14 DAY TRIAL // The problems with Pixel 2 XL screen seem to keep on piling up, and now users are even reporting seeing black smear, an issue that is visible when scrolling fast and the display has to switch from one color to another quickly.
The first issues with Google Pixel 2 XL were reported right after the first units have started to ship to various reviewers around the world. People noticed that with the brightness set to low, the background had an uneven distribution, a problem that doesn’t seem to exist for other models using OLED screens.
Then, users started to notice that some of the units had a very noticeable blue tinge when looking at it from an angle. It might not seem like a bit problem, but it should be something that was solved ages ago.
To top it all, after a week or so of testing, the devices started to show a slight burn-in effect where the software buttons are places. This means that you can still see the buttons on the screen, even if the display is off. Here is an example from Ars Technica.
Black smear sounds bad
It’s very difficult to imagine a situation when the term “black smear” has any kind of positive connotation. Now, users have started to report that this effect is visible well, although it’s not clear whether it’s common to all the displays, or it’s a problem just for some people. The example posted by Stephen Hall (9to5google) is relevant.
More Pixel 2 XL pOLED fun. These black pixels are taking like half a day to turn on when scrolling. pic.twitter.com/cnuBTasokk — Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) October 23, 2017
One thing is clear though, the new POLED screens built by LG used in the new generation of Pixel 2 XL are definitely not up to today’s standards, and that’s obvious because the same type of technology was used in the LG V30, and that model has its own set of problems.
Of course, Google has already issued a statement, but it’s an annoying one because it's basically saying that they are looking into the matter, and they are downplaying the importance just how much this has spread.
“The demand for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL has exceeded our expectations, and we’re thrilled with the positive reaction to our new phones, both from the reviewers who have tried and tested our devices thoroughly and from consumers who are switching to Pixel. We take all reports of issues very seriously, and our engineers investigate quickly. We will provide updates as soon as we have conclusive data.”
Many people report problems, but not all
To be fair, not everyone is reposting problems with the display on their Pixel 2 XL, and that can have a couple of explanations. Either the problems are not common to all of the units that have been sent out to early adopters and reviewers, or some people just don’t notice these issues. Which also has a corollary, and that is some users are merely nitpicky, although that’s unlikely.
To make things even a worse, a Reddit user reported receiving a Pixel 2 XL unit that failed quality control, and that had the mention "Cosmetic damage."
When we put all of this together, we have to wonder if Google has any kind of quality testing in place, or if they are just winging it. Well, at least they are not blowing up.
