The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is packed to the brim with top-notch internals and the best possible software features you can think of. So, does that mean the handsets also come with an IR blaster?

Sadly, no. Google has never really included an IR blaster on its previous Nexus and Pixel devices, and it is not making an exception this year with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL either. Both handsets continue to lack an IR blaster which means you cannot use the handsets to control other electronic appliances around you.

The Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL are the last major Android smartphones to be announced this year. And since they also lack an IR blaster, it means that no flagship smartphone launched from LG, Google, HTC, and Samsung this year features an IR blaster. This clearly signals that IR blaster is going out of fashion for these OEMs and they do not intend to bring it back again.

Huawei now remains the only OEM that continues to include an IR blaster on its devices. Xiaomi also includes an IR blaster on its handsets, including in its cheaper Redmi series, but its devices are only available in China, India, and a few other markets.

There’s not much that one can do about the lack of IR blaster on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. After all, the handsets even lack a 3.5mm headphone jack this time around.