Now that the October Pixel event has wrapped up, we’ve seen all the new flagship phones coming out from Google, Apple, and Samsung this year. The much-leaked Google Pixel 3 still had some surprises, like Google spam call screening transcription and improved AI photo capabilities on top of an already great camera. Some of the new features Google introduced today are completely exclusive to the Pixel line, while others are features we’ve seen before on other phones.
Take for example, Top Shot, a new Pixel 3 feature that uses AI to automatically pick out the best frame from the moment a photo was taken. Apple’s Live Photos does a similar thing, saving the moments a photo is taken and letting you manually choose which frame you want to keep. The iPhone’s photo burst mode does this as well when you hold down the shutter to take multiple photos, but the AI will choose what it thinks is the best photo for you.
The Pixel 3 and 3 XL also got the added advantage of another camera in the front, introducing a new feature called Group Selfie Cam. Manually zooming out with the wide-angle lens will let you capture “184 percent more of the scene than the iPhone XS”, as Google claimed during its presentation.
Numbers-wise, Samsung wins at battery life capacity and the lowest starting price of $719 for the Galaxy S9. It also gets brownie points in my book for keeping the headphone jack. If you want to take a look at all the specs across the board, take a look at the chart below and make your own judgements.
Google Pixel 3 vs. iPhone XS vs. Galaxy S9
Specification | Google Pixel 3 | Google Pixel 3 XL | iPhone XS | iPhone XS Max | Galaxy S9 | Galaxy S9 Plus | Galaxy Note 9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | 5.5 inches | 6.3 inches | 5.8 inches | 6.5 inches | 5.8 inches | 6.2 inches | 6.4 inches |
Resolution | 2160 x 1080 | 2960 x 1440 | 2436 x 1125 | 2688 x 1242 | 2960 x 1440 | 2960 x 1440 | 2960 x 1440 |
Processor | Snapdragon 845 (2.5GHz and 1.6GHz, 64Bit octa-core) | Snapdragon 845 (2.5GHz and 1.6GHz, 64Bit octa-core) | A12 Bionic | A12 Bionic | Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz and 1.7GHz, octa-core) | Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz and 1.7GHz, octa-core) | Snapdragon 845 (2.8GHz and 1.7GHz, octa-core) |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 6GB | 6GB, 8GB |
Storage | 64GB, 128GB | 64GB, 128GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB | 64GB | 128GB, 512GB |
Rear camera | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide) | 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide) | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide) | 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels (wide) |
Front camera | 8 megapixels, 8 megapixels(wide) | 8 megapixels, 8 megapixels(wide) | 7 megapixels | 7 megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
Battery | 2,915mAh | 3,430mAh | TBA | TBA | 3,000mAh | 3,500mAh | 4,000mAh |
Water protection | IPX8 | IPX8 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
Wireless charging? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning port | Lightning port | USB-C, headphone jack | USB-C, headphone jack | USB-C, headphone jack |
Weight | 0.33 pounds | 0.4 pounds | 0.39 pounds | 0.46 pounds | 0.36 pounds | 0.42 pounds | 0.44 pounds |
Dimensions (in.) | 5.70 x 2.70 x 0.30 | 6.20 x 3.00 x 0.30 | 5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 | 6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 | 5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 | 6.22 x 2.91 x 0.33 | 6.37 x 3.01 x 0.35 |
Starting price | $799.00 | $899.00 | $999 | $1,099 | $719.99 | $839.99 | $999.99 |
Misc. | Google Duplex spam transcription, Active Edge squeezable sides | Google Duplex spam transcription, Active Edge squeezable sides | Face ID, Dual SIM, software-adjustable aperture | Face ID, Dual SIM, software-adjustable aperture | Iris scanner, mechanically adjustable aperture, Dual SIM | Iris scanner, mechanically adjustable aperture, Dual SIM | Dual SIM, Bluetooth S Pen, iris scanner, mechanically adjustable aperture |
If you’re thinking of buying a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, Google’s including six months of YouTube Music Premium and unlimited Google Photos storage with your purchase. Here’s how to trade in your old Pixel phone if you want to upgrade, and some different options for preordering. The phone ships October 18th, so get your preorders in by then.