The Pixel 2 (non-XL) is of decent value. Currently £50 off, which makes it £579 (64GB). Get a free Google Home Mini too. It's exactly the same as the XL, except for the screen size (5" vs 6") and resolution (1080p vs 1440p). Further, it uses a Samsung OLED panel (as opposed to the XL which uses...
I don't think it's a good year for phones. Both the iPhone X and Pixel 2 XL have problems. Wait a year or two!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fGXDFiFBhg
Not many full reviews out there at the moment due to the limited time the device has been available, but this is a more balanced Q&A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c_aVmRUfpE
Problems with apps not adapting to the 'notch', the face ID not recognising people in certain conditions, and the...
That cut on the top of the screen though - I would just find that extremely annoying. I'd prefer bezels.
The new Essential phone running stock Andriod looks like a nice piece of kit, at a reasonable price compared to others, but again, the screen cuts around a camera which would always bug me.