Google's latest reference smartphone, the Pixel 2, is out. Our reviewer, Dan Rosenbaum, has the details on what it's like to use and whether it's enough to tempt an iPhone user to switch. Credit: Computerworld For high-end smartphone buyers – whether you prefer Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS – this may well be the best of times. The iPhone 8 is out, the X arrives in just a few weeks, and the latest device from Google, the Pixel 2, is available now. What’s an Android-curious iPhone user to do? Adam Patrick Murray/IDG Pixel 2 XL: Google’s marriage of hardware to software to machine-learning. With that question in mind, Computerworld Executive Editor Ken Mingis (a long time Apple dude) and tech reviewer Dan Rosenbaum – he also leans Apple – take a look at the Pixel 2 XL. Rosenbaum has been using it for a few days and finds it quite the delight. The important thing to remember, at least from an enterprise perspective, is that the Pixel 2 comes with Android 8.0 Oreo, meaning it has the latest updates and security fixes from Google. And that will be the case in the months ahead, since Google devices don’t have to wait for carriers to roll out fixes and OS updates – sometimes months after they’ve been released. Aside from that, Rosenbaum says, the Pixel 2 plays well with Oreo, and even its design is a plus. While not as sexy as the latest from Samsung, the Pixel 2 has a brushed aluminum back that seems less likely to slip out of your hand, a luscious OLED display, top-end camera setup, and a speedy 8-core Snapdragon 635. That combination of features and the price – the larger Pixel 2 with 128GB of storage tops out at $949 – is almost enough to tempt an iPhone user into making a switch. For an audio podcast only, click play (or catch up on all episodes) below. Or you can now find us on iTunes, where you can download each episode and listen at your leisure. Happy listening, and please, send feedback or suggestions for future topics to us. We’d love to hear from you. Related content news analysis Apple earnings: About that iPhone 'slump' in China Based on information from Thursday's earnings report, it seems that data pointing to an iPhone slump in China were over-baked. By Jonny Evans May 03, 2024 9 mins iMac iPhone Apple news Microsoft begins to phase out ‘classic’ Teams Microsoft is encouraging Teams customers to move to the new, faster version of the collaboration app; the older version will be switched off next year. By Matthew Finnegan May 03, 2024 3 mins Microsoft Teams Collaboration Software Productivity Software news analysis Apple confirms it will open up the iPad in Europe this fall The latest efforts to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act mean developers can offer to side load apps to both iPhones and iPads in the EU. Apple has also taken steps to improve what it offers to smaller and non-commercial developers in the By Jonny Evans May 02, 2024 6 mins iPad Apple Mobile Apps news Udacity offers laid-off US workers free access to its courses for 30 days Sign-ups will be available over the next 30 days By Lucas Mearian May 02, 2024 4 mins Technology Industry IT Jobs IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe