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Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: the most versatile member of the family
by Michelle Brändle
The Google Pixel 3: A device not quite worth its high price tag
26.11.2018
Translation: machine translated
The Pixel 2 was praised for its camera, but criticised for its screen and old-fashioned design. The Pixel 3, meanwhile, has taken two steps forward and one step back.
Google gets more ambitious every year, and our expectations follow the same upward slope. We forgave the boring design of the first Google Pixel and its lack of flagship-worthy features such as IP68. The Pixel 2 has built on the strengths of its predecessor, even if its design still left something to be desired. As the saying goes, "never two without three": the Pixel 3 is clearly the most rounded version of the three, yet it remains slightly too angular.
The design The notch or the edges
Other than the notch and the black band, I find both devices very elegant, especially the symmetry of the Pixel 3. I really like the rounded edges; they feel great, and the little pops of colour on the home button or the back of the device are right up my street. I wasn't initially convinced by the photos and videos, but on closer inspection, the Pixel 3s can definitely score.
The Pixel 3 is fast, it sounds great, but it doesn't last very long
The reason I've been banking on the Nexus/Pixel range of smartphones for a few years now? I like the pure version of Android. And I have immediate access to the latest security patches and software updates, even if there's not much revolutionary about them any more and they often contain features that other manufacturers have been offering for years, like picture-in-picture.
The pure version of Android is still my first choice though. As I installed the beta version of Android 9 on my Pixel 2 already a few months ago, switching to the Pixel 3 hasn't changed much. The launcher has been slightly adapted, and the search function on the bottom edge now has a clickable symbol that gives access to the Google Assistant. Otherwise, everything looks the same to me.
As with any self-respecting new smartphone, the latest version of the Snapdragon 845 processor makes it ultra-fast. It generally has no lag. But it still has a little something wrong with it. The controls work perfectly at 98%, and using it is a real pleasure. The other 2% still annoys me, and experience shows that it will only get worse over the coming months and years.
Let's move on to the charging station. It supports Fast Wireless Charging. I've imported it, as digitec don't offer it yet (we should have it in four to six weeks). It works with all devices compatible with QI technology, but only the Pixel 3 has exclusive features: an alarm clock that simulates sunrise, a digital picture frame or programmable daily activities. I find it extremely practical, but far too expensive (it costs $80) for its performance.
The two stereo speakers on the front of the smartphone are, like their predecessors, surprisingly powerful. According to Google, their volume has even been increased by 40%. I can't confirm this, but they're definitely more powerful than those on the Pixel 2, which were already very capable. I like to listen to podcasts when I'm cooking, and the volume is even enough to drown out my cooking noises.
Nice headphones
The screen works very well
On the Pixel 2, I had to use the 'boosted' mode to improve colours, but the Pixel 3's standard 'adaptive' mode is already delivering superb results. Colours are vivid without looking too saturated, and viewing angles are very good.
Is the camera really that exceptional?
The camera has always been the flagship feature of the smartphone, and has been since the first Pixel. This time around, Google has dispensed with multiple lenses, at least on the back of the device. The 12.2 megapixel camera still takes excellent photos. Autofocus is fast. Thanks to the new motion capture function, it can automatically track selected objects. This is handy when you want to photograph a moving object or test different angles.
Google, on the other hand, has installed two 8MP lenses on the front of its phone. One is for wide-angle images, the other for ordinary shots. The wide-angle lens is perfect for group selfies and reaches an angle of 107 degrees. This is certainly a more than respectable number, but depending on the angle, the image can be slightly distorted. Most of the time, you still get good results.
Photobooth mode automatically takes photos when you smile or make faces, and Top Shot selects the best one. It's a fun gadget that can make for some great party shots. It works well, but not perfectly, and the extra images are of much poorer quality. You need to activate the Motion option to use this feature.
Portrait mode, which gives a bokeh effect to photos, still works well. Even with messy hair like mine, the AI manages to separate the background and give nice blurred effects. You can then manually adjust the intensity of the effect.
And let's not forget the Night Sight mode. This is clearly the camera's most impressive feature. When you take a photo, the camera takes several (a bit like the super-resolution zoom) to create a single photo. The result is truly incredible. The Pixel's camera produces beautiful images even in the worst lighting conditions. They contain very little noise and are still quite sharp.
When it comes to video, however, the device doesn't quite come up to par with the best smartphones. It doesn't go beyond 4K/30, and video quality isn't up to the same standard as photos. On the other hand, the image stabiliser is fantastic. I could almost forget that my video wasn't taken with a tripod.
Small flaws or serious problems?
Finally, some users (in English) have reported that the camera crashes when another app tries to access it. Again, it looks like only a few people have been affected. I've never encountered this problem.
Bottom line: the Pixel 3 is better than its predecessors, but its price can't be justified.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
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