Google has discontinued the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, the company’s flagship smartphones from last year. As first spotted by Android Police, the Pixel 2 has been scrubbed from the Google Store page, and the old Pixel 2 URL now redirects to the Pixel 3 page.
The Pixel 2XL was probably Google’s most competitive smartphone to date. There were the usual Pixel features—a great build of stock Android, fast updates, and a great camera—but the Pixel 2 was the last phone from Google with an aluminum body. (Remember aluminum? It didn’t shatter when you dropped it.)
The real rarity from the Pixel 2 XL was a design from Google that was actually good, with slim bezels (for the time) and a unique design that didn’t look like an iPhone. Google basically carried the Pixel 2 XL design a year forward for the smaller Pixel 3.
With the death of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, Google ups the ante on its title of “World’s most expensive smartphone lineup” going by entry-level price.
While many manufacturers sell low- and mid-range smartphones and offer older premium models at a discount, Google stops manufacturing its older models shortly into the life cycle of the new model.
Once the old models sell out, they’re gone forever. Previously, the older Pixel 2 was selling for $649, which still made it the most expensive entry-level smartphone from a manufacturer, but it was better than only carrying the Pixel 3.
With the discontinuation of the Pixel 2, Google’s phone lineup starts at a whopping $800 MSRP.
Meanwhile, Apple’s entry-level phone is the 2016 iPhone 7 for $449, and Apple also still sells the iPhone 8 for $599. If you’re looking for something with a more modern design, Apple makes a purpose-built cheaper iPhone, the iPhone XR, for $749.
A “mid-range” Pixel phone has been rumored for a full year now. It sure would be great if Google would actually release something with a lower price.