The Google Pixel 3 Review: The Ultimate Camera Test
by Andrei Frumusanu on November 2, 2018 11:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- camera
- Mobile
- Pixel
- Snapdragon 845
- Pixel 3
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, we should be expecting the Pixel 3 to do better than the Pixel 2, as we have an 8% larger battery coming at 2915mAh compared to last year’s 2700mAh unit. On the other hand, we also have to consider the Pixel 3 has a larger screen that needs to be powered, and the SoC efficiency can go either way. For our battery tests, we set the device brightness to 200 nits using our colorimeter tools.
Unfortunately, the Pixel 3 sees a regression in terms of battery life, ending up 18% or 1.5 hours behind the Pixel 2 in the web browsing battery test. I did some quick power characterisation, and the Pixel 3 uses about 90mW more power when idling at minimum brightness in airplane mode. Stretched over a 9-10 hour period, this is about 8% of the total battery capacity. On top of this, the phone has to power a bigger screen, and we have a much more performant SoC. Overall the Pixel 3’s battery life doesn’t end up as particularly surprising.
In PCMark, the Pixel 3 sees better performance, as the SoC is able to counter-act the phone general less efficiency. Here the Pixel 3 lands just slightly ahead of the Pixel 2, landing in the middle of the pack in terms of battery life.
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unrulycow - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
I'm really disliking the ad that moves to the corner when you scroll past it. Ads should not follow you.sheltem - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Thank you for the super detailed review. The wifi battery and camera tests are comprehensive as usual. Any chance you'll run the additional battery life tests on the Pixel 3 XL and iPhone XR? Thanks again.Andrei Frumusanu - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
If I can get both those phones.Nephelai - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
The speaker vibration on speaker phone distorts peoples voice. Worse if you put it on a desk. Even at 50% volume. I’m returning my Pixel 3. That air gap between the rear case and the internals is a design shortcoming producing a quality issue.Awful - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
This review does seem to come to a different conclusion to most others re: the camera.My experience with google/pixel camera is that in day to day usage it ends up being significantly better. The HDR+ just produces more consistently colorful/contrasty/pretty photos under challenging circumstances.
Your results don't really show that though, so I'm not sure. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Awful - Sunday, November 4, 2018 - link
Okay, had to come back as came across another couple of reviews that disagreed with this conclusion. I think you should try using the pixel 3 camera as a daily driver for a bit, and try a larger range of subjects / situations and I think you'll come up with a more positive view of the pixel-as-camera-phone. e.g. this matches my experience better https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-3-ca...Andrei Frumusanu - Monday, November 5, 2018 - link
Those shots are no different from mine. Plus they're just 2.8MP resized images.Like I said, the Pixels tend to darken shadows and raise highlights in order to achieve this contrast.
mrvco - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
I got to put hands on both the Pixel 3 and 3 XL today. I was really blown away by how perfect the Pixel 3 felt in my hand. The Pixel 3 XL wasn't even remotely appealing in comparison side-by-side. The gesture navigation was fine, but I do agree that it seems pointless relative to the current three button implementation. I currently have a Pixel XL and expect that I won't be able to resist ordering a Pixel 3 much longer.Lau_Tech - Saturday, November 3, 2018 - link
Great review Andrei! You rightly identified the pixel 3 's camera as its make or break feature and put all your effort there. Your results are very interesting and certainly defensible based on the wealth of data you accumulated. Well done!satori3000 - Saturday, November 3, 2018 - link
Was the name of the camera application that Andrei used listed in the article, I've gone through it a few times and can't see it. What camera application allows you to enable night shift? Anyone?