Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL: Top Features Of Google's Flagship Smartphones

Google has officially announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Google’s latest flagship Android smartphones are both available for pre-order now and will start shipping on Oct. 18.

Specs & Features

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL share the same internal specs and set of features. The only difference between the two is that the regular Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5-inch OLED screen and a 2,915mAh battery, while the XL model comes with a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a notch and a larger 3,430mAh battery. Both have a single lens 12.2-megapixel camera on the back and a dual 8-megapixel camera up front. One of the front-facing cameras is equipped with an ultra wide-angle lens, which can be used when taking selfies with a group of friends.

The phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL both have glass backs that support Qi wireless charging and fast charging. The handsets are also IP68 water and dust resistant, as confirmed by Google in a blog post.

Still No Headphone Jack

The 3.5mm headphone jack remains missing on the new handsets, but the devices have a single USB Type-C port. Google is also including a pair of wired USB-C headphones in the box alongside a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter. As for software, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are unsurprisingly running Android 9 Pie straight out of the box.

Camera Smarts

Like with Google’s other hardware products, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL shine with the software. In the photography department, Google has added three new camera features: Top Shot, Night Sight and Super Res Zoom. Top Shot uses AI to pick the best moments when taking a picture. This is a handy feature that avoids shots where a person might have been blinking or moving.

Night Sight is used for taking photos in low lighting conditions, according to CNET. Through Google’s computational photography technology, the feature is capable of delivering well-lit photos without using LED flash. Lastly, the Super Res Zoom feature uses a software trick that allows users to take pictures using digital zoom without distorting image quality.

Spam Calls Solution

Another new software feature introduced with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is called Call Screen. This new feature will let Google Assistant screen calls before users decide on whether to answer it or not. Google Assistant will answer the call first and provide users with a transcript of the conversation, according to The Verge. If it’s a telemarketer, users can mark the number as spam. If it’s someone they know but they don’t want to answer it anyway, they have the option of declining the call and Assistant will provide the caller a message.

Smarter Wireless Charging

The last major new feature introduced with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is smarter wireless charging with the brand-new $79 Pixel Stand. The Pixel Stand is like any other Qi wireless charger, but when a user puts the Pixel 3 on the device, the handset will provide a custom user interface that’s powered by Assistant. Users will be able to ask Assistant questions, play music and control their smart home devices while the Pixel 3 is on the Pixel Stand.

The Pixel 3 starts at $799, while the Pixel 3 XL starts at $899. Both phones are now available for pre-order on the Google Store, Verizon and Project Fi.