Case roundup (expanded): Google Pixel 2 XL

Last year I covered a selection of the best cases for the Google Pixel 2 XL, but with the handsets new role as standard bearer for Android P testing, I wanted to highlight it again and also some new case options.

All covering a variety of styles, and all supplied by MobileFun, kind people that they are. See their complete range of Pixel 2 XL cases and covers.

Rather than make you click on two different stories, I'm covering the three new arrivals here first, and then I'll paste in the previous five case verdicts afterwards, all in this story/URL. OK?

New then are:

Olixar Ultra-thin Gel, £8

The adage that you get what you pay for is true here - when Olixar says 'Ultra-thin' it's not kidding.

It adds less than 1mm to the phone, while protecting the back from scratches and stains. Just don't expect any protection at all if you drop the Pixel 2 XL - there are no reinforcements, no bubbles of air, no struts or structure. Just a thin and pliable layer of clear plastic between your phone and the world.

Aside from not increasing the phone's thickness, the other main selling point here is the added grip in the hand - you get to enjoy the phone more or less as-is while improving grippability by a factor of 10.

Button cut-outs are perfect and I had no complaints with general operation.

But I have to come back to one of the main reasons why people put cases on their phones - to protect it if/when the phone gets dropped. And it's here that this super-cheap Olixar case falls down - the sides even sit lower than the display glass, so face drops have zero protection. And not much more for the rest of the device, from other angles, if I'm honest.

Grippy and thin, but you may want a lot more. I did.

Score: 6/10

VRS Design High Pro Shield, £20

An oh-so professional design with a critical design flaw. But I'll come to that. In the meantime, this is a slick, attractive, protective, super-premium case in every way. The contrasting plastic textures on the back, in particular, are a real treat for the fingers. I can't even decide which of the two I like more, so hey, with the case you get both!

The case is actually in two parts, with a metal-effect plastic hard outer rim and then everything in black is well moulded plastic (with one exception).

In the hand, the VRS case is top notch, it adds thickness (and height/width) but also a lot of protection.

You even get case sides/ends that are raised over the phone's display, so there's face-down drop protection too (though not as good as on some of the other designs below):

But now we come to the kicker and the reason for the low score - the moulded plastic over the Pixel 2 XL's buttons is way too thick and not hinged or made flexible in any way. The result is that it's far, far too hard to press the buttons in day to day life. Having to exercise the grip of an athlete just to turn on the screen or adjust the volume isn't right. At all.

Score: 4/10

Spigen Liquid Crystal, £18

You'll know from past reviews (including those below) that I'm a fan of Spigen. Their designs are so perfectly fitting, so protective. The Liquid Crystal Clear is a variant I've not seen before and it has the obvious advantage that you can see the phone's colourings (e.g. the 'Panda' version of the 950 XL, which I don't own - sob) and the obvious disadvantage that stains and marks and scratches will build up over time.

But never mind the odd smudge and scratch - you can always buy a replacement case next year if it all gets too much, eh?

In the meantime, the Liquid Crystal knocks it out of the park, with super grip in the hand and reinforced edges and corners - there's a sense that a phone in this case could survive multiple drops onto concrete without breaking sweat.

Not least because the sides and ends of the case wrap over the front screen glass on the phone, so even a face-down drop should be full protected against. Very nice indeed.

Finally, the fit and finish over the phone's volume and power buttons is perfect. When pressing them, it's as if you're pressing the real buttons on the phone hardware.

Score: 9/10

And here, with the same scoring system, are the previous five cases reviewed:

Olixar Leather-style Wallet Case, £10

Darn it, this case is so close to being perfect. Admittedly you have to like the all-encompassing 'folio' style (I do, with caveats), but the materials (faux leather and neoprene, but hey, check out the price) are good, smell nice(!) and the Pixel 2 XL is protected from all sides.

In situ, the phone is held VERY snugly and the ports, camera and buttons are all accessible. The fingerprint sensor is recessed quite a way, but still worked in my tests, thankfully.

The magnetic flap is about right too, not too strong, not too weak, and it only gets slightly in the way when you want to flip the stand case open in order to watch some media.

My only concern is that the case is such a tight fit that you're not going to want to take it off again - for example to change SIM cards - there's a serious risk of breaking fingernails! So maybe not one for serial SIM swappers.

Great value overall - when it starts to wear and perish after a year, just treat yourself to a new one!

Score: 8/10

Olixar ExoShield Tough Snap on, £10

Protecting the Pixel 2 XL on all angles and edges, this is a good shout at the price - the TPU plastic is rigid and feels premium.

The buttons are covered by hinged hard plastic versions, but they work very well.

All this protection does come with a couple of caveats though - the rigid sides have edges which give great grip in the hand but also make the svelte Pixel 2 feel significantly chunkier than it actually is. But then that comes with the territory. Along similar lines, you don't get to feel the edges of the Pixel 2's 2.5D screen glass.

But a superb piece of protection and, again, great value.

Score: 8/10

Spigen Slim Armor, £22

I've been a fan of the Spigen Slim Armor cases for years and this is another good example - super grippy, super protective, fits like a champ. An incredible fit. As with the Olixar case above, though even more so here, your Pixel 2 XL is almost indestructible when encased.

Yes, the phone is now significantly thicker and yes, the 2.5D glass can't be fully appreciated, but you do get a big bonus on the back in the form of an integral kick stand - just flip it out and you're watching media on that big 6" 2:1 screen.

The only caveat is the price - this is expensive at £22, but then isn't top quality worth it, and besides you just paid £800+ for the Pixel 2 in the first place, so protecting it should be a no-brainer!

Score: 9/10

Spigen Thin Fit, £16

A step down from the Slim Armor, this gives you 80% the grip and 50% the protection, yet only adds a couple of millimetres to the overall thickness. But for someone who wants something with protection against corner drops yet with minimal bulk this may fit the bill.

There are no gimmicks and the buttons are 'naked' here - everything's minimalist, making the price something tough to bear, I'd have liked to have seen this cheaper.

Although the Pixel 2 XL fits securely in this case, the sheer amount of exposed glass at the sides and bottom do give the impression that it's quite a bit more vulnerable than any of the cases mentioned so far.

In short, you could do a lot worse than house your precious Pixel in this design, but don't take this one camping or cycling or whatever you do outdoors. One for the office, perhaps!

Score: 7/10

Zizo Static with kickstand, £25

The most expensive case in this round-up, this is also the thickest and heaviest. And with a full, double-hinged kick stand. And heavily textured back with faux-metal inserts. In short, it tries to look as big, as brutal, as tough as possible.

And it succeeds after a fashion. But there's no finesse, the button covers require significant extra pressure, the kick stand is over engineered, and so on.

The comparison here it to the Spigen Slim Armor design, above. Which is like comparing a 20 year old Volvo to a Porsche 911. The Spigen case is arguably just as protective, thinner, far sleeker in the hand, better looking.... AND it comes in cheaper.

Sorry, Zizo, your case is like an Imperial Star Destroyer - thick and beweaponed, while more agile case designs from the likes of Spigen run rings around it.

Score: 6/10