Hands-On With Google's New Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Smartphones

[Blaze4G]

I never said that I think it's a time consuming burden. I just said I prefer not to tinker. When I get a new iPhone I like the fact that it feels familiar like my previous iPhone but just better in many respects. To be honest I don't know what the user experience is like when say for example if you go from a Samsung S8 to a S9. Can you restore the new S9 with the same layout and widgets as your S8 automatically or do you have to redo everything to get it just right again?

If you're moving to the new model of an Android manufacturer and had the older model from the same manufacturer, the UI is prettty much the same. However, if you move from a Samsung to a LG there I'll be noticeable difference. It's not a steep learning curve because most stuff are organsied similarly in my experience but it won't be seamlees like moving from a s8 to a s9.

If you stick with manufacturers that keeps the OS close to stock Android then it is relatively seamless. Examples such as HTC, Pixel, Motorla, One plus.

Yes, you can restore your previous layout. If you use a 3rd party launcher, you can restore your layout across all manufacturers.

 

[Defthand]

For me, it’s the whole ecosystem. Best apps on ios, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Music, and how everything just plays nicely with one another.

That—and MacOS—were my primary reason for endorsing Apple. However, Apple's ecosystem is no longer exclusive. Google is doing the same with its services and Google branded hardwares. Google's cloud (which Apple uses for some of its cloud needs), maps, photos, email, and messaging services are every bit as good as Apple's.

Why switch platforms? For me, I want more utility rather than entertainment. Apple is behind in AI and machine learning adoption. It has no formidable access of its own to the Web's vast information; it depends on Google and others to report the weather or search the web with Siri.

Apple's integrity is also a growing concern. It has conspired with book publishers to fix e-book prices, denied hardware flaws, and revealed that their repair services are a sham:

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

It's not a steep learning curve because most stuff are organsied similarly in my experience but it won't be seamlees like moving from a s8 to a s9.

Are you saying it's not easy to adjust to the new UI? A steep learning curve means that learning occurs quickly over a short period of time.

 

[I7guy]

...Apple's integrity is also a growing concern. It has conspired with book publishers to fix e-book prices, denied hardware flaws, and revealed that their repair services are a sham:

Google’s competence (lack of) and integrity(lack of) are a bigger concern than apple’s perceived lack of integrity.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

That’s the attention to detail you can always count on Apple to get right. Not so much for the multitude of Android options.

You can rely on Apple to never release a phone which won't charge when asleep. Or have WiFi and LTE issues as examples.

 

[pappy53]

Actually you need to check DxOMark. Huawei P20Pro rated best camera.

I stand corrected. But Xs and Xs Max rated above Pixel.

 

[Blaze4G]

Are you saying it's not easy to adjust to the new UI? A steep learning curve means that learning occurs quickly over a short period of time.

Not sure what you mean. Steep learning curve means it would be difficult. I am saying it's not a steep learning curve.

 

[imtoomuch]

I continue to be astounded by the way people rail against the iPhone notch without acknowledging its functionality while giving notched screens like this one a pass without acknowledging how much more invasive and how much less functional it is. Just goes to show how many companies out there wait for Apple to design their hardware for them.

You're joking, right? Way more people have accepted the iPhone notch and they are often the same people bashing the Pixel notch. The Pixel notch is narrower, but taller whereas the iPhone notch is wider and shorter.

The chin is inexcusable, but oddly some people do like bezels.

The Pixel beats the iPhone in that it has the fingerprint scanner on the back. The iPhone should still have it IMO.

It's kind of annoying that my $1500 phone has a worse camera than a $800 phone.

It is a bummer. It's funny how other sites almost universally say the Pixel is better than the Xs. The people on this site, probably trying to justify their purchase of the Xs to themselves, just won't admit it.

The Pixel not having optic zoom is a huge buzzkill IMO. I mean 2 selfie cameras, but only one rear camera? Doesn't make sense. And one camera is, at this point, outdated for top tier phones.

 

[Blaze4G]

You're joking, right? Way more people have accepted the iPhone notch and they are often the same people bashing the Pixel notch. The Pixel notch is narrower, but taller whereas the iPhone notch is wider and shorter.

The chin is inexcusable, but oddly some people do like bezels.

The Pixel beats the iPhone in that it has the fingerprint scanner on the back. The iPhone should still have it IMO.




It is a bummer. It's funny how other sites almost universally say the Pixel is better than the Xs. The people on this site, probably trying to justify their purchase of the Xs to themselves, just won't admit it.

The Pixel not having optic zoom is a huge buzzkill IMO. I mean 2 selfie cameras, but only one rear camera? Doesn't make sense. And one camera is, at this point, outdated for top tier phones.

The pixel has a new zoom feature. I don't think it will be as good as optical but we will have to wait and see.

 

[ROGmaster]

I never said that I think it's a time consuming burden. I just said I prefer not to tinker. When I get a new iPhone I like the fact that it feels familiar like my previous iPhone but just better in many respects.

You said you prefer to spend more time using the features of the phone suggestion that android users are not doing the same because they can thinker. Which is simply nonsense.

To be honest I don't know what the user experience is like when say for example if you go from a Samsung S8 to a S9. Can you restore the new S9 with the same layout and widgets as your S8 automatically or do you have to redo everything to get it just right again?

The simple answer is Yes.
And even if you are using 3rd party launchers you can do the same as most launchers offer the option to backup settings.
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That’s the attention to detail you can always count on Apple to get right. Not so much for the multitude of Android options.

Yeah sure and despite that this is how simplistic, elegant and functional looks like:

https://imgur.com/a/CUnqOe1

 

[heov]

It says "a" best display award, not "the" best display award. There's a difference. Samsung note would kill the Pixel screen. XS is still king.

Long live the King! Go Apple! You are the true champion!

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Not sure what you mean. Steep learning curve means it would be difficult. I am saying it's not a steep learning curve.

Steep learning curve means that knowledge/learning is acquired quickly.
Y axis is learning - X axis is time.
So a steep gradient means learning is easy. Most people get this wrong.

Edit : Think of the alternative. A gradual learning curve demonstrates that it takes a long time to increase knowledge/learning.

 

[Aftermath747]

You can rely on Apple to never release a phone which won't charge when asleep. Or have WiFi and LTE issues as examples.

Yeah, that sure was a tough week for some people before the software update. I never personally experienced either of those issues.
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Yeah sure and despite that this is how simplistic, elegant and functional looks like:

https://imgur.com/a/CUnqOe1

A mostly blank screen showing off your background? You can do that just fine on iPhone, but sure.

 

[G5isAlive]

Steep learning curve means that knowledge/learning is acquired quickly.
Y axis is learning - X axis is time.
So a steep gradient means learning is easy. Most people get this wrong.

Edit : Think of the alternative. A gradual learning curve demonstrates that it takes a long time to increase knowledge/learning.

Fascinating... and partially logical... but in common parlance it’s accepeted that a steep learning curve is hard. Since you seem to like metaphors, the total height (y) is the amount to learn but the steeper the gradient the harder to climb. There is reason ramps are shallow and steep ramps are called ladders and have grips to make it possible. So yeah, you’re wrong

 

[The Game 161]

You're joking, right? Way more people have accepted the iPhone notch and they are often the same people bashing the Pixel notch. The Pixel notch is narrower, but taller whereas the iPhone notch is wider and shorter.

The chin is inexcusable, but oddly some people do like bezels.

The Pixel beats the iPhone in that it has the fingerprint scanner on the back. The iPhone should still have it IMO.




It is a bummer. It's funny how other sites almost universally say the Pixel is better than the Xs. The people on this site, probably trying to justify their purchase of the Xs to themselves, just won't admit it.

The Pixel not having optic zoom is a huge buzzkill IMO. I mean 2 selfie cameras, but only one rear camera? Doesn't make sense. And one camera is, at this point, outdated for top tier phones.

If people here thought the pixel was a better phone they would buy one. Seeing as not many buy them I would suggest it is a hard sale.

A lot of the youtubers are bashing the pixel 3 and update wise those with a pixel 2 likely should stay with what they have given most of the camera improvements will come via software updates.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Fascinating... and partially logical... but in common parlance it’s accepeted that a steep learning curve is hard. Since you seem to like metaphors, the total height (y) is the amount to learn but the steeper the gradient the harder to climb. There is reason ramps are shallow and steep ramps are called ladders and have grips to make it possible. So yeah, you’re wrong

The link with gradients and ladders is exactly why people make the mistake.

For clarity, the learning curve described as above.
When the curve is steep, learning is at its easiest and progress is quick.

 

[G5isAlive]

View attachment 794182
The link with gradients and ladders is exactly why people make the mistake.
View attachment 794180
For clarity, the learning curve described as above.
When the curve is steep, learning is at its easiest and progress is quick.

Yeah, I knew you were too invested in your 'aha' moment to go with common sense. I can google too, and almost all of these entries start with some variant of 'originally meant', and that's cool. English is a very fluid language, always growing and adopting new meanings. So whatever it used to mean, you have at it, but in the thousands of times I have heard the phrase used, its only been used to mean easier by one person, you. I think I will continue to use it as every one else understands and uses it. Feel free to smile. Steep is never easy. And quick is not always easy either. A rocket burns a lot more fuel than a plane to achieve the same vertical height (until the atmosphere runs out of course).

Thanks for the grammar lesson though. Thats why I come to MacRumors.

 

[ROGmaster]

A mostly blank screen showing off your background? You can do that just fine on iPhone, but sure.

LoL that's all you've got from those 12 setups?
And anyway you can't make an iphone's screen look like any of the setups I've posted. Especially when it comes to functionality(but I'm absolutely sure you won't understand what I mean by this).

For example this is my minimalist setup. https://imgur.com/a/CE0CYDR
Good luck making an iphone look like this.

 

[Aftermath747]

LoL that's all you've got from those 12 setups?
And anyway you can't make an iphone's screen look like any of the setups I've posted. Especially when it comes to functionality(but I'm absolutely sure you won't understand what I mean by this).

For example this is my minimalist setup. https://imgur.com/a/CE0CYDR
Good luck making an iphone look like this.

Oh do please enlighten me on what terrific functionality I can’t see. I’ll comment on your setup alone, for brevity’s sake. You can see the date, day of the week, time, weather conditions, and battery level. I can see all of those on my iPhone save for weather conditions. I’ve already stated that Apple should make the Weather app “live” to fix that. You have your icons on the bottom. On iOS, they’d need to be on top. I don’t think that would make a huge difference. Obviously the wallpaper could be carried over. So how could I not effectively replicate that home screen? And don’t tell me the widget, because all that widget does is replicate info already shown elsewhere on the screen or presented in a different form on iPhone.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Yeah, I knew you were too invested in your 'aha' moment to go with common sense. I can google too, and almost all of these entries start with some variant of 'originally meant', and that's cool. English is a very fluid language, always growing and adopting new meanings. So whatever it used to mean, you have at it, but in the thousands of times I have heard the phrase used, its only been used to mean easier by one person, you. I think I will continue to use it as every one else understands and uses it. Feel free to smile. Steep is never easy. And quick is not always easy either. A rocket burns a lot more fuel than a plane to achieve the same vertical height (until the atmosphere runs out of course).

Thanks for the grammar lesson though. Thats why I come to MacRumors.

Because most people get this wrong, doesn't mean they are correct. I've known this since I was at University. As an example, Bob Moog designed the Minimoog. You may have heard of it.
His name rhymes with vogue. Not with moo from a cow noise. Does that means he didn't know how to pronounce his name and his product?
Your comment about rocket fuel shows that the correct concept of a learning curve and the concept of representing information on a graph where the y axis is clearly labelled goes right over your head.

Edit : For clarity , most people say Moog like moo

 

[ROGmaster]

Oh do please enlighten me on what terrific functionality I can’t see.

Well you can see 10 icons on my home screen. I actually have 17 icons, 7 icons are just hidden and can be accessed by a simple swipe up on the Google Photos icon for example.
This is the type of functionality that simply doesn't exist with iphones.

I’ll comment on your setup alone, for brevity’s sake. You can see the date, day of the week, time, weather conditions, and battery level. I can see all of those on my iPhone save for weather conditions. I’ve already stated that Apple should make the Weather app “live” to fix that.

It's not what you see is how it looks, how everything is arranged.
Also I'm using Nova Launcher which enables me to use a bunch of different gestures like Swipe Up, Down, Double Tap,Double Tap Swipe Up/Down, Swipe up/down(two fingers) so that empty space is actually useful and used for something which is obliviously something you can't even begin to grasp.

You have your icons on the bottom. On iOS, they’d need to be on top. I don’t think that would make a huge difference.

It does make a huge difference. The thing is I can choose to place my icons at the top as well if I wanted to but it never occurred to me to actually do it because they are way harder to reach that way. This is why on almost all Android home screen icons are at the bottom, because they are way easier to reach that's why people actuality choose to place them there. Simple logic.

Obviously the wallpaper could be carried over. So how could I not effectively replicate that home screen? And don’t tell me the widget, because all that widget does is replicate info already shown elsewhere on the screen or presented in a different form on iPhone.

First icons look in a certain way, have a certain size, are all placed at the bottom and lack labels, you can't replicate that. The grid is also different.
Then it's the widget which again can't be replicated on iphones. I don't see what's the problem that is also shows the battery percentage and the time, I'm using it for the weather/date info. Also It's not like I'm limited to that specific widget in any way so complaining about it makes no sense whatsoever.
Then it's the app drawer which hides most of the apps I don't need on my home screen and arranges them in an alphabetical order, then it's Nova Prime's function of hiding a folder behind an single app icon(one tap opens the app one swipe opens the folder).
Was this enlightening enough for you?

 

[Olympian_Zeus]

P3 looks nice. If I didn’t watch the video, I’d have thought it was a X. Only thing wrong with android is that there’s no software support after a couple years. I think Samsung guarantees 2 years of support on their phones, then you’re on your own. People are still paying off those unsupported phones on that 30 month plan, too, so that’s pretty ridiculous. Google,I think, is better when it comes to their own phones as far as updates and which models get the new OS versions.
[doublepost=1539350083][/doublepost]

Not everyone agrees with that assessment. At this level of quality, it's very subjective as to which is better.

Nah, the specs and results are empirical. No opinions matter in this case. iPhone can’t beat em all in every category, my dude.

 

[Sikh]

I will say it is polished. Have you tried a Pixel 1 or 2 or the latest Galaxy phones? I have, so have some experience, as I said, I now have a iPhone XS so can compare, you can't. I will give you a tip, stay with your iOS devises, their simplicity seems to suit you.

You say you had 4 Nexus devices for a year each and never changed when you had a bad experience, you kept going for 4 years? You realise how that makes you look?

Comparing a nvidia shield with a Pixel/Samsung phone operating Android, now where's the joke? Here's a tip, go back and read the very first line of my post, what does it say? Have you ever owned a Pixel or Pixel 2? By your own admission, you haven't, so it applies to you.

Wrong. I’ve owned a pixel but didn’t keep it for more than a week. Comparing a device with the same OS sis all that matters. Why does it matter if I compare a phone or tablet if the use case is the same? I don’t use my phone for phone calls, it’s all apps so what’s the problem in comparing the two?

I kept going because I’m a nerd and I wanted to see Nvidia get better. I run Linux daily and wanted a phone that would allow me a portable computer on the go. That’s what android time we suppose to be but it was barely reliable enough for me to keep going. I was hoping in 4 years they would change things seeing how the nexus was suppose to be AOSP + I was a early adopter so I was expecting better over 4 years and not much changed so I finally left.
[doublepost=1539354468][/doublepost]

And where is this proof? This has been nothing more than a ridiculous rumor/theory which comes out at every Apple product launch. Hilarious!

It’s been proven on these forums and the internet. I’ve had a 6+ with the sameness “issue” and it went away in a day.

Also funny how that’s the only part of my post you quote. Now THATS hilarious.

 

[Olympian_Zeus]

It seems as if no other company (except Apple) has any idea what good design is. Like zero idea.

I mean look at that hideousness.

Don't even get me started on how all other companies are fighting over Apple Notch™ like baboons and macaques, and can't for the love of god decide what it should look like.

Unbelievable

 

[daveathall]

Well you can see 10 icons on my home screen. I actually have 17 icons, 7 icons are just hidden and can be accessed by a simple swipe up on the Google Photos icon for example.
This is the type of functionality that simply doesn't exist with iphones.




It's not what you see is how it looks, how everything is arranged.
Also I'm using Nova Launcher which enables me to use a bunch of different gestures like Swipe Up, Down, Double Tap,Double Tap Swipe Up/Down, Swipe up/down(two fingers) so that empty space is actually useful and used for something which is obliviously something you can't even begin to grasp.




It does make a huge difference. The thing is I can choose to place my icons at the top as well if I wanted to but it never occurred to me to actually do it because they are way harder to reach that way. This is why on almost all Android home screen icons are at the bottom, because they are way easier to reach that's why people actuality choose to place them there. Simple logic.


First icons look in a certain way, have a certain size, are all placed at the bottom and lack labels, you can't replicate that. The grid is also different.
Then it's the widget which again can't be replicated on iphones. I don't see what's the problem that is also shows the battery percentage and the time, I'm using it for the weather/date info. Also It's not like I'm limited to that specific widget in any way so complaining about it makes no sense whatsoever.
Then it's the app drawer which hides most of the apps I don't need on my home screen and arranges them in an alphabetical order, then it's Nova Prime's function of hiding a folder behind an single app icon(one tap opens the app one swipe opens the folder).
Was this enlightening enough for you?

I used to have a Pixel 2, Pixel 1 before that, I now have a iPhone XS. All the modern flagship phones are a much of a muchness, they all work brilliantly well. I do miss being able to set up my screen how I want. Your set up looks great but you are trying to explain it to those who's minds are already made up, which is a shame. Good post though, mate.

I will echo one of your important points, On iOS, If one wanted a minimalist screen and put all their apps in one folder, it would be placed at the worst possible place that it could be for a right handed user (Top left corner).

I really enjoy my iPhone XS, does it have the best OS? No not really, in my opinion, it's on a par with Android, (just) but no better.

In a couple of years time what will be my next phone? It will probably be a flagship device from any one of Apple/Google/Samsung.