, especially with its phenomenal camera and nearly all-day battery life.
2. Essential Phone
We really like the Essential Phone, too. Andy Rubin, the Father of Android, has brought a luxury smartphone to the market at low cost. It still has some great hardware packed in it, but one thing that folks will like the most is the screen. It has a Full Screen display, meaning there’s very little bezel here, which gives you more real estate. The 5.7-inch LCD is beautiful and makes watching media a fun time. It’s got a great camera as well, bringing in 200% more light than most Android phones on the market right now. That makes for a really great shot or video that goes beyond what many would say as “Instagram-worthy.” The phone itself has an awesome battery, too.
3. Galaxy Note 8
The Galaxy Note 8 still a phenomenal smartphone, even if the Galaxy Note 9 is here. It still features that large display and a decent size battery — a whole 3,300mAh, actually. You still have the S-Pen experience as well, and you should get all the software that comes with the Note 9’s S-Pen on the Note 8 — this is because the major software release usually gets pushed out to all of the flagships from the prior couple years. That said, the Galaxy Note 8 really is a good Google Pixel alternative that won’t break the bank.
4. LG V35 ThinQ
The LG V35 ThinQ is next up on our list, and is one of our favorites because it was designed for creators. If you’ve been frustrated with your phone’s abilities to support your photo and video taking, then the V35 ThinQ will definitely be right up your alley. You’ll not only be able to take some great photo and video with the LG V35 ThinQ — you can take some really detailed photos, but also film in 4K if you want. Not only that, but one of the unique things about the LG’s V series is all of the manual controls you can mess with within the software — easily adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and more.
5. iPhone X
Deciding that you’re not liking Android anymore? Maybe you’re looking on with envy at some of the exclusive apps iOS gets, or some of the awesome technology and hardware packed in the latest iPhone devices. Then you should check out what the iPhone X has to offer. You get a 5.8-inch Super Retina AMOLED display, so media looks great and reading is easy on the eyes. It does have a notch in the display for Face ID, which is a great replacement for passwords and mobile payment authorizations. There’s very little bezel here, as it is a full-screen display, so despite being 5.8-inches, there’s still a lot of screen here. Battery should last you all day, and with the latest Apple A11 Bionic chip, this phone should be able to handle anything you throw at it.
6. LG G7 ThinQ
We’re big fans of the LG G7 ThinQ as well. It has a massive 6.1-inch display with a Quad HD+ resolution. Quad HD+ makes movies and TV shows look great on this phone. Text is also really sharp, so reading doesn’t hurt the eyes at all. It does have a notch in screen (a la the iPhone X), for LG’s own Face ID, but it can be gotten rid of/hidden into a notification pane. The LG G7 ThinQ is a great choice for camera lovers, as the dual 16-megapixel camera sensors will not disappoint. With this camera module, you can take super wide angle photos that you’ll be proud of. A large battery means that, depending on use, you should get all-day life out of it.
7. Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Next, we have the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the latest and greatest smartphone from Samsung. If you want something with a big screen, the Galaxy Note 9 is your guy. It’s actually pretty unique because of its massive dual-curved display. The curved edges provide a unique screen perspective, and also add some more capabilities to the smartphone — software features like People Edge, Apps Edge, and more.
The screen itself comes in at a whopping 6.4-inches in size. And since it’s a Super AMOLED panel, you’ll get deep and rich colors. Pair all of that together and you get an excellent media experience for watching movies, TV shows, videos, and more. Not to mention that that leaves you more room for managing multiple apps on the screen at once!
8. LG V30
Coming up next, we have the LG V30. The LG V30 has some similarities to the LG G7 ThinQ, but it’s also pretty unique. LG designed the V series with creatives being able to take control of their photography and video features. It has a dual-camera setup, so you get a 16-megapixel and 13-megapixel camera on the back. The camera suite that comes with phone has all of the manual features you might need to make your videos and stills unique. 4K video recording is supported as well. It has a 6-inch Quad HD display for viewing media and reading rich text, too. A 32-bit Quad DAC means you’ll get a great sound experience as well.
9. iPhone XS Max
The Apple iPhone XS Max is the latest smartphone from Apple, featuring a number of enhancements over the original iPhone X. You get all of Apple’s latest hardware, so you’ll be able to play high-end games and demanding productivity apps without a hitch. Not only that, but you’ll get a whole lot more real estate with the larger 6.5-inch Retina display. Media will look excellent on this phone, and text will look super sharp.
10. iPhone XR
Don’t want to break the bank, but still want to see what life’s like over on the iOS and Apple side of the fence? Then the XR will be right up your alley. It has a large display, and comes with industry leading facial recognition technology — you can actually easily replace all of your passwords and verify payments with it! The iPhone XR still runs on Apple’s latest chipsets, so you’ll be able to handle demanding applications without a hitch. However, this is considered Apple’s “budget” phone, so you do get a downgraded battery and camera in comparison to the iPhone XS.
Best Google Pixel 2 Alternative Verdict
Any of these phones will do really well as a Google Pixel 2 replacement, though we do have to say that the Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9 are our favorite alternatives.
Product | Brand | Name | Price |
---|---|---|---|
SAMSUNG | Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | Check Price on Amazon | |
Apple | Apple iPhone X | Check Price on Amazon | |
SAMSUNG | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Check Price on Amazon | |
LG | LG V35 ThinQ | Check Price on Amazon | |
Essential | Essential Phone | Check Price on Amazon |
* If you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For more details, please visit our Privacy policy page.