Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL issues: Software update to be released soon; fixes low-quality audio recording

Front and rear panel of Google Pixel 2Google Store

Not long after the screen and speaker issues of the Google Pixel 2 XL began to surface, there are now complaints from several users regarding distorted audio recordings. Pixel 2 XL users have been flocking to technical support threads online to find a solution, but the good news for now – Google finally took notice of the issue. A software update is expected to roll out in the future to fix the recording quality.

A spokesperson from Google told CNET that the search engine giant acknowledges the garbled audio recording quality using the Pixel 2 XL handset. The reason behind the recording issue has not yet been pinpointed, although Google is now working on a software patch to bring the audio clips' quality back to normal.

Initial reports about the audio recording distortion came from the online Pixel users' community, where people posted samples of terrible sound captures. The audio files after the recording were described as "sharp and tinny," but users have also complained about the muddled background sound. So far, the worst case of warbled sound clipping is an audio track muted for quite some time until the recording went back to normal.

The only audio recording complaints have all concerned the Pixel 2 XL, but there are no reports thus far regarding the regular-sized Pixel 2 variant. However, CNET already noted the smartphone's poor audio capture capabilities. When compared with the iPhone 8 Plus, the online publication's editor Lexy Savvides said that the Pixel 2's audio recording features fall flat. Early reviews on the Pixel 2 XL have already warned about the faulty sound clippings, as the audio is thinner compared to the Pixel 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

To recall, previous reports show that the Google Pixel 2 XL is already facing many issues concerning the display and speakers. For one, users have complained about the poor display quality as the screen background appears grainy when set in low brightness. In worse cases, hints of image burn-in have become apparent, only after a few days of use. As for the speakers, both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL models give off strange ticking sounds when playing music. Google already addressed these problems, also promising a software update coming in a few weeks to fix the issues.