[ad_1]
Google's strategy with the Pixel smartphone lineup has always been a little confusing. Thanks to exclusive US-based telecom partnerships and limited global availability, sales have always been relatively low compared to other flagship phones. Does not Google really try to make money with its Pixel handsets? Then there is the idea that Pixel phones are supposed to present the best of what Android has to offer, thanks to a "pure" experience on Android running on flagship hardware. But if that's the case, why is Google waiting for the end of the year to launch new smartphones that will inevitably be obsolete a few months later, when the new generation chipsets come on the market?
Maybe we are thinking too much. Maybe Google's strategy with its range of pixels is as simple as the company looking to offer something more in line with Apple's iPhones. Since Apple controls both the software and hardware aspects of the iPhone experience, the company can create the precise user experience of its choice. Meanwhile, Google has spent all these years watching other companies maltract Android.
Anyway, the Pixel range of Google has found an interesting niche on the Android market. Pixel phones have never offered cutting-edge designs or advanced specifications, but they have nevertheless become favorites for fans among the most sophisticated and demanding Android users. And starting this week, these savvy users will finally be able to get the new flagship smartphones from Google, Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
For the most part, Google's new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL models follow the same pattern as the company's previous Pixel smartphones. These are fast, powerful phones … but they are not the most powerful phones, and they will be obsolete in a few months when the Snapdragon 855 phone will start running. They also have stylish designs … but they still have huge glasses that do not look like other modern flagship smartphones.
The star of the show on Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is the software, as has always been the case with Pixel phones. Well, the software and the camera, but do not take a step ahead of ourselves. Android 9.0 Pie is fast, fluid and "pure" on the latest Google Pixel handsets. This will be the main attraction for Android fans. The new Android updates will not come weeks or months after they are released by Google. They will be available for immediate installation. In addition, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are guaranteed to have at least three years of software and security updates for Android. With other Android phones, even the flagship products of major vendors, you're lucky if you get two years of software updates.
Of course, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL models are not just software for Google's latest Android software. I tested the two new Pixel phones since the big Google event last week and was deeply impressed by Google's achievements. Of course, the details surrounding the third generation Pixel phones are no longer topical because they have both been the object of such a profound leak in recent months. In fact, full reports have already been released last month, as a result of the alleged theft of a box of prototypes that were later sold on the black market in Eastern Europe.
Normally, leaks would have no impact on critics, as they are usually only seen by the biggest technology fans. However, in the case of Google Pixel phones, the most technology-hungry fans make up almost the entire addressable market. Rather than go back over all the old information circulating for months in this article, I'm going to focus on some of the most amazing things about the new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which readers may not have yet fully aware. all the leaks.
nick
Let's start with what is without a doubt the most controversial thing about one of this year's new Google phones: the screen at the top of the Pixel 3 XL screen.
The fact that the Pixel 3 XL has a notch will not surprise anyone. Six months ago, we saw it filtering through leaks, and then we saw reality many times when the Pixel 3 XL photos and videos started to leak. But Google has two problems with the notch on the Pixel 3 XL.
The first is the simple fact that there is a notch. Some hardcore fans of Android hate everything that Apple does just because it is Apple, and there is no doubt that the notch of the Pixel 3 XL screen is inspired by the design popularized by the iPhone X. The hide t an option, so fans of Android who want a new phablet Pixel will have to deal with it.
The second problem is the size. What readers will not be able to fully appreciate before seeing the phone in person is how big the screen of Pixel 3 XL is. It's absolutely huge. In a troubling way. I have never seen such a notch on a smartphone.
Now, it's the large dual-front camera lenses that explain the gigantic notch of Google Pixel 3 XL. If you take a lot of selfies, then it's worth it. Google's dual lens design captures a much wider field of view than a typical single-lens selfie camera, so more content fits into the frame. If you do not think the larger selfies are not worth it, you can still opt for the Pixel 3 without the screen instead of the Pixel 3 XL … as long as you can stand the huge glasses above and below. from the screen. Again, the bezel under the Pixel 3 XL display is also huge. That's right, Apple is still the only company to succeed at the notch.
Quality of display
The notch on the XL 3 Pixel could be gigantic and the glasses on the two new Pixel Phones could be way too thick for a flagship phone in 2018, but the screens themselves are remarkable.
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL both have superb OLED billboards. The Pixel 3 sports a 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1080p, which corresponds to a pixel density of 440 dpi. The larger Pixel 3 XL has a 6.3-inch screen that is even denser in pixels. The Quad HD resolution of the screen at this size is 523 dpi. But the bottom line is this: the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL screens both feature deep blacks, vivid colors, and exceptional contrast. They're not on par with Samsung's Galaxy phones or Apple's iPhone XS and iPhone X models, but they're still impressive.
Fit and finish
From all the leaks, we've seen that Google's new Pixel phones are built with high-end materials and that the last two generations of Pixel phones have rugged hardware. Until we held the phone in our hands, however, we could not say how awesome the new Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were.
The new Pixel phones from Google are on par with the best flagship Android phones in the world in terms of quality, fit and finish. I like the continued use of colors by Google on the white and "not pink" versions of the phones. Black is as elegant as possible. The coated aluminum surrounds the edges of the phones, while the glass covers the front and back, a first for Pixel phones. Both models are also very light despite the use of high-end materials.
And about that glass back …
Glass
Technology does not yet exist to allow wireless charging to work effectively with metal. Therefore, smartphones that support wireless charging like the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL use glass panels on the back. The glass of the Pixel 3 phones, however, does not look like that of competing flagship phones from Apple, Samsung and other major providers.
The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL models have a design that matches the graphic identity of the previous two generations of Pixel phones. Most of the back has a matte finish, while glossy glass can be found on the top. But unlike the last two generations of pixels, the back of these phones is entirely glass instead of metal. But the key here is that the majority of the new Pixels back has a special finish that gives it the look and feel of aluminum.
Smartphones like Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note 9, iPhone XS and more have a glass back. They are smooth and attract fat and dirt. But the impressive finish on the back of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is far more resistant to fingerprints and grease. This is an interesting feature of Google's design, although the back of these phones is a pretty serious problem.
Severe vibrations
If the overall design is excellent and I like both the good fit and the finishes of Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, there is a serious design flaw that has really bothered me when I've started testing the phones.
The new Pixel phones from Google are equipped with stereo speakers with remarkable sound and exceptional power. Unfortunately, their use involves an undesirable side effect: a senseless amount of vibration at the back of the phone. All phones vibrate to a certain extent if their speakers are powerful enough. This is the nature of sound waves. But I have never felt anything like it.
At low volume, it's really annoying. The back of the phone vibrates with each beat of the music you listen to. Even during the dialogue in a video, you can still feel the back of the phone vibrating constantly. If there is sound, it vibrates.
Then, if you increase the volume to about 50%, the vibration becomes troublesome or aggravating. At 80% or more, it's downright horrible. The back of the phone vibrates as loud as the vibration motor inside the phone that Google uses for notifications. Imagine playing music and letting your phone's notification engine vibrate all the time. It's so violent that Pixel's hulls made of Google fabric do little to soften it.
The excellent stereo speakers from Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from Google are designed to allow you to watch videos or play music with high volume and sound. However, if you plan to use the speakers, be prepared to hold the phone with your fingertips by the aluminum edges or be very upset by any vibration you feel.
If it was an iPhone, it would be absolutely a "door" – probably "Vibrationgate" or something – and the trade press would lose its mind in the face of the problem. Let's see how bloggers react to the problem on a Google phone.
Performance
The new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL do not have new generation 7nm chipsets, like the new Apple iPhones and the next Android phones. But do not be discouraged, it's still fast. Really very fast.
Google's third-generation Pixel phones may not be at the top of the list. There are several smartphones that outperform them during evaluation tests. Of course, none of this really matters when you're using the phone, because it's as fast and smooth as any flagship Android handset I've tested. Or, if I dare say, even faster.
To load apps, change apps, surf the web, and do all the things you can do with a phone on a regular basis, Google's Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are all the rage. I've also found that many of the hiccups common to all Android phones seemed less noticeable on Pixel 3, like the slowness when loading YouTube videos. That said, there are still things for which it seems that Android will never succeed. Like scrolling physics. Man, man, it's just infuriating.
eSIM
Did you know that Google's new Pixel phones would come with eSIMs? Most people probably did not, but they will be very happy to hear that it is.
Like the new Apple iPhone XS and the iPhone XR, the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL models are both eSIM compatible. So when you use an operator that supports eSIM, you can activate your phone on the network without having to worry about obtaining a physical SIM card. Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL still support physical SIM cards, which also means you can use two accounts simultaneously on your phone. This is a big problem, especially for people who travel a lot or use different lines for work and personal communication.
Pixel stand
Google's new Google Pixel Stand leaked long before the company unveiled it at last week's Pixel event. We all knew that this device would be marketed with the new Google phones. What many people did not know is that the Pixel Stand would provide many interesting features beyond the wireless charge.
The Pixel Stand is above all a wireless fast charging stand. It uses the standard Qi wireless charging to work with all phones and supports fast wireless charging speeds of up to 10W. Although it actually charges all phones, it offers a special enriched experience when paired with a Pixel 3 or a Pixel 3 XL.
When you insert your Pixel phone for the first time on the Pixel stand, you are asked if you want to "do more while charging". Trust me, that's what you do.
The experience of the Google Pixel Stand is based on a few main components. The first is Google Assistant, which displays important information and shortcuts at the bottom of your phone's screen while connected to the Pixel Stand. You can also use your voice to get hands-free access to Google Assistant.
The second new clever feature enabled by the Pixel Stand is a special photo frame mode. Users can select specific albums in Google Photos. The Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL then browses the images while being connected and charged.
In addition to these features, there are other interesting features enabled by the Pixel Stand. It features a sunrise alarm feature that wakes you up more gently than a song or an alarm tone. It can even automatically display the live video stream when someone rings the doorbell of your Nest Hello video.
At a glance
The intuitive features of Google Assistant are my favorite part of Pixel Support, but there are also informative features in other areas of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL user experience. This is not surprising, of course, given Google's current focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive information. The many exciting features that these technologies offer on Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are on, but the simple new feature "At a glance" is perhaps my favorite.
At a glance is a home screen widget that is included by default on the first homepage of Pixel 3. It replaces the standard clock / date widget that you will find on any phone Android. At a glance, users always receive relevant contextual information, such as weather and upcoming calendar meetings. Then the user can simply press the information to open the associated application. It's a very useful and useful feature, with important information in an always accessible place, and Google plans to add more options.
Camera
Finally, we are approaching Google's new camera on Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
Pixel phones from Google have really shone in this area in the past. Expectations were therefore much higher than expected before the release of new phones from Google. I am happy to announce that they absolutely respect the hype. Despite the fact that Google chose to stay with a single-lens back camera while competing phone providers use two, three or even four lenses on the back of their phone, the Google camera on Pixels 3 and 3 XL can with any of them. In fact, it is perhaps the best in terms of overall image quality.
I've spent a lot of time capturing similar photos with the Pixel 3 and the iPhone XS in order to compare the two. Although in some cases the photos captured on the iPhone are significantly higher, the reverse seemed to be true the more often. The clarity of the photos taken on the pixel 3 is remarkable. In fact, it is actually difficult to take a bad picture with all the software support provided by the Pixel camera. Here is an overview of some of my favorite features, as described by Google:
- HDR +: The Pixel camera comes with HDR + enabled by default. The camera will capture up to 8 images and merge them to create breathtaking pictures in all conditions, with a shooting offset equal to 0
- Top Shot: When you want a perfect action shot, Top Shot advises you to choose the best shot from the moment you captured it. Top Shot uses machine learning to find great pictures around your photos where people smile with their eyes open. It also detects blur, look and focus to recommend great shots and record them in superb HDR + resolution.
- Photobooth Mode: This feature allows you to take a picture with a smile. Start Pixel Camera, then on the right side of the Mode Selector, select "More" then "Photobooth". After pressing the blue button to start, Photobooth recognizes funny smiles and faces (with lighting, movements, etc.) to capture photos automatically. Try asking the "Open Photobooth Mode" assistant for a truly hands-free photo experience!
- Group selfie: Do you have a large group that does not fit into the traditional setting? Try to capture a selfie group with the Pixel Camera. To take a group selfie, open your camera and zoom in on the wide-angle lens to attract more people to the photo by pinching, tapping the slider or clicking the zoom slider located in the camera. bottom of the viewfinder. Take a group photo and put the whole team in the frame. The camera corrects the "fisheye warp" that you often get on other wide angle shots after taking the picture. Try asking Google Assistant to take a picture after opening Group Selfie.
- Motion Auto Focus: This keeps your main function in the frame and in focus. Launch the Pixel camera, in front or back, camera or video mode and tap on the subject on which you want to stay sharp. A white circle appears around it and remains locked on the subject when it moves or when you move to find the perfect angle.
- Super Res Zoom: Just open the camera and zoom in before taking a picture. Super Res Zoom will ensure that the details of your enlarged photo are crisp and clear. It uses natural movement when you hold your phone in your hand to add extra resolution to the zooms.
- Fade video stabilization: With the video fade stabilization, you can record videos like a pro. Just start the video mode in the Pixel camera and you're done! Fusion video stabilization works only on the rear camera, but "digital video stabilization" is now enabled for the front camera and locks on the faces. It is possible to achieve stabilization in resolutions up to 4K, but shooting in 1080p will give the best stabilization results. Now your videos will look silky, whether you're walking, running, or moving.
Top Shot is by far my favorite feature among the improvements listed above. Having the ability to take pictures without having to worry about pressing the trigger at the right time removes the stress of capture. Pixel 3's "Night Sight" improved low light function should also be interesting, but it's not yet available on the first Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL software I've tested. On the other hand, Google's "Super Res Zoom" feature works well, but it still does not replace the optical zoom. The evidence speaks for itself.
Premium
I know I said 10 surprising things, but there is one more thing to know: Google's "Not Pink" color is great. In some lighting, the result is white, but the other lights have a beautiful pale pink hue. Seriously, it's the best color of this generation of Pixel phones.
Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Specifications
|
5.5 inch full screen |
6.3-inch full screen |
|
|
68.2 x 145.6 x 7.9 mm / 2.7 x 5.7 x 0.3 in 148 g / 5.2 oz |
76.7 x 158.0 x 7.9 mm / 3.0 x 6.2 x 0.3 in 184g / 6.5 oz |
|
|
Just black, clearly white, not pink |
||
|
Aluminum frame with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 hybrid coating at the front |
||
|
2915 mAh battery |
3430 mAh battery |
|
|
Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 845 2.5 GHz + 1.6 GHz, Octa-Core 64 Bits Adreno 630 |
||
|
12.2MP double pixel |
||
|
Wide angle and normal 8MP cameras |
||
|
Rear camera: Front camera: 1080p @ 30fps 720p @ 30fps 480p @ 30fps |
|
|
Active EdgeTM |
|
|
18W Type-CTM USB Adapter with USB-PD 2.0 18W Fast Charge |
|
|
USB Type-CTM USB 3.1 Gen 1 Simple Nano SIM |
|
|
Two 3-way stereo front-firing speakers |
|
|
Wi-Fi 2.4G + 5GHz 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac 2 × 2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 + LE |
|
|
GPS GLONASS Galileo BeiDou |
|
|
Network / Operator Compatibility Worldwide with: |
|
|
Compatibility of hearing aids |
M3 / T3 HAC classification |
|
Latest Android 9.0 Pie + Google Assistant |
|
|
Designed for VR to work with Google Daydream View Headset |
Source of image: Zach Epstein, BGR
Source link
