Pixel 3 gorilla background11/13/2023 ![]() It seems like the idea of using a “phone” to make phone calls is pretty passé, but Google has one enhancement to its phone app. But now you can do this in real time, without having to snap a picture. Like before, you can use it to analyze a picture to try to recognize an object, copy any text in the picture or read a QR code. Sign up for the free Good Morning Silicon Valley newsletter. Get tech news in your inbox weekday mornings. It also compensates for a shaky hand, which can be disastrous to any zoomed picture, even when using an optical zoom lens. Unlike the new iPhones, the Pixel 3 doesn’t come with a 2x optical zoom lens but Google does have software for what it calls “Super Res Zoom,” which actually does a better-than-expected job of applying a digital zoom. You can also use Google Assistant to say “take a picture,” “take a selfie” or “take a groupie,” for a wide-angle group picture. ![]() One thing I like about Pixel phones is that you can launch the camera app by double clicking on the power button. It’s a bit of a gimmick but the new Playground feature puts characters like Marvel’s Iron Man in the picture of you or your subjects. Google now has “top shot,” which takes multiple frames and suggests the best one. ![]() New is Photobooth, which waits for you to smile or make a funny face before snapping a selfie. Google has also added a menu in the photo app allowing you to pick from a wide panorama, portrait mode with blurred background and several other settings. One big improvement to the Pixel 3 is updated software (not available on the Pixel 2 even with the latest version of Android) that improves its HDR+ technique of taking multiple pictures (it’s on by default in the 3) and merging them into one better quality image. But the front camera now includes a second wide angle lens which is handy if you take selfies with a group of people or want a lot of scenery in the background. The rear camera has a 12.2 megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 lens like the Pixel 2. The Pixel 2 was known for its excellent camera and the Pixel 3 camera is even better. The Pixel 3 series has Gorilla glass 5, which is reasonably strong and scratch resistant but not as strong as the new iPhone XS and XS Max Gorilla Glass 6. But if you care, the phones come in “just black,” “clearly white,” and “not pink.” Other reviewers have raved about the curves and overall premium feel which I also don’t notice or care about when it’s in a case. ![]() Which makes me wonder why people really care about a phone’s color and materials when most of us encase our phones to protect them from damage in the inevitable instance of a fall. Frankly, I can barely tell the difference even when I slip the phones out of their cases but not at all when they’re in a case. Google has improved the overall build of the phone, including replacing the aluminum back on the Pixel 2 series with a higher quality glass back on the 3. While I still recommend using headphones or good external Bluetooth speakers, the phone’s speakers are relatively good quality. Google said that they’re 40 percent louder and that seems about right to me. The front facing speakers are noticeably better. Even with the notch, there is room at the top for notifications that would have otherwise taken up screen real estate in the area below. That notch, by the way, makes room for better quality stereo speakers and a wide angle selfie-camera. I’ve also been testing the new iPhone XS and XS Max phones and consider the Pixel screen to be every bit as good. And, the screen is noticeably more vibrant than last year’s model with richer and truer colors. Yes, it does take away a little screen real estate as does the bezel at the bottom of the screen, but there’s still plenty of room on the 6.3 inch, 2960 x 1440 pixel OLED screen to appreciate websites, ebooks, photos and videos. Along with the new iPhone XS and XS Plus and Samsung’s Galaxy S9, the new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones take their place as “flagship phones” that raise the bar.Īlthough some have complained about the notch at the top of the larger Pixel 3 XL (it’s not on the smaller Pixel 3), I find myself mostly ignoring it. Compared with last year’s model, I’m noticing a better quality screen and slightly larger display, somewhat better battery life and an improved camera and better speakers. For the past week I’ve been testing Google’s new Pixel 3 XL phone, and I like what I see.
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