The other way to make a killer phone

The story of smartphone improvement is largely based on the fact that businesses are piling faster or more powerful components into the now ubiquitous glass plates we carry. But pixel 3 is something else. Instead of focusing on things like a brighter screen, tons of RAM, or multiple rear cameras, almost all the benefits of Pixel 3 stem from a state of mind above all else. software. The result is a smarter, more intuitive experience, which feels very different from the hardware-based approaches used by many of Google's competitors. And although this is not a first attempt on the part of Google, this third Pixel (which we evaluated at the same time and the Pixel 3 XL) is the device which gathers really all the efforts of Google and gives him a special feeling.

What is it?

Google's new flagship smartphone

Price

Pixel 3 starts at $ 800, $ 900 for Pixel 3 XL

As

Improved construction, wireless charging, amazing cameras, innovative software features

Do not like it

The specifications seem slim for the price, the quality control questionable, the design somewhat boring

For those who do not know the latest version of Android 9 Pie, Google's mobile operating system is what unites everything. Clean and unhindered with add-ons or additional BS, Android on the Pixel 3 feels fast and catchy, but it's hard to tell if this is simply the result of faster animations or superior software optimization. Then you add items such as Google's animated wallpapers (which are constantly entertaining), previous pixel features, such as the identifying function of the song being played from Google , as well as new items such as Call Screen. You end up with one of the most taken into account experiences for ready-made smart phones without any customization required. In fact, the calling feature of Google's call screen, which allows the Google assistant to intercept phone spam, may be the most important development since the caller's identity.

But Google's software prowess is no more obvious than with the Pixel 3's cameras, which largely escape the current trend to pack as many sensors and lenses on a phone as possible in favor of a sophisticated computer photography. For the rear view camera, this means that, in everyday life, the Pixel 3's only 12 MP camera often has an advantage over the Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy in terms of color and sharpness. And when it comes to cityscapes, Google's HDR + mode is particularly appealing, as it merges multiple frames and exposures to produce more detailed photos in bright spots, richer colors, and more. shaded areas, often challenging what you think possible with a smartphone camera. .

There is also the new Top Shot feature that uses machine learning to identify bad shots when someone blinks and suggest something better. And even if it's a somewhat specialized ability, when it works and you know how to display it (make sure the Motion wheel is on), Top Shot plus Google animated gif , Burst mode, Photobooth mode, and Playground mode powered by AR means that it's always fun to take pictures. (More information about the Top Shot method below.)

I also like the Pixel 3 front cameras, which combine HDR processing of the phone and combine a second 8 MP camera to combine the best of what software and hardware can offer. That's because as long as you're not afraid to reveal imperfections, the selfies of Pixel 3 are surprisingly sharp, which often gives a bad image of images of other phones at $ 1,000. And when you want to take a group selfie instead of another, the second camera of Pixel 2 allows you to capture the same shocking and detailed images with a wide-angle field of view.

Regarding the general design of the Pixel 3, apart from its undeniable notch (which I started to call "the bathtub"), the physical dimensions of the Pixel 3 of 5.5 inches and the Pixel 3 of 6 , 3 inches have changed. Few things that Google's new official cases fit just as well on the phones of last year. Instead, Google worked on improving Pixel construction by adding new IP68 water resistance, moving the volume rocker to the right to create a totally flawless left side and installing a new folder. monobloc glass.

This not only increases the durability compared to the metal and glass construction of the Pixel 2, but also the soft-touch microfocus finish
on the bottom two-thirds, please do not put your case on the phone. Google has even paid attention to small details, like painting the phone's USB-C port inside black and adding a touch of color to the power button of the Clearly White and Not Pink models. (Also, if you want to be specific, Not Pink should really call Sometimes Pink.)

Inside, the Pixel 3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, which places it on the same ground as any other high-end Android phone. However, the 4GB of RAM and the 64GB or 128GB of storage of the Pixel 3 seem a little meager for a phone from 800 USD. That's not to say that the phone needs more memory, but when it comes to value, not having extra RAM, or a microSD card slot to be able to use even more storage, it hurts to a flagship device. Fortunately, Google has not concealed the two front speakers of the phone, which are much more powerful than before, and combined with Google's wireless charger Pixel Stand, allows the Pixel 3 to act as a mini-speaker smart / home concentrator.

That said, in terms of usefulness, one of the biggest upgrades of the standard Pixel 3 is a larger 915 mAh battery that lasted 10 hours and 50 minutes during our degradation test, a huge leap from the tiny 8:59 of Pixel 2 managed last year. . Unfortunately, the same can not be said of the Pixel 3 XL whose 3,430 mAh battery is actually slightly smaller than that of a 2 x Pixel XL, which has increased the longevity of the pixel 3 XL less than 10 minutes to 11 hours and 24 minutes.

And even though I own the Pixel 3 for less than a week, the phone has left a lasting impression. I think Google's dedication to software excellence has finally surpassed that of the iPhone because it is the simplest and most realistic phone, especially for the uninitiated. More often than not, the Pixel 3 is thoughtful and presents you with the tools and information you want and simplifies the process so that its access is not a problem. However, I would not like to mention the disadvantages of Google's game plan.

The first case, the most obvious, concerns the Top Shot mode. The Pixel software makes it difficult to detect the operation of the feature because it is related to the seemingly unrelated Motion parameter of the camera, which can be set to off, automatic and enabled, with automatic and potentially giving you different results. But the complications related to the settings do not stop there, because the commands of the main functionalities such as HDR + are not displayed by default. This means that you can not activate the enhanced HDR + mode of the phone, which is very different from the standard HDR +. To see the option in the main user interface of the camera, you must also access the advanced settings of the camera. activate the HDR + control. Since Pixel HDR + is the most important and important part of its shooting process, it should not be so hard to light.

But the real problem with a state of mind first and foremost related to the software is that it can often seem that the user experience is never fully completed. Currently, pixel 3 is missing Duplex, Google's phone reception function works with artificial intelligence to make appointments or phone calls, as well as the Night Sight mode, which is a special setting dedicated to capturing compelling images. It is not known when they will be available. These are two major things that Google has teased at the launch ceremony of Pixel 3 and, in the case of Night Sight mode, it is even more disappointing, because the Pixel 3 is often struggling in very low light conditions.

And then, there is the big problem of Pixel 3 if: What was better than Pixel 3 if Google is a little more interested in hardware and software? On the standard Pixel 3, his glasses have an oversized appearance and slightly unnecessary compared to 18-month-old phones like the Galaxy S8, while the notch of the bathtub and the large chin of the Pixel 3 XL seem even more crazy. Also how about these cameras.

With the inclusion of a new dual-camera system in the front, Google understands the value of having multiple cameras, but the camera at the back has no additional help. This is frustrating because even though Pixel's Pixel Super Res Zoom function is satisfactory, it is still not as good as a real 2x optical lens. There is also a small concern about quality control because, after I turned them on for the first time, I noticed that the OLED displays of Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL had significantly different color temperatures, which makes that worsen as you are decentered.

According to Google, some variations between screens are part of the manufacturing process, which is true. But that's the second year in a row that this is happening with Pixel cameras. I do not remember having ever seen such a difference between the flagship Apple and Samsung handsets screens.

However, do not let these things distract you from what Google has accomplished. The Pixel 3, more than any phone before, has a philosophy almost similar to that of Nintendo that it is not the specifications of the hardware or the hardware that matter most, but the overall experience of the user. And on the Pixel 3, Google took its software and made it king, solving problems and warning others with intelligence and design.

READ ME

• The Pixel 3 highlights the best of the development process of smartphones, the first software, and apart from some minor problems, it is a great success.
• The disadvantage of Google's software-centric approach is that you may feel like you're still waiting for the next update to get things like the Duplex mode or the camera's night vision mode. which is not yet available.
• The micro-ectched glass back is a pleasure to touch and the USB-C port painted in black is a nice detail, but the overall appearance of the Pixel 3 is still a little disappointing.
• The type of images that Pixel 3 can capture with a single rear camera is amazing, but then you wonder how things could be better if Google was more interested in the material.

SPEC DUMP

Android 9.0 • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 • 4GB RAM • 64GB or 128GB storage • 5.5 "FH + OLED screen / 6.3" QHD + OLED display • Two cameras at the front of 8 MP • Rear camera of 12.2 MP • Waterproof IP68 • Wireless Qi charging • Two front speakers • Bluetooth 5.0 • USB 3.1 port Type-C • Battery 2.915 mAh / 3.430 mAh • 5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches / 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 inches – 148 grams / 184 grams • available in just black, clearly white, not pink