Google's Pixel 2 XL update should fix the screen burn issues

Google's latest software update for its Pixel 2 XL phones is innocuous on the surface, but it should alleviate some of the recently reported issues with the device's OLED screen.

A large number of Pixel 2 XL owners say they're experiencing significant "burn-in" issues -- which leaves visible image residue on the screen after an image is shown for too long -- as well as discoloration issues on their Pixel 2 XL phones.

Now, following a new update that was initially announced in late October, the Pixel 2 XL will decrease the maximum brightness and also fade out the navigations buttons at the bottom of the screen to combat the burn-in issue.

Google is also adding three new color modes -- boosted, natural and saturated. The last one should ideally make the screen's color issues less noticeable; if nothing else, it should make the Pixel 2 XL's screen a bit more similar to Samsung's colorful OLED screens.

These obviously won't change the screens' physical characteristics, but as Google points out, burn-in affects all OLED screens to some degree, and if it can be fixed, at least in part, with a software issues, that's better than nothing.

According to Google, there will be more software enhancements to make the Pixel screen better in a planned December update, and "on an ongoing basis thereafter."

This same update should also fix the odd clicking noises some folks have noticed on their Pixel 2 phones, along with the regular bug fixes and security updates.