‘Volume Google Pixel 2 XL speakers uneven’

The speaker below the Google Pixel 2 XL can be much louder than the speaker above the screen, claims 9to5 Google. The problem would be that the speaker above the screen would make the touchscreen vibrate too much if it could be louder, the site has heard from a source.

The difference in volume between the two speakers is about 10dB, 9to5 claims Google based on its own testing. That would lead to unbalanced sound when playing videos and playing games on the device, the site says. The difference would be noticeable in daily practice.

In addition to a test on its own review sample of the Google phone, the site already heard about this problem last month, before the announcement of the smartphone. The Pixel 2 XL’s software is said to limit the volume of the speaker above the screen to prevent screen vibrations. Lowering the volume of both speakers would ensure that the sound on the device cannot be loud enough, so Google would have opted for unbalanced sound. It is unknown whether the smaller Pixel 2 also has an artificial limitation on the volume of one of the speakers.

It’s not the only problem that reviewers point to with the LG-produced Google smartphone. They found several problems with LG’s OLED screen. For example, it suffers from burn-in or image retention, a blue tint can be seen at an angle and an uneven image is visible at low brightnesses. Google is investigating complaints about the display and has not yet responded to Google’s 9to5 claims about the speakers. The Pixel 2 XL was released last week in the US and will be released in mid-November in other countries including Germany.