More premium build, two-tone glass etching, and wireless charging. Does making glass partially matte cost more than just going all glossy or using aluminum? Maybe. Either way, it allowed Google to add wireless charging to the Pixel 3, which is a feature none of its predecessors have.
It's not quite the end of the road yet for Pixel 3 owners. Google promises software support through October 2021, meaning that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL should be on track to get updates to Android 11 this year, and even next year's Android 12. The two phones will also get software updates through then, too.
Best answer: The Pixel 3 is still a compact, powerful phone with years of guaranteed software updates ahead of it — but it's hard to recommend it these days over the more powerful Pixel 4 or the cheaper, longer-lasting Pixel 4a.
Your phone is water resistant but not waterproof. Your Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL phone has a water resistance rating of IPX8 under IEC standard 60529. Water resistance may be compromised due to normal wear and tear or damage to the phone. The phone charger and other accessories are not water resistant.
The cameras in Google Pixel phones, like the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, and Pixel 4 are incredible. Other companies make good camera phones, that's easy to admit. Other companies also make pretty good software. Samsung's One UI is very enjoyable and OnePlus' OxygenOS might be better than Google's Pixel Experience.
10 apps to download for the Google Pixel
- Simplenote. Note-taking apps are a dime a dozen, but none are simpler to use than Simplenote; it's in the name for crying out loud.
- Weather Timeline.
- Flamingo for Twitter.
- Calendar Widget: Agenda.
- Android Auto.
- Snapseed.
- Alto.
- Trello.
The Pixel 3XL has the foundation that makes great smartphones "great." The Pixel 3XL has everything that other top Android phones have: An excellent, sharp display. Fast and responsive performance.
Google's newest smartphone, the Pixel 4a ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends), is the best it has ever made and it only costs $350. But it lacks some of the extras you can get on pricier phones, like wireless charging, waterproofing, and a screen with a wonderfully smooth 90-Hz refresh rate.
Google has discontinued the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, its flagship phones that were released in October of last year. Both devices are out of stock in Google's store in the US, though some variants are still available in other regions for the time being. It's unusual for Google to discontinue a Pixel phone so quickly.
Google Pixel 5The rear dual camera unit on the Google Pixel 5 features a 12.2MP 27mm f/1.7 camera and a 16MP ultra wide f/2.2 camera, but it's the software that really elevates this camera to excellence.
For the Android 11 Beta, only Google Pixel 2/XL, Pixel 3/XL, Pixel 3a/XL, Pixel 4a, and Pixel 4/XL are available. You won't be able to install it on the original Pixel/XL.
Granted, the internal hardware has changed, the software keeps getting better and better, and there's no denying that the Pixels have consistently been among the best camera phones you can get. That said, Google's camera setup was due for an update.
Pixel phones get security updates for at least 3 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US.
Google's latest smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL, may lack waterproofing because Google didn't have enough time to properly integrate it. The Pixel and Pixel XL instead feature IP53 certification for dust and water resistance, meaning they can withstand splashes of water but not submersion.
If you're able to spare the extra cash, the Pixel 4 XL is definitely worth upgrading to — especially considering the lower prices you can find online these days.
The reason is because it has to. Google probably knows it very well that the Pixel phones are slightly overpriced. But then the company can't do anything about it because the pricing in this is about sending a message.
So what about Google's newer phones? While the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and Pixel 5 notably lack a headphone jack, some other versions — the Pixel 3a, 4a, and 4a (5G) — once again feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
The
phone has the same capacitive fingerprint sensor as the
Pixel 3.
The Pixel 3a has a lot of the same qualities as the Pixel 3.
| Category | Google Pixel 3a | Google Pixel 3 |
|---|
| Operating system | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Display | 5.6-inch gOLED 2220x1080 (18.5:9) Dragon Trail | 5.5-inch OLED 2160x1080 (18:9) Gorilla Glass 5 |
Yes, the Google Pixel 3, 4, and 5 support wireless charging - Business Insider.
The Pixel 3A has a slightly larger display inside a slightly larger body than the Pixel 3 -- we're talking millimeters. The 3A has a 5.6-inch OLED display while the larger 3A XL has a 6-inch OLED display. Good news is there isn't a notch! The newer Pixel phones don't get the Pixel 3's Snapdragon 845 processor.
- Best overall: OnePlus 7T Pro.
- Best iOS: Apple iPhone 11 Pro.
- Best smaller Android: Samsung Galaxy S10.
- Best camera: Huawei P30 Pro.
- Best value: OnePlus 7T.
The Pixel 4a 5G was initially slated to be the regular Pixel 5, with the Pixel 5 called the Pixel 5s. The Pixel 5 is now official, and Google is offering a single variant in its flagship series this year, breaking away from previous Pixel releases.
The 90Hz display doesn't run in 90Hz all the time due to battery concerns, and that makes the phone feel slower than its 90Hz competition. The battery is small, and the runtime is poor. The thing that most concerns me about the Pixel 4, though, is longevity.
So as you'd expect, the Pixel 4 in general is more advanced. But considering the poor battery life and other specs, reviewers have been saying things like… Battery life was really poor. The Pixel 4 only lasts just over 14 hours between charges.
The
iPhone 11 Pro tops the
Pixel 4, not just because of its superior processor and
better battery life, but because it edges out Google's phone in one area that Google used to dominate — mobile photography.
The Winner: iPhone 11 Pro.
| Pixel 4 | iPhone 11 Pro |
|---|
| Overall (100 points) | 79 | 84 |
Display: The Pixel 4 features an FHD display with 444 pixels-per-inch density, and the Pixel 4 XL is higher definition, with a QHD display and a pixel density of 537 ppi. But both phones feature a 90Hz OLED Smooth Display. Battery: The last big difference between the two phones is the battery.
But the handset was hampered by bad battery life — something Google has since addressed in the 4a. The new budget handset also sports an excellent camera for its price point, making the Pixel 4's existence somewhat redundant. Though the end of the Pixel 4 XL does leave Google with a larger option.
The device will sit between the Pixel 4a and 5 in terms of features and performance, but should be much closer to the latter. However, if you can't live without features like IP68 water protection or wireless charging, it's probably best to wait for the Pixel 5.
The Pixel 4A is cheaper than high-end devices largely because it lacks the frills in fancy phones, like wireless charging and a face scanner. Like the $399 iPhone SE, which Apple released in April, the Pixel 4A is a sign that you no longer need to pay through the nose for a great smartphone with a nice camera.
If you have the Pixel 4 XL, you can expect these times to be slightly longer. He says heavy usage gets him around 3 hours of screen on time while light usage can make it out to about 5 hours, on average.
The best phones you can buy today
- iPhone 12 Pro Max. The best phone overall.
- iPhone 12 Pro. Another top Apple phone.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The best Android phone money can buy.
- iPhone 12. The best iPhone for most people.
- iPhone 11. An even better value at a lower price.
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
- iPhone 12 mini.
- OnePlus 8 Pro.
