SINGAPORE - Singtel, the exclusive partner for Google's Pixel 2 XL smartphone, has announced price plans for the device.
The smartphone will not require any upfront payment with Singtel's Combo 12 plan ($239.90 monthly). Those who sign up for the most affordable Combo 1 plan ($27.90 monthly) will have to fork out $1,098, which is identical to that of the Samsung Galaxy Note8. However, the upfront costs for the Note8 differs with the Pixel 2 XL's, depending on the plan. For instance, the Note8 costs $198 with the Combo 12 plan.
Only the 64GB Google Pixel 2 XL is available here and the phone will be in Singtel stores on Nov 15. Interested consumers can register their interest with Singtel now.
The Pixel 2 XL has garnered mostly positive reviews from tech media for its camera and deep integration with Google services.
But some early users in the United States - who received their devices on Oct 19 - have noticed that the outlines of the phone's on-screen navigation buttons are faintly visible, under certain conditions.
This may be a sign of screen burn-in, which is common in Oled (organic light-emitting display) screens used by the Pixel 2 XL. But screen burn-in typically happens after months or years of usage. For it to show up just days after its launch may indicate a potentially serious problem.
Google said its investigations found the Pixel 2 XL's display to be comparable to the Oled panels used in other premium smartphones in terms of differential aging (also known as burn-in). But the search giant will roll out software updates to maximise the life of the Oled screen.
In addition, Google plans to add a new display mode to enable more saturated colours on the Pixel 2 phones, after receiving feedback about the muted, less vibrant look of their displays.
More importantly, Google also announced that both the Pixel 2 XL and the Pixel 2 (not available in Singapore) will now come with a two-year worldwide warranty.
