First, there's one camera on the back, not two or even three (but you do get two on the front). Second, they start at under $1,000 each. Third, there's no wild color; the "craziest" still looks kind of white. And finally, there's no killer feature -- some would say gimmick -- in sight. On paper, these flagships make the jump when it comes to hardware and software, but otherwise just riff off of 2017's Pixel 2 ($649 at Google Store). And then I picked them up. Holding the 5.5-inch Pixel 3 and 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL in my hand was a different story. These are sleek, almost slippery devices with rounded edges and thoughtfully curved elements, like the slightly tacky clear panel on the back. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are undoubtedly Google's most refined Pixel phones yet. If performance holds up during our testing, I can see how this could be a go-to phone for Android fans, not because they're innovative (they're not) but because they're both appealing to hold and use.
You can buy the new Pixel 3 phones in black, white and "Not Pink." The glossy plane on the Pixel's signature two-tone backing has shrunk over the years, and slightly curves down at the corners rather than cut straight across. In fact, nearly everything about the Pixel 3 is subtle, and that could very well be the phone's main strength. New on the features side are two front-facing cameras (for group selfies), wireless charging support and Pixel USB-C earbuds in the box. Pixel 3 pricing starts at $799 (£739, AUD$1,199), while the Pixel 3XL starts at $899 (£869, AUD$1,349). Pay $100 (or £100) more per phone to double the storage space from 64GB to 128GB. These are still expensive flagship models by any measure, but in a mobile landscape with ballooning costs, Google's comparative restraint could help draw buyers who balk at $1,000 phones like the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy Note 9. You can preorder the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL now. US residents can buy either phone starting on Oct. 18, followed by sales in other countries starting Nov. 1. In the US, the Pixels sell with Verizon, unlocked through Google's online store, and New Pixel 3 features that matter Larger, 5.5-inch (Pixel 3) and 6.3-inch (3 XL) displays Pixel 3 XL has a notched screen; Pixel 3 does not Two front-facing cameras Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor Slightly larger battery capacity for both phones compared to Pixel 2 devices Portrait mode shots can also save photos without the portrait filter effect Top Shot, an automated photo-selection tool, launches later Wireless charging support with $79 (£69) Pixel Stand Use AI voice assistant to field unwanted calls Turn the phone over to silence incoming calls Titan M security chip exclusive to Pixel 3 phones
