TELUS | Why I NEEDED a Google Pixel 2 XL

Zach Bussey put it well; to paraphrase: “if you’re going to be a serious influencer, you should be using serious tools.” As someone whose phone’s fused to his hands, it’d better be a good one!

Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL—a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint—What's in the Box

I haven’t rocked a flagship model since my Lenovo Moto Z a little while back, and man do you notice a difference! The phones I’ve had since were okay, but there was always something not quite right when I used them. The camera wasn’t sharp enough. They lagged a little when I gamed. Enough of these imperfections and I knew—my next phone needed to be as close to perfect as possible… and that’s when I spied the Google Pixel 2 XL!

The Google Pixel 2 XL: Because Awesome Things Can Come in Small Packages

It’s been a while since I’ve written about them, but the team at TELUS came through when they let me step my smartphone game up with a Google Pixel 2 XL!

You can feel the difference soon as you take it from the box. Weighing in at 175 grams, the Pixel 2 XL houses hardware and software making it worthy of being a modern flagship phone. Android 8 in all its slick glory. Stellar sound through its HD stereo front-firing speakers. Sure, there’ll be things to get used to like the lack of a microSD port and its eschewing of a 3.5″ headphone jack, but it more than makes up for it with free unlimited full-sized uploads to Google Photo and blazing fast Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to all sorts of peripherals.

But it’s not as much about what’s inside the Google Pixel 2 XL as what it can do.

Even if you’re not all that techy, you’ve probably already heard about the 12.2-megapixel camera. Or how well the Pixel performs in low light. I’ve already tried it out at a tree-lighting ceremony after dark and capture 22-storey murals up close—the Pixel 2 XL takes an excellent photo. Every day I get to push its boundaries a little more—and now with features like AR Stickers and HDR+ built in, it lets you reimagine just what you can do with a smartphone!

I’d love to take this Pixel 2 XL out for a serious spin in the new year, but for now feel free to check out some of the images I’ve put taken with it so far!

  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — The Nook General Store Sign
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Canyon Creek Holiday Special
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — DECA Festival of Lights
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Playing With Blocks at Home
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Building Mural
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Govfest Finale
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Little Guy at the Library
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — East York Civic Centre Christmas Tree
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Snowy Day on Bay Street
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Sarah and the Little Guy Tobogganing
  • Why My Next Phone HAD to be a Pixel 2 XL — a Casey Palmer x TELUS Joint — Me and the Little Guy at Cocoro Café

The Google Pixel 2 XL—Get Yours at TELUS Today!

Ever since people found out I’m packing a Pixel, they’ve asked whether it’s as good as advertised.

At first, I had my doubts—early reviews had hangups about the “natural tone” of the screen—but my initial experience with the Google Pixel 2 XL has been nothing but great. I may sing a different tune months down the road, but I know so many die-hards of the original Pixel that I’m not expecting any woes anytime soon!

The Google Pixel 2 XL—it’s set a new bar for smartphones! Well—at least it has for me. You can grab one today from TELUS!

Enjoy the holiday season and until the next,

The second logo for Casey Palmer, Canadian Dad

Disclaimer: TELUS kindly provided a Google Pixel 2 XL with a Spigen case for my review. I was asked to focus on one feature in my review, but I was so impressed with it that I felt inspired to try something different. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.