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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Impulses - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
It was thrown in by VZW and some Canadian carriers! Pretty overpriced for the rest of us tho... :|imaheadcase - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
I've not had any memory problems with mine. Also should be noted the stand is not bundled with phone, even thought it was with review it makes it sound like its normal.Edwardmcardle - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Awesome review as always. Will there be a mate 20 pro review? Have one and am considering returning because of odd screen issue. Also the new performance mode seems to suck battery, but animations seem laggy when not engaged...would be great to have a professional insight!Andrei Frumusanu - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Yes I'll follow up with the Mate 20's review next week. And yes the screen on the Pro is sub-optimal, as well as battery life, but that's not related to the perf mode.arayoflight - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Hey Andrei, can you check other SD845 phones with PCMark on Android 9 as well, so we can find out whether Google's performance is due to their firmware or the OS itself. You probably already have the OP6/T.Andrei Frumusanu - Saturday, November 3, 2018 - link
The OP6 in this review had Android 9 scores, the rest of the phones didn't have an update as of yet.InitrINwAndRatouSpeL - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Nice wallpaper - where could I find that?norazi - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
This review left out the best feature on the Pixel IMHO... Call Screen, it has completely transformed how I answer phone callsImpulses - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Possibly cause it's location based.Genspirit - Friday, November 2, 2018 - link
Just a note that the detail in the shadow isn't being "crushed" so much as it is just darkened. If you lighten the photo after taking it you can easily see the details in the shadows.Also I have to say I love my headphones that came with it, maybe just a fit thing.