Google Pixel 3, 3 XL review: Excellent camera; 'digital wellbeing'

Price:
Pixel 3: Rs 71,000 onwards
Pixel 3 XL: Rs 83,000 onwards

Rating: ****1/2


Common Specs: Snapdragon 845, 4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.1 storage (non expandable), single nano SIM slot (eSIM hardware included), 12.2MP f1.8 dual pixel PDAF rear camera (76° FoV), dual front camera (8MP f1.8 autofocus 75° FoV + 8MP f2.2 wide-angle fixed focus with 97° FoV), rear fingerprint, WiFi ac, BT5.0, NFC, Qi wireless charging, built for VR

Pixel 3: 5.5-inch IPS LCD (2160 x 1080 pixels, 443 ppi, 18:9 aspect ratio), 2,915mAh battery, 148 grams

Pixel 3XL: 6.3-inch OLED (2960 x 1440 pixels, 523ppi, 18.5:9 aspect ratio), 3,430mAh battery, 184 grams

Pros: Groundbreaking cameras, Voice assistant optimized Google PixelBuds included in box, stellar performance and screen quality, includes unlimited storage for photos with Google (full resolution), fantastic front facing stereo speakers, dual SIM functionality (coming soon with eSIM), box includes fast charger, USB C to 3.5mm adapter and USB C to USB A adapter

Cons: Expensive (esp. for 64GB storage), large bezels look dated (large chin & notch on 3 XL), glass back prone to damage and scratches, does not record 4K 60fps video, no 3.5mm audio jack, non expandable memory


According to a recent IDC report, Android is going to take up 85% of the world's smartphones in 2018. Google's own devices though, are the cream of this crop. They get the latest updates first (directly from Google), they get new Android versions first for three years (at least) and they benefit from the immense power behind Google's search, voice and software capabilities. So the idea behind Google devices was not to make the shiniest or the most extravagant hardware but to make an ideal platform to deliver Google services and make life easier for its users.

What's New?
These new phones are instantly recognisable as Pixel devices thanks to the two tone finish. Unlike last time, these phones have a full glass back (to enable wireless charging). To achieve the two-tone look, the glass has been treated to give it a matte finish. We don't know whether Google has etched, sandblasted or added a layer of micro-corrosion, but the glass feels almost sublime to hold. It's grippy and doesn't show up any fingerprints but we're not too sure about the longevity of the finish because our test devices picked up a few micro scratches in just a week of use. You'll need a case to protect against scratches and breakage which sort of defeats the purpose of the amazing glass back.

That Notch!
It's hard to look at the Pixel 3 XL and not see that massive notch. Honestly, we're kind of leaning towards the design of the smaller Pixel 3 just because of the symmetry it offers. There is, however, a justification for the notch on the 3 XL: it houses a large speaker/earpiece, two front cameras (one is wide-angle) plus the usual sensors like proximity and ambient light. If you like, you can enable developer settings and hide the notch completely (it's called cutout) or use apps like Natcho Notch. But none of these solutions are elegant. On the upside, the notch does disappear into the background once you start using the phone. And the cause is helped because the screens on both phones are just great. Notably, the Pixel 3 XL is a vast improvement over the 2 XL and finally deserving of the asking price.

The Performance & Features
We know all about the Snapdragon 845 now and the kind of performance it offers. But the software optimisation that Google does goes a long way to ensure a much smoother experience. Despite the fact that the phone has 'only' 4GB RAM, it feels just as fast and fluid and any other flagship.

The audio quality from the dual front firing speakers is fantastic. Some of the other features exclusive to these phones are Digital Wellbeing (a deep dive into how you use your phone), unlimited cloud photo storage in Google Photos in original resolution (that's massive value), squeeze for assistant (just squeeze the sides of the phone) and Google Lens features (works when you're just pointing the camera at something - you can copy text you see somewhere, visit URLs, find products, scan QR codes etc). There's a nifty call screening feature which is English only and US only for now. It's similar to Google Duplex and we hope it comes to more regions soon.

All About The Camera
It was the Pixel 2 that introduced us to the power of computational photography and the Pixel 3 now carries forward those smarts with increased vigor. Like before, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL have 'only' one primary camera. All other flagships have moved on to two or three rear cameras (and a new Samsung phone even has four rear cameras). Having an additional camera does have some undeniable advantages such as being able to offer 2x optical zoom, a separate monochrome camera or a wide-angle lens. Google's approach is to do everything with one camera and machine learning. Depending on what you're capturing, the camera will capture multiples, combine, tweak and suggest edits - and the software nails it every time! They've put a second wide-angle lens for the front camera though (which is partly the reason for the massive notch on the 3 XL).

But let's talk about the quality. We tested the phones against what we think are the best smartphone cameras in the world - Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 and Apple's iPhone XS Max. The Pixel 3 captured photos that blew us away every time. There were a few situations where we preferred the results from the Galaxy Note 9 or the iPhone XS Max - but the Pixel feels like a more 'dependable' camera. It typically has better HDR, higher detail, better low light photos and better portrait shots (even of inanimate objects). A feature called Night Sight (combining multiple images at night to create a brighter image) is still in the works so we couldn't test it.

And to Conclude
These phones are expensive - no getting around that. That Galaxy Note 9 at Rs 68k (lower, with offers) is starting to look rather good compared to the Pixel 3/3 XL and the iPhone XS/XS Max at the upper end. If you're a Pixel 2/2 XL user and are looking to upgrade, you'll be glad to know that these new phones are better in every way. Camera enthusiasts will love this phone - no question about it. But if the design and notch really bothers your sensibilities, the Note 9 and iPhone XS/XS Max are what you should be looking at.