“The phone is powered by A.I. ...The phone doesn’t get in the way. Things just happen for you.”
And how much of the info the phone is collecting to let "things just happen for you" is collected by Google?
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Like the original iPhone, the Pixel is only available on Verizon. I don't want to switch and especially not to Verizon. So, why should I care? I keep reading reviews hoping to find something to become enthused about, but it is not the Pixel, 2 or 3.
@Condelucanor
Verizon is the only carrier *selling* the Pixel 3 out of their stores, but the phone is dual-band (CDMA + GSM) and is compatible with all 4 major carriers networks.
Buy it straight from Google and activate it on anyone's network.
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@Condelucanor the original iPhone was available on AT&T only, not Verizon
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Thank you for a level-headed review. WSJ makes the phone sound like the best thing since sliced bread.
1
Wow. A phone review that discusses only its camera and one call feature. Think I'll wait for more in-depth review elsewhere.
22
It would have been nice if this review covered some of the actual non-camera software improvements (other than robo-calls) and how they stack up to what others are offering, and also did a bit more of a comparison of price and specs (storage, RAM, etc.) across a range of phones. I will note that I was surprised to learn that the Times' resident Apple marketing intern prefers the iPhone's camera to the Pixel 3's because of how the former saturates the color of its pictures. That was truly unexpected.
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Spot on JA, Spot on.
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@JA: DPReview loved the Pixel 3’s camera, but also noted that the latest iPhone’s do a better job with colors. Hopefully Goggle can address this with a software update.
I think I am going to stay with my actual Pixel 2016 a little bit longer, because it runs perfectly with Android P, has a better Batterie Life than before (with the Update) and the Pictures are fine. The hefty price for a new Phone - Just to get the same task done. No thanks, not now.
Thanks for the interesting review.
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Count me amazed. An actual, fair-minded Android review from someone who has been well-known as an Apple bigot all the way back to his days at Gizmodo. The Pixel's photo blow Apple's dumpling photo away imo and I use an iPhone X. The dumplings in the first photo does look sharper and more realistic. The second photo looks a little over-exposed to me and softer too.
The call screen feature is ridiculous however. Talk about a solution in search of a problem. Anyone who's got any sense has their DND settings on contacts only and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
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@Rob U. That's unrelated to DND. It's for when DND's off. But it's the same as answering. If it's spam, you can block the number for good, a feature Mr Chen ignores here.
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AT&T offers a good 3rd-party screening app which identifies spammers, but, in general, if I don't recognize the number, and they don't leave a message, the call is junk and treated as such.
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It would be helpful to know if Google allows users of pixel 2 phones to upgrade software...
@Jabez, in addition to getting standard Android updates for 3 years, some of the new camera features are being pushed to the Pixel 2.
2
Since I have known google reads my email I have started not to use anything new from google..
I know I am a lone guy buy I have so far bought 2 iPhone for my family and buying my iPhone next time I need a new phone.
IPhone just releasea ios12 qwhich runs on my 3 year old ipad just awesome.. google just killed my old chromecast , I cannot cast screen any more ! and starts playing music on my chromecast out of nowhere! Thanks Google I am shifting to iphone!
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Gotta love the irony of using a mostly out of focus picture at the top of an article that supposedly describes advances in software for better picture taking.
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I actually prefer the portrait picture shot on the iPhone. The Bokeh looks more natural while the Pixel3 is struggling at the edge of the steamer.
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@Kay It's not struggling, it's trying. The iPhone completely missed the edge and the sudden distance transition and therefore sharpness change. Looks photoshopped at first sight.
3
I'm wondering if the new Pixel has no headphone jack like the prior Pixel model, and relies only on the USB-C port with a dongle for accessing non-BT audio.
If so, I would have to take a pass once again.
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@Mikeweb
I just checked: no headphone jack. Also no micro-SD card slot.
In short, all the same technical drawbacks as the iPhone except it runs Android.
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@Mikeweb
A really important thing to note is that the Pixel 3 comes boxed with a decent set of USB-C earbuds w/ integration into the phone's virtual assistant, in addition to a 3.5mm jack adapter. Apple charges you for these things in addition to the already insane base price for the phone, so I'd argue that they aren't exactly on par.
This review is really brief in comparison to the deep dives that specialist sites like TechRadar and Cnet do; if you want to learn more about the Pixel 3 I'd read up in a few other places in addition to here.
@Mikeweb No parallel or serial ports either. Somebody's got to drop the old stuff, or you'd still have a parallel port on your phone. Put the 3.5mm adapter on your favorite headphones and forget about it.
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