Google is rolling out software updates and extending Pixel 2 XL warranties to two years following widespread reports detailing screen burn-in on the new handset.
“We’re very confident that the Pixel 2 delivers an exceptional smartphone experience,” Google Vice President of Product Management Mario Queiroz wrote in a Thursday support note addressing the controversy. He went on to say that the company’s investigation has revealed that the Pixel 2 XL’s “decay characteristics” with respect to “differential aging” (aka burn-in) “are similar to OLED panels used in comparable products.”
According to the post, Google launched an investigation into the burn-in issue as soon as it received the first user complaint on Oct. 22.
“Our current investigation … confirms that the differential aging is in line with that of other premium smartphones and should not affect the normal, day-to-day user experience of the Pixel 2 XL,” Queiroz wrote. Even so, Google is planning to make some changes to address the problems users are experiencing.
“We use software to safeguard the user experience and maximize the life of the OLED display, and we’ll make ongoing software updates to optimize further,” Queiroz wrote.
Google is also planning to add “a new mode for more saturated colors” to address complaints that Pixel 2 XL displays don’t appear as vibrant as other phones. That option will be available via a software update expected to roll out to both Pixel 2 phones in the coming weeks.
On top of that, Google is extending the one-year manufacturer warranty for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones to two years. Every Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phone sold worldwide will now come with a 2-year warranty, the company said.
We here at PCMag have not experienced any issues with the display on our test phone, though we temporarily retracted the phone’s rating and Editors’ Choice endorsement earlier this week when the issues came to light. Based on Google’s response, we are now reinstating our rating; check out our Pixel 2 XL review for more information.