Google Pixel 2 (XL) loses unlimited storage through Google Photos

Pixel phones have been offered several benefits in recent years: part of the package was the unlimited storage in Google Photos. While the capacity was unlimited, Google had limited the duration of the unlimited storage. After three years, the unlimited storage period for Pixel 2 (XL) users ends on Saturday.

Google Pixel 2 (XL)

Since the introduction of Google Photos, it has been free for everyone to store your photos indefinitely without payment – for non-paying users, the quality of the photos stored via the platform has been lowered. For Pixel phone owners, Google provided the one exception: for them, the original quality storage was free, compared to what Google calls “high quality” in Photos. The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 series, among others, could count on the scheme.

When announcing the promotion for Pixel phones, Google stated that this ‘exception’ would not last forever – on a support page Google mentions January 16 for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL as the ‘end date’ of this promotion. With that, owners of the Google Pixel 2 or Google Pixel 2 XL will lose the ability to save photos at original quality after Saturday without paying for storage via Google One.

Storage in ‘high quality’

From January 16 for Pixel 2 users, photos will be stored for free at a high – but not original – quality. Users who decide to still save photos at original quality, use the storage capacity linked to their Google account. For photos and videos that are currently on Photos in original quality, this will remain the case: you will not be charged and Google will not eat the storage capacity of your Google account.

Owners of the Google Pixel 3 (XL) can broadcast it one more year with the unlimited storage via Google Photos. For them, the ‘free unlimited storage capacity’ will be lost from January 31, 2022.

Later Google Pixel phones were not awarded this promotion; that may be a response to the new policy that Google has been working on recently. From 1 June 2021, all uploads via Photos will be eaten from your storage capacity. The Pixel 3 (XL) will escape until early 2022.