Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones have been launched into the market and like yesteryear’s Pixel phones, the new 2017 Pixels are also earning raving reviews from experts who went hands on with the device at the launch event.
If you’re upgrading from an iPhone to Pixel 2, there are a lot of things that you’ll have to learn. Even basic things like taking a screenshot. And we’re here to help.
On Google Pixel 2, taking a screenshot is simpler by just pressing the Power and Volume down buttons together for a while. This is very easy to do. However, you may have to use two hands to take a screenshot with the hardware buttons, unless you’ve the device in your left hand where you can reach the Power button with your index finger and Volume down button with your middle finger. But then again, you may just miscalibrate and hit the Volume down key first, triggering the Volume control pop-up on the screen and end up with a messed up screenshot.
So what’s better than taking a screenshot on Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL without using the hardware buttons? Well, there are a few apps on the Play Store which can take screenshots with convenient gestures such as shaking your phone. But what we like the most for taking a screenshot hands free on Android devices is the Google Assistant.
With Google Assistant, you can take a screenshot on your Pixel 2 just by using voice. All you’ve to do is say “Ok, Google! Take a screenshot”, and the assistant will take a screenshot of your current screen and give you instant options to edit or share the screenshot you just took. But there’s a catch to this. If you’re taking a screenshot just to save it to your Gallery, then this isn’t the option for you. Unfortunately, when you take a screenshot with Google Assistant, it doesn’t save it to phone’s gallery, it only gives you the options to share it with other people. If you don’t share, the screenshot gets lost as if it was never taken.
Pixel 2 screenshot size is 1080 x 1920 pixels (16:9 ratio), while the Pixel 2 XL screenshot size is 1440 x 2880 pixels (18:9 ratio).
