After months of leaks, Google finally unveils the third generation of the Pixel flagship phones during their keynote livestream earlier today. The Pixel 3 and 3XL take a small, but noticeable upgrade in the hardware department with bigger edge-to-edge OLED displays, a two-tone matte/glossy finish for wireless charging, a new "not pink" colorway, and everyone's favorite front-facing notch bezel.
With the Pixel 2 leading the charge in what a smart phone camera can do, Google continues to further their lead with the best pocket photo machine by far! “For life on the go, we designed the world’s best camera and put it in the world’s most helpful phone,” said Google’s hardware chief Rick Osterloh. Unlike the iPhone XS and the Samsung Note 9, the Pixel 3 and 3XL forgoes the telephoto lens and instead features a single camera on the back, and introduces a new wide angles lens on the front.
To help give the best selfie experience, the added camera captures "184% more in your selfies than the new iPhone Xs," according to Google, making group shots a lot more manageable.
Google also introduces "Night Shift," a machine learning tool that helps the Pixel 3 take incredible low light photos without using the flash. The operating system detects the lighting of the photo and chooses the right colors to boost in the image for a more brighten and vibrant look.
That's not all. During the keynote, Google listed out a few more incredible features for the Pixel 3 camera including photo booth mode, motion auto focus, depth of field customization and focus in portrait mode, free unlimited storage for photos, and more.
They also teased an AR mode that features an animated Childish Gambino dancing to his seasonal bop "Summertime Magic."
Outside of the camera, the new Pixels are capable of 10W wireless charging, and can be charged on Google's new charging stand (the Pixel Stand), for $79. They will also feature a custom UI element for displaying important information while charging.
The Google Pixel 3 and 3XL are available for pre-order now, and are shipping October 18 at $799 for the 3 and $899 for the 3XL. Will you be copping the smartphone?
In other news, Nintendo hints at playable Game Boy case for smartphones in new patent.
