Google just took the wraps off the latest Pixel handsets, the 2018 flagships if you want, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Nope, nothing called Pixel 3 Ultra exists, in case you are still wondering.
Anyway, in the whole launch event, Google didn’t even talk the spec sheet of the new Android phones. Why will they? Because it’s as common a list as you can guess: Besides, they didn’t even add flashy features like a triple rear camera (Penta-camera in-toto if you want), super slow-motion recording, or anything else. The Pixel 3 sets do have the squeeze feature from the Pixel 2 in all its glory but the company didn’t talk about even that.
Because, man, the Pixel 3 sets are all about the camera. And that’s where it shines, despite not improving it on the specs big time — the hardware of the rear camera remains untouched, you know.
In spite of lacking the fancy elements in the imaging department that the likes of Huawei P20 Pro and LG V40 pack when you talk hardware, or Sony and Samsung give you when you talk software, the Pixel 3’s camera still looks a winner given the list of super-useful features and AI (one-that-works!) it packs in.
Google has given the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL features like Top shot, Super res zoom, Night sight, and Group Selfie Cam — one that can capture 184% more selfie area than the iPhone XS — and all of these look pretty cool.
Let’s talk about these features.
The Top Shot is a feature that suggests you images captured by the AI in the background even before you clicked the shutter button. So that if you missed a perfect shot or the one you captured isn’t the best, you can choose this option to find any better shot that the AI may have captured for you.
Here’s how the wonderful Top Shot feature works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RceKoQQlf_o
And here are Google’s own videos on the Group Selfie Cam works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJtJFEH1Cis
Besides the new camera features, the Pixel 3 also gets you a feature called ‘Flip to Shhh’ that does what it says: mute the notifications when you flip it over face down. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eD_lhnyW9k
Besides the camera features, there is another great feature being added to the Dialer app, called call screening. And it may not sound terrific, but it sure does work like that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4jOdVTkqS4
Specs
But let’s talk specs now. Here we go:
| Device | Google Pixel 3 | Google Pixel 3 XL |
| OS | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie |
| Camera | Rear: A 12.2MP sensor (f/1.8) Front: Dual 8MP (wide and standard) |
Rear: A 12.2MP sensor (f/1.8) Front: Dual 8MP (wide and standard) |
| Display | 5.5″ Full HD+ AMOLED (2160×1080, 440ppi) |
6.3″ Quad HD+ AMOLED (2960×1440, 523ppi)
|
| Memory | Storage: 64GB / 128GB RAM: 4GB |
Storage: 64GB / 128GB RAM: 4GB |
| Processor | 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| Size | 145.6mm x 68.2mm x 7.9mm (148g) | 157.9mm x 76.7mm x 7.9mm (184g) |
| Battery | 2915mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging |
3450mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging |
| Other | USB-C 3.1 Fingerprint Sensor Dual Front-Facing Speakers Nano SIM |
USB-C 3.1 Fingerprint Sensor Dual Front-Facing Speakers Nano SIM |
| Connectivity | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 NFC |
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 NFC |
| Colors | Just Black, Not Pink, Clearly White | Just Black, Not Pink, Clearly White |
| Price | $799 for 4/64GB variant $899 for 4/128GB variant |
$899 for 4/64GB variant $999 for 4/128GB variant |
Price
As we told you above, the Pixel 3 handsets are a pretty costly deal.
As for the Pixel 3, it starts at $799 in the US if you choose the 4/64GB variant, while the 4/128GB deal costs you $100 more.
Likewise, the Pixel 3 XL starts at $899 for the 4/64GB variant and jumps to $999 for the 4/128GB option.
Worthy?
As they say, the best camera is the camera you have with you. Which is usually, your smartphone. So, when you have Google’s super-duper incredible camera AI in your Pixel 3, you essentially have the best camera on the planet at the moment.
So, if you care about photography, you know which smartphone to buy. Otherwise, you are better off with the Galaxy S9 in a huge deal like this, or simply the OnePlus 6T.
So, would you buy one?
You think the Pixel 3/XL are the best Android phones? Is it worth buying any of these two over the Pixel 2 XL when you are sure you will get most of the cool camera features from Pixel 3 to Pixel 2 for sure in the next few months?
