Google Pixel 3 vs Galaxy Note 9: how specs, cameras and prices overlap

IIf this year's smartphone season has not taught us anything, it's because the phablets are here to stay. Technology enthusiasts have become accustomed to THICC Google Pixel 3 XL, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XS Max are combined with announcements and additional proof that smartphones are not only improving, they are also growing.

If you want a technical definition, any phone boasting a diagonal display length of 5.5 inches or more is considered a phablet, according to the Consumer reports. And the phablets will reign soon, perhaps as early as 2021, according to International Data Corporation. This gives Google a window of three years to build a more meaningful segment of the future smartphone market.

Samsung is far ahead in terms of popularity with consumers. In the second quarter of 2018, Samsung held more than 20% of the global smartphone market, with 71.5 million shipments worldwide. Google, on the other hand, could not rank among the top five companies.

The release of the Pixel 3 XL gives Google a way to regain ground thanks to advanced artificial intelligence. While the punchy technical specifications of Note 9 make it a powerful tool that Samsung can use to reinforce its significant lead in the smartphone game.

Google Pixel 3 XL vs Galaxy Note 9: Pricing

The 3 XL is currently available for pre-order starting at $ 899 with a launch date of October 18th. Note 9 is already available in stores and starts at $ 999, making Samsung's premium phablet $ 100 more expensive than Google's. However, the base model of the 3 XL has 64 GB of memory space, while Note 9 is doubled to 128 GB.

Users can choose a variant with a larger memory capacity for a higher price. A 3GB of 128GB costs $ 999, while a Note 9 of 512GB costs $ 1,249.

Google Pixel 3 XL vs Galaxy Note 9: Specifications

Both phones are neck and neck in the size category of the screen. Note 9 features a 6.4-inch OLED display with no notch and the 3 XL packs a 6.3-inch OLED display with a top notch. But the Pixel outweighs Note 9 in terms of pixel density, which should allow sharper photos and a video display. The pair has an identical resolution of 2960 x 1440, but the 3 XL contains 523 pixels per inch compared to 516 Galaxy.

Note 9, again, stands out from the 3 XL in terms of battery life. Samsung's phablet comes with a 4,000 mAh cell compared to Google's 3,430 mAh battery. Thus, the increased screen size of the pixel could be a little more trying for its battery.

The duo is equipped with both the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, a high-end CPU used in most smartphones this year. We will have to wait for device performance tests before we can see if there are noticeable differences in performance.

Google Pixel 3 XL vs Galaxy Note 9: Cameras

Both smartphones come with three lenses in total. The only difference is that the XL 3 has two cameras facing the front, while the Note 9 has two cameras on the back panel.

The unique rear camera of the 3 XL is equipped with a 12.2-megapixel wide-angle sensor, while its duo selfie is composed of an 8MP wide-angle sensor and an "ultra-fast" 8MP lens. The only material difference between last year's Pixel 2 is the addition of a second camera from the front.

Regarding the Pixel 3, all the improvements this year come in the form of artificial intelligence functions, such as "Super Res Zoom". This feature uses a photography technique traditionally used in satellite imagery to overcome the lack of optical zoom.

The rear cameras in Note 9 are 12 megapixels wide and are equipped with telephoto sensors, giving the zoom an optical zoom capability. The front camera is a broad objective of 8MP.