November officially marks the end of the line for the Google Pixel 2 and 2 Twoscore, as security updates for both phones have halted. The devices are yet functional, and yous tin switch to custom ROMs like LineageOS to go on the security fixes coming, but the hardware is starting to age as well.This is a foreign year for phone releases, especially from Google. Owners of the Pixel 2 have three Pixel phones to choose from, if they want to stick to Google-made phones, and figuring out how they all stack up is a fleck complicated. Thankfully, we’re here to do all the hard work.



Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 4a 5G vs. Pixel 5

The Pixel 3 and four series would both exist upgrades for any Pixel 2 owner, but considering both phones simply have 1 and ii years of security updates left, respectively, it’due south probably a better idea to stick to newer devices. Google released three phones this year: the excellent upkeep Pixel 4a, the even-ameliorate Pixel 4a 5G, and the slightly-okay Pixel five.

Assuming you want to stay in the Pixel lineup, and y’all want the typical high-end phone features, the main option is between the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel five. Both phones are undeniable upgrades from the Pixel 2, just you’ll have to make up one’s mind which features are most important to y’all.

Pixel two Pixel 4a 5G Pixel five
Chipset Snapdragon 835 Snapdragon 765G Snapdragon 765G
Display Pixel 2: 5.0″ 1920×1080 60Hz OLED
Pixel two XL: half-dozen.0″ 2880×1440 60Hz OLED		 6.ii” 1080×2340 60Hz OLED 6.0″ 2340×1080 90Hz OLED
RAM 4GB 6GB 8GB
Storage 64-128GB 128GB 128GB
Rear cameras 12.2MP f/1.8 12.2MP f/1.7 Primary
16MP f/2.two Ultra-wide		 12.2MP f/1.7 Principal,
16MP f/ii.ii Ultra-wide
Front camera 8MP f/ii.four 8MP f/2.0 8MP f/two.0
Battery Pixel two: 2,700mAh
Pixel 2 40: three,520mAh
x.5W Charging		 3,800mAh
18W Charging		 4,080mAh
18W Charging
5G support No Yes Yes
Headphone jack No Yes No
Water protection IP67 None IP68
Wireless charging No No Yes
Dimensions Pixel 2: 145.seven ten 69.7 x vii.8mm
Pixel 2 XL: 157.9 x 76.vii x 7.9mm		 153.nine ten 74 x 8.2mm 144.7 10 70.4 x 8.0mm
Weight Pixel 2: 143g
Pixel ii Twoscore: 175g		 168g 151g
Toll N/A $500 $700

Compared to the Pixel two and 2 XL, the Pixel 4a 5G and 5 have more RAM, the aforementioned corporeality of storage (or more, if you have a 64GB Pixel 2), an additional wide-bending camera, and 5G support. The Snapdragon 765G in both phones should exist about every bit fast in existent-world usage as the Snapdragon 835 chipset in the Pixel 2, and the extra RAM and faster storage will besides aid functioning.

It’due south also important to consider the screens. The Pixel two had a 5-inch display, while the Xl model had a 6-inch panel. The Pixel 4a 5G has a larger screen (6.2″) than both phones, while the Pixel v (half-dozen.0″) is only larger than the base Pixel ii. If a big brandish is a priority, the Pixel 4a 5G might be the best candidate.

Since smartphone manufacturers still think paying more than for phones means you shouldn’t have a headphone jack, only the cheaper Pixel 4a 5G has a 3.5mm audio connector. The Pixel two was the outset Google phone to drop the connector, so you won’t lose anything jumping to the jack-less Pixel 5, but you would go the port pack with the 4a 5G.



The Pixel 4a 5G might be the best option for Pixel two owners

Wireless charging and water protection are too factors to consider. The Pixel 2 was Google’due south first water-resistant device, simply it but had an IP67 rating, so it couldn’t final more a few minutes submerged in water. The Pixel five has a higher IP68 rating, meaning it can stay underwater (up to 1.5 meters) for upwards to 30 minutes. Even so, the Pixel 4a 5G has no official water resistance, which is one of the few ways it’southward a downgrade from the Pixel 2. Meanwhile, the Pixel 5 supports wireless charging — something the Pixel ii and 4a 5G both lack.

The Pixel 4a 5G is the better value of the two phones, by almost accounts, since information technology has much of the same hardware and features as the Pixel five for $200 less. The Pixel v does take a smoother 90Hz screen, and the added bonuses of water resistance and wireless charging are nice to have, but the $700 price puts it in competition with the Galaxy S20 Atomic number 26 and other phones.


The competition

Google’s phones don’t exist in a vacuum — there are enough of other choices for a Pixel 2 upgrade. Nokia-branded phones from HMD Global bachelor if you lot want to stick close to stock Android, just nothing the company produces correct now is equally good of a value equally Google’s current Pixels. Also, few (if whatsoever) of Nokia’south Android phones receive the aforementioned iii years of Bone updates equally Pixels. Asus likewise doesn’t devious too far from stock Android, but the company is
actually
bad at updates, and near of its phones don’t piece of work on all U.S. networks.

Samsung recently committed to iii years of OS updates across near of its Android devices, though some models could get updates past that period — the Milky way S8 is most iv years old, but information technology is still receiving (infrequent) security patches.

If y’all’re looking for specific recommendations, we have a listing of the best Android phones you lot tin bank check out.