HTC U12+ vs Google Pixel 2 XL: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Android Phones
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 2 XL remains the more compelling choice. Its superior 88-hour endurance rating significantly outweighs the HTC U12+'s faster Snapdragon 845 processor. While the U12+ offers quicker charging and a higher contrast ratio, the Pixel 2 XL’s longevity and software experience provide a more consistently satisfying user experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | HTC U12+ | Google Pixel 2 XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 49, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat15 800/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, May 23 | 2017, October 04. Released 2017, October 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2018, June 29 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum/glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.6 x 73.9 x 8.7 mm (6.17 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) | 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.22 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) Pressure-sensitive buttons | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~538 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~76.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super LCD6, HDR10 | P-OLED |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Sense UI | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS 16 MP (12 MP effective), f/2.6, 1/3.1", 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, AF | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), HDR, 24-bit/96kHz stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@30/60/120fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@240fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3, 50% in 35 min (advertised) | 10.5W wired (capped), PD2.0 |
| Talk time | Up to 24 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3520 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Translucent Blue, Ceramic Black, Flame Red | Just Black, Black & White |
| Models | U12, 2Q55100 | G011C |
| Price | About 450 EUR | About 520 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -52.7dB | Noise - 93.7 / Crosstalk - 79.7 |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 64h | Endurance rating 88h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1818:1 (nominal), 3.085 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: ∞ |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 77dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 99dB | Voice 66dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 78dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 263696 (v7) GeekBench: 9001 (v4.4) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 206711 (v7) GeekBench: 6055 (v4.4) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC U12+
- Faster processor (Snapdragon 845)
- Quicker charging (18W)
- Higher display contrast ratio
- Shorter battery life (64h endurance)
- Less refined software experience compared to Pixel
- Potentially less consistent camera performance
Google Pixel 2 XL
- Exceptional battery life (88h endurance)
- Industry-leading camera software (HDR+)
- Guaranteed software updates from Google
- Older processor (Snapdragon 835)
- Slower charging speed (10.5W)
- May exhibit some throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The HTC U12+ boasts a higher nominal contrast ratio of 1818:1 compared to the Pixel 2 XL’s infinite contrast ratio (typical of OLED). However, the Pixel 2 XL’s OLED panel delivers superior black levels and vibrant colors. The U12+’s sunlight contrast ratio of 3.085 suggests better visibility in direct sunlight, a practical advantage for outdoor use. Both phones lack high refresh rate displays, a common feature in modern flagships, but the U12+’s higher contrast may offer a more visually striking experience in certain conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. The Pixel 2 XL is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s HDR+ algorithm to produce stunning images with excellent dynamic range, even in challenging lighting conditions. While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the Pixel 2 XL’s image processing consistently delivers more natural-looking results. The U12+ likely offers more manual control options, appealing to experienced photographers, but the Pixel 2 XL’s point-and-shoot simplicity is a major strength. Sensor sizes and lens apertures are not specified, making a direct hardware comparison difficult, but Google’s software advantage is undeniable.
Performance
The HTC U12+’s Snapdragon 845, built on a 10nm process, represents a significant architectural leap over the Pixel 2 XL’s Snapdragon 835 (also 10nm). The 845 features Kryo 385 Gold cores clocked at 2.8 GHz, offering a substantial performance boost over the 835’s 2.35 GHz Kryo cores. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. While both chipsets are octa-core, the 845’s improved architecture and Adreno 630 GPU provide a noticeable advantage in graphics-intensive tasks. The Pixel 2 XL, however, benefits from Google’s software optimization, mitigating some of the performance gap.
Battery Life
The Pixel 2 XL’s 88-hour endurance rating is a standout feature, significantly exceeding the HTC U12+'s 64-hour rating. This difference is substantial and translates to a much longer time between charges for the Pixel 2 XL. While the U12+ supports 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 3.0, achieving 50% charge in 35 minutes, the Pixel 2 XL’s 10.5W charging (capped) is slower. However, the Pixel 2 XL’s superior battery capacity and efficiency negate the U12+'s faster charging speed for most users. The Pixel 2 XL’s Power Delivery 2.0 support offers a standardized charging protocol, while the U12+ relies on Quick Charge, requiring compatible chargers.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC U12+ if you prioritize raw processing power for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, and fast charging is crucial. You'll benefit from the Snapdragon 845's performance edge. Buy the Google Pixel 2 XL if you value exceptional battery life, Google’s industry-leading camera software, and guaranteed timely software updates. It’s the better choice for everyday users and photography enthusiasts.