Google Pixel 3 XL

One of the highlights of 2018 can be the Google Pixel 3 XL with a bigger screen, sharper display, and one of the best camera-combo in the flagship phone market. Priced at Rs. 77,842, this expensive phone is worth the money if photography is something you live and die for.

It comes with significant upgrades over Pixel 3 – a better screen and a better battery which are expected from an upgrade of the standard model. These dual upgrades are a great pair to increase your photographic experience and last it for long. However, the price may still seem too steep for just these modifications.

Google Pixel 3 XL does not score well on flagship design. Released with a glass cover after bidding farewell to the glass-aluminium back of Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3 XL provides faster travel LTE signals and makes wireless charging possible. However, the phone is larger with a 6.3 screen, which while giving good screen space compromises on being handy. You will need two hands to work on the phone. The side bezels are invisible, and thankfully, Pixel 3 XL has got rid of the thick top bezel from its predecessor, it does come with a bottom chin that sticks out beside iPhone XS Max. Plus, there is a distracting notch which is a strict no-no in the top-end range that Pixel 3 XL is being released. It does not come with the familiar headphone jack, but this is hardly surprising since most flagship models are slowly doing away with this past design.

Google Pixel 3 XL has an excellent 6.3-inch OLED screen with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, a QHD+ resolution, and HDR Support. They are high-end specs, and Google delivers well – you get sharper colours, fantastic colour accuracy, and the right amount of brightness that allow you to read in the sun. After the top and side bezels have gone invisible, the phone comes with 83% screen-to-body ratio, a sizable screen space to work with. However, the sharp display and excellent screen size are cut down by the noticeable notch. It stays in your line of vision, unlike the iPhone X’s notch which could be ignored, and watching videos or browsing website can make it an annoying distraction.

Google Pixel 3 XL comes with the recent Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset coupled with 4GB RAM which is a shocker since most flagship phones offer 8GB or at least 6GB. However, it does not pose a problem, and the performance remains stable throughout the phone. It provides a snappy performance and smooth app-switching, though Apple’s A11 and A12 chipsets beat it hands-down. While it remains reliable, this chipset is not future guaranteed and is not the best piece if you are looking to run heavy games.

Google Pixel 3 XL has cameras worthy to get top awards. The 2.2MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture seems to be not at par with the flagship phones carrying smaller apertures and 16MP to 20MP cameras. However, while it is low on paper, in real time, the performance of Pixel 3 XL beats the competition easily. It can consistently produce sharp images, with incredible brightness and colour reproduction. Even low-light images have a bright hue making it sharper. In comparison, iPhone XS Max failed to capture bright colours and showed overly warm tones, while Samsung Galaxy Note 9 failed at HDR. Plus, you get the dedicated Pixel Visual Core chip and the machine-learning software that works like magic and gets the perfect shot and algorithm while capturing images. The two 8MP selfie cameras are a flagship installation, with the primary selfie camera being supported by the wide-angle secondary camera. Both do an excellent job with HDR and capture less noise than competing flagships. Wide-angle camera is great for Group Selfies, and you could fit many of your friends in a single frame. However, the angle to click the selfie has to be just right, or else certain body parts can flare up with barrel distortion.

The Machine-learning Camera app is a great addition and engages in a lot of post-processing work on captured images. It reduces any graininess in low-light photos and increases brightness without visual noise bringing out the best picture you can get.

Pixel 3 XL upgrades from Pixel 3 by providing a larger battery of 3,430 mAh against the 2,915 mAh of Pixel 3. It can get you a solid performance for a day and a half after moderate use even though it’s not as great as its flagship competitor, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 packing 4,000 mAh. However, it fares well due to the software, Android Pie, and the different battery-saving features coming with it. ‘Adaptive battery’ turns off power-hungry apps and boosts battery life. Plus, QHD+ downgrades pixels keeping the juice stored for long.

The 18W charger of Pixel 3XL supports fast charging, but the best bit is the introduction of wireless charging in Pixel 3 and 3 XL. It works beautifully, though it is a bit slower than wired charging.

Google Pixel 3 XL comes with an expensive tag, but it delivers your money’s worth. Scoring top marks with its fantastic camera, Pixel 3 XL also packs enough power and battery life to make your phone experience great. This phone is for the power user who wants a better screen along with a killer camera to record moments captured in great detail. However, it does gorgeous looks, and struggles with gaming. To experience looks and awesome gaming, Galaxy S9 is a better option.