Hot topics

Google Pixel 2 loses unlimited photo storage option

AndroidPIT Google pixel 3 xl pixel 2 xl back
© nextpit

Read in other languages:

If you still have a Google Pixel 2 in your pocket as your daily driver, you need to know this. Today marks the end of support for unlimited storage in Google Photos for the smartphone that was released back in October 2017. This is in line with Google's recent update in policies - but also marks a change in strategy and taking away a key USP from its future Pixel smartphones.

The news about the loss of unlimited storage on the Google Pixel 2 has been made public on a support page.

What this means for Google Pixel 2 users is that they will no longer be able to store unlimited full-size images Google Photos. All new photos that you stored in full resolution henceforth will be counted towards your own Google quota from now on. Bummer!

Google OP 2
Since Google storage changed a lot in November, you can guesstimate just how long your storage could last depending on your usage / © Google / Screenshot: NextPit

This is a painful loss for Pixel fans, as it is this focus on smartphone photography that many Pixel fans value on these devices. The latest Pixel models, the Google Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5, made a convincing case to be purchased thanks to their excellent imaging capabilities. Since Google Photos has many practical features for smartphone shutterbugs, it only made sense to make use of the unlimited storage space for photos in the cloud. Note that the Pixel 3 series devices will likely meet the same fate a year from now. 

Future Google phones will not get unlimited storage

It was last year that  Google revealed its intention to strip future Pixel smartphones of unlimited storage option when uploading to Google Photos in full resolution. 

Stören Euch die Änderungen bei Google Fotos?
View results

In November 2020, the company announced its plan to stop free upload of compressed images to Google Photos for all other smartphones. While many users assumed that they were "paying" for storage by sharing their data with Google, that wasn't the case.  This, according to me, was a breach of trust on part of Google and  I criticized the same in an article last year.

Whether Google's changes will end up being a negative point for the company as far as future growth is concerned is something that remains to be seen. Fundamentally, this move does not in any way change the camera performance on Pixel smartphones. As a Pixel 3 XL user, though, I've already got January 31, 2022 marked in red on my calendar. What do you think?

  Editor's choice Best smart home control center Best price-performance ratio Best sound Best sound supplement Best display
Product
Product image Amazon Echo Dot (5. Gen) 2022 Product Image Amazon Echo Hub Product Image Amazon Echo (4.Gen) Product Image Amazon Echo Studio Product Image Amazon Echo Sub Product Image Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd. Gen) Product Image
Review
Review: Amazon Echo Dot (5. Gen) 2022
Review: Amazon Echo Hub
Not yet tested
Review: Amazon Echo Studio
Not yet tested
Not yet tested
Price Compariosn
Go to comment (0)
Benjamin Lucks

Benjamin Lucks
Product Reviewer

Benjamin works as a freelance journalist and is always on the lookout for special features that make new cell phones, headphones and gadgets interesting for the reader. If he doesn't succeed, he comforts himself by writing short stories and using his digital camera.

To the author profile
Liked this article? Share now!
Recommended articles
Latest articles
Push notification Next article
No comments
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing