So you want to buy a Pixel phone, but which one should you buy? We now have the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, newly announced with shiny new design and a smattering of new features, but you can still buy the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and they're available at temptingly low prices.
Here we run through what's new on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL and why, right now, your best bet might be the Pixel 2 XL. And if you're interested, we've also compared the Pixel 3 vs the iPhone XS.
Bigger screens in the same size body
Google has given each of its new phones a larger screen without making the phones appreciably larger. The Pixel 3 has a 5.5 inch screen, up from 5in on the Pixel 2, while the Pixel 3 XL is now 6.3in, up from 6in for the Pixel 2 XL The difference between the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 is especially noticeable as the 2 had notoriously chunky bezels compared to most phones.
The Pixel 3 XL stands out because it has a notch, while the standard Pixel 3 doesn’t. A speaker on the bottom edge of the XL model means it doesn’t quite achieve the ‘nothing but screen’ look of the iPhone XS, so it’s arguable how much of the extra 0.3in of screen on the XL is usable.
Read more: Everything Google announced at its big Pixel 3 launch event
The new Pixel phones have two front facing cameras
The biggest hardware difference comes in the cameras. On paper, the rear camera is much the same. Most of the enhancements there come from software trickery (more on this later) rather than big advancements in sensor or lens technology. What’s new is on the front, where Google has added an extra front-facing camera.
The extra camera is an 8MP wide-angle lens with a 97-degree field-of-view, compared to the 75-degree field of view for the normal portrait camera. The main benefit, clearly, is you can fit more people into group shots using the wide-angle camera, while keeping the natural portrait view for selfies.
New camera mode for night shots
There are a trio of new camera modes, the most interesting one being Nightshift. As the name suggests, it’s designed to improve low-light photos. It does so using an algorithm to readjust the light settings. The Pixel 2 took very good low-light photos, but it has been quickly usurped by the likes of the Huawei P20 Pro and its extraordinary AI-powered long exposure mode. It will be interesting to see how Google’s mode compares to Huawei’s.
The other two modes are Top Shot, which takes a burst of HDR photos before you hit the shutter button and picks the best images, and another mode which aims to reduce camera blur when the camera is moving around a lot.
Larger battery on the Pixel 3, but not on the 3 XL
This is an interesting one for those who really care about battery life. The smaller Pixel 3 has an eight per cent larger battery than the Pixel 2, going to 2,915mAh compared to the 2,700mAh in the older model. It’s not yet clear how much more life this will provide given the larger screen, but it’s a decent upgrade.
It’s the opposite story with the Pixel 3 XL, which has a three pre cent smaller battery than the Pixel 2 XL. It’s a very small difference which, hopefully, will be offset by a more efficient processor, but it’s shame nonetheless
Wireless charging is in
It’s good news for wireless charging fans, as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL support the technology – a first for a Google phone. Both support the Qi wireless charging standard, so you’ll be able to use a huge number of existing chargers. Google will also be selling its own charging stand if you don’t already have one.
Still no headphone jack
Just in case you were holding out hope for the return of the headphone jack, prepare to be disappointed. Google has totally abandoned the traditional jack in favour of USB-C, though you can still use your old non-wireless headphones using an adapter.
Read more: These are the best Android phones you can buy in 2021
Should you upgrade?
If you already own a Pixel 2, the Pixel 3 isn’t a necessary upgrade. That’s to be expected after only a year. But there’s also a strong argument for buying the Pixel 2 over the Pixel 3 while they’re still available, especially the Pixel XL 2. Right now, you can pick up a Pixel 2 XL for just £499 SIM-free, which is a whopping £370 less than the Pixel 3 XL for a phone that’s still outstanding.
Things are a little less clear when choosing between the standard Pixel 2 and Pixel 3. While the Pixel 2 is cheaper, the design of the Pixel 3 is noticeably better. The chunky bezels of the Pixel 2 are just a little off-putting in this age non-existent bezels. Still, a Pixel 2 XL is cheaper than a brand new Pixel 3 as well, so unless you really prefer smaller phones, it's the obvious choice.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
