Deep inside the phone was a secret, Google-designed "Visual Core" chip that wasn't even active at launch. When Google "switched it on" months later via an update, it significantly boosted HDR processing speeds, making the phone feel brand new again. Buying One Today

You can often find them for around $140–$150 on secondary markets.

When the Pixel 2 XL launched, it became an instant design icon known as the or "Penguin" phone due to its striking black-and-white color scheme and signature orange power button . It was the phone everyone wanted to buy for its aesthetics and Google’s "pure" Android experience. The "Screen-Gate" Disaster