Should you buy the Google Pixel 3?
Best answer: Most likely, yes! Unless you just got a new phone or you already have a Pixel 2, the Pixel 3 is one of the best Android phones around and is well worth picking up.
Amazon: Google Pixel 3 ($799)
Who does the Pixel 3 make sense for?
Google isn’t worried about packing the absolute top-of-the-line specs into its phone, nor is it concerned with supporting “legacy” hardware features anymore, and that could be a dealbreaker for some. There’s no headphone jack or microSD card slot on the Pixel 3, and it only has 4GB of RAM, which raises some concerns regarding future-proofing and longterm performance.
Instead, the Pixel 3 is for those who care about a clean software experience and timely updates above all else. If you’ve used a non-Google phone and found yourself irritated by unnecessary software add-ons or slow rollouts of new Android versions, the Pixel is an easy choice.
It’s also a fantastic option if you heavily value your phone’s camera. The Pixel 3 has one of the best photography experiences in mobile, combining a great sensor with Google’s intelligent software features to create stunning, DSLR-like images with each shot. There’s a new wide-angle front camera for taking group photos, and the rear camera has been improved over last year’s, offering better low light, zoom, and dynamic range.
Is it worth upgrading if I already bought a phone this year?
Assuming you bought a flagship, probably not, unless you’re unhappy with your current phone. Whether you’re using a Galaxy S9, an LG G7, or a OnePlus 6, the Pixel 3 likely won’t be a dramatic upgrade in terms of specs or performance — at least not enough to warrant selling your device and spending another $800+ on a new one.
The Pixel 3 is for those who care about a clean software experience and timely updates above all else.
If you’re coming from a lower-end device, however, the Pixel 3 is worth considering over some of the aforementioned alternatives. While not everyone enjoys the barebones experience of stock Android, it’s certain to get updates faster than phones from other manufacturers, and just as importantly, it’ll get them more often — Google supports its Pixel devices years after they’re released.
What if I already have a Pixel 2?
It’s harder to recommend the Pixel 3 if you already own a Pixel 2. Both from a hardware and software perspective, there weren’t a whole lot of major changes made this year; each model has roughly the same design and a nearly identical build of Android 9 Pie.
Furthermore, many of the Pixel 3’s new features will be coming to the Pixel 2 soon via software updates, including call screening, Playground (Google’s AR stickers app), adjustable background blur in Portrait Mode, and Night Sight — which isn’t even available on the Pixel 3 just yet. While it’s not quite the same as getting a new phone, there are enough new features on the way to make your Pixel 2 feel like a new phone.
Of course, none of that is to say that there aren’t any new improvements, as only the Pixel 3 features many of the new camera enhancements like Top Shot, Super Res Zoom, Motion Auto Focus, and a wide-angle front camera. Pixel 2 owners may also appreciate the new model’s considerably larger display with roughly the same physical dimensions.
For some, those improvements will be worth upgrading, but unless you plan on taking a lot of group selfies or just can’t stand your 16:9 display any longer, you’re probably fine to hold off for now — maybe wait for next year’s Pixel refresh instead.
Our pick
Google Pixel 3
$799 at Google
Pure Android and stunning cameras
The Pixel 3 isn’t a dramatic upgrade over last year’s model, but it makes minor improvements that all add up to a more cohesive experience with clean, intuitive software and some of the best cameras in mobile.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro hands-on preview: The phone that does everything
Huawei’s bold new flagship aims for nothing less than being the best at everything.
Deciding which Android phone is the best is not a simple task. We should know— we regularly try to answer this question here at Android Central. For some of us, it’s the most beautiful design, the latest software, or the most powerful specs, or the most impressive camera, or the longest battery life.
These are all important pieces of the puzzle, and most of the big flagships we cover have at least one of these things going for them. But Huawei’s latest device tries to do all of them at once: This is the Mate 20 Pro, and it could be the most advanced Android phone of the year. It boasts a 7nm CPU with a laundry list of technical firsts, the latest Android 9 Pie software, the most advanced biometrics, a camera even better (on paper) than the current DxOMark champion, and a battery so big it’ll actually wirelessly charge other phones.
Oh, and it also looks pretty nice on the outside.
But first, a bit of housekeeping: There is also a regular Mate 20 version, which like last year is bigger, flatter and slightly lower-specced than the Pro model. The Mate 20 has the core experience, but the Pro adds the gravy — the extra technology and features that make it one of the year’s most exciting phones.
Huawei has been drifting away from the boxy aesthetic of phones like the Mate 9 for the past couple of years, and the Mate 20 Pro abandons this look altogether. It’s got curved glass on both sides, a comfortable rounded metal trim. Even the screen is slightly curved around the sides. It’s all very rounded and symmetrical, right down to the angles of the unique new squared-off camera protrusion around the back.
Huawei is known for taking the standard smartphone materials everyone else uses — metal and glass — and putting a unique twist on them, and that’s exactly what we have again in the Mate 20 series. There are traditional polished glass offerings in pink gold, black, and my personal favorite twilight gradient, which is a sort of reverse version of the same color in the P20. Where the company mixes things up is with its new “hyper-optic pattern,” which is available in midnight blue and emerald green.
A couple of the new colors add a grippiness to the glass that should make it much less slippery.
This is a striped pattern etched into the surface of the glass itself, giving it a subtle ridged texture. If you’ve ever held a vinyl record, it feels a little like that, only softer. And in addition to catching the light a little differently than your standard glass-backed smartphone, it makes the Mate 20 Pro a bit grippier, and less prone to collecting fingerprints.
The display on the Mate 20 Pro is a gorgeous curved 2K OLED panel equal in quality to the other high-end phone displays. To my eyes, it looks on par with the Pixel 3 XL’s excellent panel, though Huawei isn’t making any bold claims around its colors or brightness. There’s a sizeable notch up top to house a camera array for 3D face unlock, which works similarly to the iPhone’s Face ID. Face enrolment is speedy, and unlocking speeds were significantly quicker than what I’ve experienced from the Galaxy Note 9.
That’s not the only way to unlock the Mate 20 Pro, though. Huawei’s shipping an in-screen fingerprint sensor in the Mate 20 Pro, and unlike its previous effort in the Porsche Design Mate RS, this one is actually good. There’s a tiny but perceptible delay when unlocking compared to the very fastest traditional fingerprint scanners, but it’s an enormous improvement upon the first generation optical sensors that shipped in some phones earlier in the year, thanks to a new DPS (dynamic pressure sensitivity) sensor.
As you’d expect from a Mate series phone, Huawei has crammed all its latest technology into the Mate 20 Pro. As a result, the spec sheet for this thing reads like a wish list of everything you could possibly want in a smartphone. (Except, possibly, a 3.5mm headphone jack.)
It’s all built around the Kirin 980 processor, which was announced back at the IFA conference in Berlin. There’s a ton of new stuff in the 980, but in brief: It’s the among the first 7nm smartphone chips (the only other one at present is Apple’s A12), the first to use ARM’s Cortex-A76 cores in its CPU, and the first with Mali-G76 GPU. All these firsts add up to a chip with more horsepower than pretty much anything in any other Android phone, while also being more power-efficient.
Is the 4,000mAh battery of earlier Huawei flagships not enough for you? How about a cheeky bump to 4,200mAh, plus 40W quick charging through Huawei’s new, second-gen Super Charge, which the company claims can get you from zero to 70% in 30 minutes.
The Mate 20 Pro can wirelessly charge other phones because its battery is so big. Your move, Samsung.
The Mate 20 Pro is also the first Huawei flagship to include Qi wireless charging — but not only to charge the Mate itself. Huawei has brought a reverse wireless charging feature to this device, so that 4,200mAh battery can actually charge other Qi-compatible phones. Doing this is probably going to be wildly impractical because of the shape and slipperiness of phones in general. (In a meeting ahead of the launch, I just about managed to balance a Note 9 on the back of it and get it charging; with smaller, curvier phones your mileage may vary.) Regardless, it’s a very clever bit of marketing. Huawei clearly wants Mate 20 Pro owners out there charging their friends’ flagging iPhone batteries.
Software has traditionally been one of the major weaknesses of Huawei phones, and the company’s EMUI interface has generally taken a bit of a beating in reviews. The new version, 9.0, still looks like EMUI, but offers improvements across multiple fronts. It’s based on the solid foundations of Android 9 Pie, with all the new features and benefits that brings. And Huawei has worked to make it its interface simpler, cleaner and more attractive. I feel like I’m repeating myself a little in saying that. The company has been moving, slowly, in this direction since its software stopped looking objectively terrible in 2016. But Huawei is a big ship to steer, so we’re still dealing with baby steps here.
Animations, in particular, feel a lot snappier, which is important since you can now use full-screen gesture navigation. (The old-style three-button setup is available as an option, but the newer Google Pixel-style gesture controls are not.) In other areas, Huawei has trimmed some of the cruft from its menus, made its apps lighter and more one-handable, with tabs and menu items down at the bottom. And fullscreen artwork is shown for incoming calls, alarms, as well as in some areas of Huawei’s bundled apps. (Though not all of this was ready in the early firmware we used.)
Yes, EMUI 9.0 still looks too much like iOS, but it’s also a much better experience for long-time Android users in general.
EMUI 9 still looks a lot like iOS too, and that’s reflected in its approach to gestures. Like the iPhone X and XS, swipe up to go home, or swipe and hold for recent apps. To go back, swipe inwards from the left or right bezel. Mostly this works fine, but it can cause problems in apps with slide-out menus, like Gmail. Fortunately, you can escape back to the familiar territory of on-screen keys if you find the gestures unpalatable.
Huawei has also built its own version of Google’s Digital Wellbeing features, called Digital Balance, which can help you track screen usage and take a break from the flood of notifications on your off hours. We’ve only played with it for a limited time ahead of launch, but it seems to be a faithful recreation of Google’s app.
There’s a lot to see in EMUI 9, and we’ll take a much closer look in our full review.
The Leica triple camera was a central part of what made the P20 Pro great, and the Mate 20 Pro builds upon those foundations. Huawei takes the 40-megapixel main sensor and 8MP 3X telephoto of the P20 Pro and leaves them largely unchanged. Meanwhile, the monochrome sensor has been retired, and replaced with a new 20-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.
What that means is you get standard and zoomed photos at least as good as the P20 Pro, with the added versatility of a wide-angle camera the likes of which I’ve loved using in LG’s phones over the years. Unlike LG, though, Huawei’s wide-angle has autofocus, so you can also capture some striking macro shots with it. Huawei’s Master AI will actually switch to the wide-angle lens when the camera is placed very close to its subject.
4K video recording is also supported across all three cameras, with AI stabilization enabled by default, which represents a serious improvement from previous generations of Huawei cameras. (The P20 series and earlier models maxed out at 1080p if you wanted to use that software stabilization.)
Speaking of AI, the new dual Neural Processing Unit in this phone now offers more advanced object and scene detection — more than 1500 scenes now, up from 500 on the previous gen. One area where this is apparent is pet photos. The Mate 20 Pro can recognize 27 different breeds of dogs. So, in theory, it can not just tell that “this is a dog and this is a cat,” but “this is a Great Dane and this is a Schnauzer.” That’s one small example of how Huawei’s hoping to make AI scene detection less of a blunt implement — by understanding granular detail in photos and videos, it can fine-tune camera settings for the best results in more situations.
Huawei already had the best low-light performance with its ridiculously impressive handheld night mode on the P20 — and arguably the best telephoto too, with 3X optical and 5X hybrid zoom. Adding a really great super-wide-angle into the equation is just the icing on the cake, and I can’t wait to see what these cameras are capable of.
Mate 20 vs Mate 20 Pro
The Mate 20 Pro is the real flagship here, but the standard Mate 20 offers similar features and the same core technology for what should be a lower price. A quick breakdown of the main differences between the two:
| Notch | Teardrop | Regular |
| 3D Face Unlock | No | Yes |
| In-screen Fingerprint | No | Yes |
| Display | 2244×1080 RGBW LCD, 6.53-inch 18.7:9 | 3120×1440 curved OLED HDR, 19.5:9 |
| Battery | 4,000mAh | 4,200mAh |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes |
| Super Charge | 22.5W | 40W |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP53 |
| Cameras | 12MP f/1.8 regular, 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 8MP f/2.4 telephoto | 40MP f/1.8 regular, 20MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 8MP f/2.4 telephoto |
The standard Mate 20 has a smaller teardrop notch, but loses the fancy camera modules for 3D face unlock. And it has a plain old rear fingerprint scanner instead of the in-screen module. The screen is slightly larger, but lower-resolution, and uses a flat LCD panel with an RGBW configuration for extra brightness.
You’ll also have to deal with “only” a 4,000mAh battery, and the older-generation 22-watt Super Charging, plus no wireless charging. The rear cameras also take a small downgrade, specifically the regular and ultra-wide modules.
It’s clear Huawei wants to hit a lower price point with the standard Mate 20 for people who just want a large, high-performance smartphone without any of the extra-expensive goodies. As it has been for the past year or so, the Pro series is the real jewel in Huawei’s crown, and the far more interesting device for enthusiasts. Whether you value a high-quality, versatile camera setup, the biggest battery of any mainstream phone, the latest Android software, or being able to save your iPhone X-owning friends from battery anxiety, you’ll find Mate 20 Pro a formidable piece of technology.
And if you weren’t already, it’s also a big reason to start paying attention to Huawei.
See at Huawei
Huawei Mate 20 + Mate 20 Pro specifications
Huawei’s not pulling any punches this time around.
The Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro are official, and as expected, they’re the company’s two latest flagship smartphones to carry it through 2018. There’s a lot going on with each phone, and while they have a lot in common, there are also a few key differences that you’ll want to be aware of.
Without further ado, here are the full specs for the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro.
| Dimensions | 158.2 x 77.2 x 8.3mm | 157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6mm |
| Weight | 188g | 189g |
| Display | Huawei Dewdrop Display 6.53-inch LCD 2244 x 1080 18.7:9 DCI-P3 HDR | Huawei FullView Display 6.39-inch curved OLED 3120 x 1440 19.5:9 DCI-P3 HDR |
| Processor | Kirin 980 | Kirin 980 |
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie EMUI 9 | Android 9 Pie EMUI 9 |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| RAM | 4GB 6GB | 6GB |
| Rear camera 1 | 12MP Wide Angle 27mm f/1.8 | 40MP Wide Angle 27mm f/1.8 |
| Rear camera 2 | 16MP Ultra Wide Angle 17mm f/2.2 | 20MP Ultra Wide Angle 16mm f/2.2 |
| Rear camera 3 | 8MP 2x Telephoto 52mm f/2.4 OIS | 8MP 3x Telephoto 80mm f/2.4 OIS |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh 22.5W Huawei SuperCharge | 4,200 mAh 40W Huawei SuperCharge |
Huawei Watch GT hands-on: AI comes to your wrist
It’s decidedly unremarkable, but the Watch GT shows what AI can do on wearable devices.
Think smartwatches and the Apple Watch and a plethora of Wear OS watches are likely to be the first that come to mind. However, Samsung and others have also realized that Wear OS isn’t the only option when it comes to smartwatches, and Huawei’s new Watch GT builds on this premise with its own in-house Lite OS, which also runs on the company’s TalkBand series.
The Hardware
The Watch GT – which stands for Grand Turo and is meant to symbolize the long distance you travel while on holiday – aims to offer long battery life, and the key features you expect from a modern wearable. Unremarkable to look at, the Watch GT represents more than just a smartwatch – Huawei has designed it with the world’s first wearable double chipset architecture to deliver its claims of up to 30-day battery life.
The low-speed chipset is used when you’re in a more sedentary state such as sleeping, or at the movies, and uses about a sixth of the power of similar products. The high-speed chipset kicks in for power intensive operations like when you’re using the display, the heart rate monitor and other dynamic activities where you need the full power like running and actively using the watch. Of course, the company that loves to tout its AI prowess included AI in the chipset, with it automatically switching between the two chipsets and optimizing based on your usage.
On the face of it, the Watch GT looks… just like a watch. It’s designed to be comfortable in any environment and certainly lives up to this claim, even if it does so while being unremarkable to look at. Being unremarkable is part of the Watch GT’s DNA, as is the fact it doesn’t run Android Wear – opting for its own in-house OS presents its own challenges but also allows Huawei to optimize the battery in a way that it can’t with Wear.
The Battery
Huawei promises up to 30-day battery life, although the exact battery life will depend on exactly how you use your device. For the heaviest of users, the Watch GT is rated as lasting for 22 hours of continuous exercise tracking with GPS, heart-rate monitoring and the screen always on. That’s 22 hours of continuous usage, and unless you’re tracking it for a very slow marathon, it’s likely to last you a couple of days with heavy usage.
It’s when you reduce your usage that the Watch GT gets interesting. The mid-point of the Watch GT battery life is 2 weeks, which includes heart rate monitoring and 90 minutes of exercise per week (including continuous GPS and activity tracking). On the high-end, the battery can last up to 30 days when you are only engaging the lower power features such as making and receiving calls, with the heart rate monitoring and GPS features turned off.
The AI
Huawei’s AI actively monitors where the watch is placed on your wrist and uses the placement to adjust the heart rate data for accuracy. For example, placing a heart rate monitor on your wrist bone will throw up several inaccuracies and Huawei claims the Watch GT will actively scrub these from your results to increase the accuracy.
The AI is also able to recognize which stroke you’re using when swimming, and whichever is the dominant stroke is the one that’ll be reflected in your activity log. The AI also recognizes open water swimming, allowing you to plot the exact path you took and accurately measure your distance and time, for leisure or in preparation for a big swim meet.
Android Wear has its faults, but it offers a familiarity that isn’t present on Lite OS, and the lack of it, will be a deal breaker for most users.
These are all impressive claims, but the lack of Android Wear will be a deal breaker for most users. Despite the benefits of an intelligent sleep monitoring program conducted with Harvard Medical School CDB Center, the ability to recognize all sorts of different exercises, and 3 satellites support for precise location tracking, the unfamiliarity of Lite OS means this won’t stand out against Android Wear watches, especially the ones that launch on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform. Android Wear has its faults, but it offers a familiarity from the way it handles notifications to the third-party customization options, which aren’t available on Huawei’s own custom OS.
Looking at everything the Watch GT offers, it may appeal to the right type of user, but it won’t be breaking any sales records. Precise location tracking, the promise of excellent battery life during long workouts, and the AI features will be handy if your principle use for a smartwatch is to track your workouts, but for everyone else, there’s plenty of other Android Wear smartwatches out there that you’ll be more interested in.
See at Huawei
The Pixel 3 XL uses a Samsung OLED display
From specs, pricing, features, and more, here’s the latest on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.
Following months of leak after leak, Google’s officially taken the wraps off its Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones. The two handsets look exactly like what we saw in all the early photos and renders, and while the element of surprise may be gone, we’ve still got two impressive Android handsets to talk about.
Without further ado, this is everything you need to know about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL!
The latest Pixel 3 news
October 16, 2018 — The Pixel 3 XL uses a Samsung OLED display
While last year’s Pixel 2 XL had one of the worst displays for a phone in its price range, that’s an issue that’s been completely squashed with the Pixel 3 XL.
The screen on this year’s larger Pixel is brighter, colorful, and has less blue shift + burn-in potential compared to the 2 XL. The reason for this? A Samsung OLED panel.
Google opted for an LG-made OLED display with the Pixel 2 XL, but thanks to a recent iFixIt teardown, we now have confirmation that the Pixel 3 XL is using a Samsung one.
October 16, 2018 — Google explains how the Pixel 3’s Super Res Zoom feature works
The Pixel 3 comes chock-full of neat camera tricks, but perhaps one of the coolest is Super Res Zoom. This is the name of Google’s process for improving the clarity of digital zoom by collecting data from your hands shaking as you hold the phone in preparation to snap a photo.
Recently, the Google AI team took to their official blog to detail how exactly this works.
The Super Res Zoom technology in Pixel 3 is different and better than any previous digital zoom technique based on upscaling a crop of a single image, because we merge many frames directly onto a higher resolution picture. This results in greatly improved detail that is roughly competitive with the 2x optical zoom lenses on many other smartphones. Super Res Zoom means that if you pinch-zoom before pressing the shutter, you’ll get a lot more details in your picture than if you crop afterwards.
If Super Res Zoom detects that the camera isn’t shaking (e.g. the Pixel 3 is on a tripod or propped up on a table), it’ll actually start moving around on its own to simulate natural hand movement.
The post goes on to dive into of color filter arrays, multi-frame super-resolution, and a bunch of other nitty-gritty details. If that sounds like something you want to dig into, you can check it out here.
All the big details
Check out our full review!
Here it is, folks — the full Android Central review of the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL!
These are easily two of the best Android phones you can buy right now, and no matter if you opt for the regular or XL model, you’ll be getting a fantastic display, an excellent software experience, and some of the best cameras on a smartphone in 2018.
They may not look like much on the outside, but these are two really special phones.
Google Pixel 3 review: Fewer features make incredible phones
Here are the specs!
If you’ve got a Pixel 2, a lot of the specs for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will look very similar. There’s still 4GB of RAM and a starting storage amount of 64GB, but the Snapdragon 835 processor from last year has been replaced by the newer 845.
For a full rundown on both phones, check out the link below. 👇
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL specifications
The displays are a lot better
Shortly after its release, one of the biggest controversies that popped up for the larger Pixel 2 XL was its poor display. We have an LG-made OLED panel once again, but the year-over-year difference is huge.
Google’s touting 400+ nits of brightness for both phones, 2X less burn-in potential, and less color shifting.
There are still three different color profiles to choose from so you can fine-tune your experience, and out of the box, both the Pixel 3 and 3 XL have been optimized so that their displays look identical next to one another.
For an extremely detailed analysis of the Pixel 3 XL’s display, check out DisplayMate’s full in-depth review in which it received a top A+ rating.
The Google Pixel 3 addresses our biggest complaint with the Pixel 2: its display
There are three colors
Google’s probably the best when it comes to naming its device colors, and this year we have Just Black and Very White. New this year is a pink hue that’s been aptly named “Not Pink.”
All three colors are available for both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL no matter where you decide to buy them.
An all-glass back brings wireless charging support
For the past two years, Google’s used a mixture of aluminum and glass on the back of its phones. This year, the Pixel 3 shakes things up by adopting an all-glass construction.
There’s still an etched section near the top that adds a nice matte finish that allows for more grip and fewer fingerprints. Google’s also integrated Qi wireless charging support and selling a new Pixel Stand wireless charging accessory that’ll charge the Pixel 3 + 3 XL and put them into a new “dashboard” UI that shows a slideshow of pictures on Google Photos and various Assistant info.
The Pixel Stand is a $79 wireless charger for Pixel 3 that unlocks special display modes
Google’s made a ton of camera improvements
The Pixel 2 and 2 XL have some of the best cameras we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, and with the Pixel 3, Google’s making the camera experience even better.
Perhaps the biggest change includes the addition of a second front-facing camera. You now have access to a regular and wide-angle lens for all of your selfies and portrait mode works no matter which one you use. Google’s also integrated an algorithm to remove any distortion caused by the wider lens.
Other changes include:
- 40% faster HDR+ processing
- Improved detail retention while zooming
- Night Sight mode improves low-light shots
- Top Shot mode captures multiple frames before and after your picture and then recommends an alternative shot compared to what you actually captured
Along with all this, Google Lens is also built right into the Pixel 3’s camera app and works automatically when it detects something.
Android 9 Pie is available out of the box
As you’d expect, Android 9 Pie is running on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL from day one. This is the same Android Pie we’ve been using on the Pixel 2 phones, including the new navigation gestures, quick settings panel, etc.
The Pixel 3 does bring a handful of new software goodies, including the full release of Digital Wellbeing outside of its beta state and a slightly updated UI for the camera app.
There’s also a new call screening feature that’ll allow you to send your caller to a system that asks them to provide information about who they are and why they’re calling. What they say comes through in real-time and you can choose to hang up or pick up at any point.
There are already a ton of accessories
The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are great phones, but you can make them even better with a good collection of accessories.
Whether you’re in the market for a heavy duty case, screen protectors, or something else entirely, here are a few helpful links to get you started with outfitting your new phone.
- Best Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Accessories
- Best Cases for Google Pixel 3
- Best Cases for Google Pixel 3 XL
- These Are The Official Cases for the Google Pixel 3 lineup
- Best Screen Protectors for Google Pixel 3 XL
Here’s when and where you can buy it
If you want to pick up the Pixel 3 for yourself, pre-orders are open right now. The Pixel 3 costs $799 for the 64GB model and goes up to $899 if you get the 128GB variant. For those same storage configurations on the Pixel 3 XL, you’ll pay $899 and $999, respectively.
The Pixel 3 series will be sold at Verizon, Best Buy, the Google Store, and Project Fi.
See at Google Store
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
- Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL review
- Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL: Everything you need to know!
- Google Pixel 3 vs. Pixel 3 XL: Which should you buy?
- Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL specifications
- Join our Pixel 3 forums
Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi
Netgear Arlo Q Plus vs. Nest Cam IQ: Which should you buy?
We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We know that when you’re looking for a security camera, you want all the features that’ll keep your home safe.
Nest Cam IQ
Smart camera
$300 at Best Buy
Pros
- 1080p with a 4K sensor for zoom
- No base station needed
- Google Assistant built-in
- Nest integration
- Smart features
Cons
- No local storage
- No Ethernet connection
- No Amazon Alexa integration
- Expensive
Nest makes some of the best smart home products and the Nest Cam IO is no exception. With Google Assistant built-in and smart features like facial recognition plus Nest Secure integration, it’s an amazing camera. But you also can’t control it with Alexa and you’re spending $100 more.
Netgear Arlo Q Plus
Connection and power options
$200 at Amazon
Pros
- 1080p video
- No base station needed.
- Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration
- Local storage
- PoE
Cons
- Single user only
- No onboard smart features
- Indoor only
The Arlo Q Plus is a great stand-alone security camera with two features you won’t find in many others: Power over Ethernet (PoE) and local storage via an SD card slot. But while it integrates with your home assistant, it doesn’t have any smarts of its own.
Smarts vs. Hardware features
These are both really great security cameras. It’s awesome when we compare two things this good because either is a great product you’ll be happy with if you buy one or more. But there are a few major differences that will make one model a better fit than the other — and a $100 price difference is only one of them.
| Resolution | 1080p with4K sensor for HQ zooming | 1080p |
| Two-way audio | Yes | Yes |
| Stand-alone | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 recording | Yes (with Nest Aware) | Yes |
| Smart features | Onboard Google AssisstantNest integrationGoogle Assistant integration | Google Assistant integrationAmazon Alexa integrationArlo integration |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-FiEthernetPower over Ethernet |
| Local storage | No | Yes |
| Price (single cam) | $300 | $200 |
Both cameras are easy to install and stand alone. Using the smartphone app, you simply connect them to your home network and you’re finished. You can view the video on the web or through the app, purchase relatively inexpensive cloud storage features if you need more space, or integrate them into your smart home using your voice assistant. But the tiny details make a difference here.
The biggest difference for most people will be in the smart home integration category. The Arlo Q Plus works well with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, allowing you to do things like start recording or stream saved video. However, the Nest Cam IQ takes things to another level with its own set of smart features like facial recognition — it recognizes who should be there and can trigger something like Nest Secure to sound an alarm if its someone who shouldn’t be there. It even has Google Assistant built-in with two-way audio.
Nest brings it with smart software, but Arlo has hardware features some of us need to use.
Netgear’s Arlo Q Plus brings hardware features to the table that the Nest Cam IQ lacks instead of trying to dazzle with software. First is PoE and that adds two important options. The first, and most important for a lot of us, is that you don’t have to have an AC plug nearby to use them. PoE is exactly what it sounds like: you can power small devices over an Ethernet cable. That means no hiring an electrician to add a plug and you’ll have a fast connection even in places where your Wi-Fi router won’t reach. Onboard storage is also another big plus for anyone who wants to use the Arlo Q Plus as a 24/7 surveillance camera. Add your own local storage and let it go!
Finally, there’s the price difference. The hexacore processor in the Nest Cam IQ and fancy software that runs on it makes it cost $100 more for a single camera system. We don’t think that’s too bad of a deal, but you need to ask yourself if you’ll use them before you pay more for them. Or maybe you need PoE or love the idea of having local storage options and the Arlo Q Plus offers both.
That’s where we would start: Do you need PoE or local storage? If so, buy the Arlo Q Plus and never look back. If you don’t, decide if the smart features and Nest integration are thing’s you will use. If they are, $100 isn’t too much extra to pay.
Nest Cam IQ
Smart camera
$300 at Best Buy
AI and integration
The Nest Cam IQ is the smartest standalone security camera you can buy. Nest and Assistant integration add even more options, but you will need strong Wi-Fi and it’s not suited for 24/7 duty without an expensive cloud plan.
Netgear Arlo Q Plus
Connection and power options
$200 at Amazon
The Arlo Q Plus might not offer AI-driven smart features, but Assistant and Alexa integration make up for some of it. It’s also the camera to buy if you want to drop it in a place with a poor Wi-Fi signal or plan to archive 24/7 video footage.
UK Daily Deals: Philips Hue, Xbox Live Gold, Amazon Music Unlimited, more
Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.
We found plenty of great deals today on Philips Hue Starter Kits, Xbox Live Gold membership, Amazon Music Unlimited, Hive Smart Thermostats, Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets, and much more!
View the rest of the deals
Each day, the Thrifter UK team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.
For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK and follow the team on Twitter for the most up-to-the-minute coverage.
The new $130 Kindle Paperwhite comes with six months of unlimited reading
Curl up with a good E Ink display.
Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is coming out at just the right time. The weather is getting cooler and you’re probably going to spend more time indoors, so why not curl up with your new e-reader and pick out something new to read?
The Paperwhite is Amazon’s most successful Kindle device, and like the old saying goes… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The new version takes what the old one did so well and improves upon it without changing too much. It is thinner, lighter, and has a smooth display where the screen isn’t slightly below the outer bezel anymore. Amazon has added an extra LED to the built-in light, bringing the total to five, so you can see better when you need to. Plus, it’s water-resistant so you don’t have to worry about reading by the pool or accidentally dropping it in the bathtub. The old Paperwhite only had 4GB of on-board storage, but this new one starts at 8GB with an option to upgrade to 32GB if you want to pay a little more. Two things that remain the same are the display size and resolution at six inches and 300 ppi.
Amazon has added Bluetooth to the Paperwhite, as well, so you can now use Audible to listen to your favorite stories. You can access the Audible store directly from the Paperwhite, connect the device to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones and get caught up on your reading in a new way. Amazon is continuously improving Audible, too, and recently added Audible Originals as a way for you to get more value from your subscription.
The icing on the cake is the six-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited. While the six-month plan is currently on sale for $30, that’s a deal unto itself and 50% off what it normally goes for. Kindle Unlimited gives you access to a million books absolutely free. With your new Paperwhite, you won’t have to pay to read for the first six months unless you really want to. After the trial is up, it will cost $9.99 to keep the service but you can definitely put a dent in your reading backlog in six months.
Amazon will also be updating the Paperwhite’s home screen and adding personalization settings. You’ll be able to get quick access to free books like those available through Amazon Prime’s First Read program, get suggestions based on your reading history, see interesting stats like how much you’ve read in the past month, and add settings the Kindle will remember like font, boldness level, and more. This is a free update that will work with all versions of the Paperwhite once it goes out.
The price for the new Kindle Paperwhite starts at $129.99, but that includes offers on the lock screen. It’ll cost $20 to remove those, and you can upgrade the storage from 8GB to 32GB for another $30. Pre-orders start now with the device coming out November 7.
If you’re in the U.K, you can also pre-order the new device starting at £119.99. Canada pre-orders start at $139.99.
See on Amazon
The best cases for the Samsung Galaxy S9+
There are plenty of cases available for the Samsung Galaxy S9+, but it can be hard to separate the good from the bad. The beautiful design of the Galaxy S9+ will quickly turn to horror after a nasty drop, so a case is almost a requirement. If you want something straight from Samsung that looks and feels great, the Alcantara Cover will be your best bet.
A luxurious first-party option
Samsung Alcantara Cover
This case fits your phone perfectly — as it should considering it comes straight from Samsung. The Alcantara feels great, and it’s thick enough to protect your phone in the event of a drop.
$50 at Amazon
If you want your phone case to be your wallet
Maxboost Galaxy S9+ Wallet Case
If you’re into wallet cases, this is the one for you. You get three slots for IDs and cards, a small pouch for paper currency, and plenty of protection for your phone. There’s a solid magnetic clasp to keep things closed, and the wallet portion doubles as a stand for watching YouTube on your phone.
$15 at Amazon
A rugged option
Spigen Neo Hybrid
If you want a rugged case, it’s hard to beat this one from Spigen. You get a great two-tone design — with a few color options — and shock absorbent rubber paired with a hard plastic frame for the ultimate protection. The Herringbone pattern looks classy as heck, so you don’t need to take this case off when you go for a night on the town.
$16 at Amazon
Same great glass feeling
Besiva Tempered Glass Case
This case still protects your phone, but the tempered glass panel on the back means it has the same smooth finish as your phone’s glass. And since this is just clear glass, you can still see whatever color choice you purchased.
$9 at Amazon
Another great wallet case
Mujjo Leather Wallet Case
If you want to consolidate things in your pockets without the bulk, this case is for you. There is a slot on the back of the case for your ID and cards, and just enough protection around the sides. The leather will feel luxurious, and you’ll have a slimmer profile since there isn’t a front clasp like on other wallet cases.
$55 at Amazon
Slim as can be
Spigen Thin Fit
This case is if you want the bare minimum protection and grip on top of your phone, in exchange for a super slim profile. The case is easy to put on and take off if need be, and its thin enough to allow easy access to all the ports. There are a few different color options, so you can choose the one that fits your style closest.
$10 at Amazon
Funky folio
Samsung S-View Cover
If you love an always-on display, but want to keep your phone safe, this is the case for you. This flip case comes straight from Samsung, and you’ll still be see all your notifications come, even when the flip cover is closed. You can also flip the cover around to watch YouTube videos, and you still get easy access to all of the phone’s buttons and ports.
$60 at Amazon
Phone sweater
Samsung Hyperknit Case
This case is great if you want your phone to feel as safe as you do when you wear that sweater your grandmother knitted you for Christmas a few years ago. Just like your grandmother knows you better than anyone else, Samsung knows its phones better than anyone else, so this fits your phone precisely. You can easily plug accessories into the ports at the bottom, use the rear fingerprint sensor, and the power, volume and Bixby buttons.
$24 at Amazon
Almost naked
totallee Galaxy S9 Plus case
This is another great case for those that just want some added grip. The case is only .02 inches thick, so you’ll hardly notice a difference when your phone is in your pocket. It covers the phone’s slick glass with a matte plastic. It’ll keep fingerprints and scratches away, and give you more grip so the phone doesn’t slip out of your hands.
$10 at Amazon
Rugged beauty
Caseology Legion for Galaxy S9+
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to protect your phone, but it doesn’t have to look ugly. Ara loved using this case on her S9+ and it’s still a great option for you. You get superb drop protection, generous cutouts for the camera, fingerprint sensor and bottom ports, and the choice of a few stylish colors.
$30 at Amazon
Built tough
Spigen Tough Armor for Galaxy S9+
Another great rugged option comes from Spigen. This adds a kickstand, so you can prop the phone up and watch your favorite YouTube videos or a quick episode of TV on your lunch break. Kickstand aside, you get a rugged design that should protect your phone from even the worst drops, and easy access to the fingerprint sensor and ports.
$15 at Amazon
Clean and clear
Spigen Ultra Hybrid for Galaxy S9+
You’re going to want to show off the cool color on your Galaxy S9+, and the best way to do that is with a clear case. This case from Spigen wraps around you phone, so it’s protected from all sides. The case itself isn’t too thick, so it should be comfortable inside your pocket. You get easy access to the ports, a generous cutout for the cameras and fingerprint sensor, and the buttons are replicated on the case itself.
$13 at Amazon
All of these cases would be great for your Galaxy S9+, but my personal favorite would have to be the Spigen Neo Hybrid. I’ve used Spigen cases for years, so I know I’m getting something that will fit my phone perfectly. The Herringbone pattern adds a bit of grip, and it’s a classy addition to my phone.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
- Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
- Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
- Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
- Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
- Join our Galaxy S9 forums
Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Amazon
Huawei maakt Mate 20-serie compleet met Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro
Huawei heeft zojuist in gebrekkig Engels de Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro aangekondigd. Gelukkig is daar een Nederlandstalig persbericht die voor ons de gaten invult. Beide toestellen draaien een eigen op 7 nanometer gebakken Kirin 980-processor, triple Leica-camera en 40 watt SuperCharge-lader.
De Mate 20-serie is vanaf vandaag compleet. De Huawei Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro vullen de eerder aangekondigde Mate 20 Lite aan. De Lite ligt al in de winkel, de reguliere Mate 20 en Mate 20 Pro zijn vanaf 2 november verkrijgbaar. De Mate-serie bestaat uit de grootste telefoons die Huawei aanbiedt. Het is dan ook geen verrassing dat de vandaag aangekondigde toestellen groot zijn. De Mate 20 krijgt het grootste scherm; 6,53 inch met Full HD+ resolutie. De Mate 20 Pro heeft een 6,39 inch Quad HD+ scherm.
De Huawei Mate 20 in Midnight Blue
De notch bovenin het scherm van de Mate 20 is het kleinst. Deze heeft de vorm van een druppel en heeft daardoor alleen ruimte voor een 24 megapixel selfiecamera. Op de Mate 20 Pro is de notch groter maar die ruimte wordt nuttig besteed door nauwkeuriger gezichtsherkenning waarmee je hem kunt ontgrendelen. Toch zich de grootste innovatie van beiden achterop. In een vierkante cameramodule zitten maar liefst 3 camera’s verwerkt. Op de reguliere Huawei Mate 20 is dat een 12 megapixel f/1.8 groothoeklens + 16 megapixel f/2.2 extra brede groothoeklens + 8 megapixel f/2.4 telezoomlens. Voor de meeste megapixels moet je bij de Mate 20 Pro zijn; 40 megapixel f/1.8 groothoeklens + 20 megapixel f/2.2 extra brede groothoeklens + 8 megapixel f/2.4 telezoomlens. De lenzen van de Leica Triple-camera hebben daarmee hetzelfde bereik als een 16mm full frame lens op een dure spiegelreflex camera.
En de Mate 20 Pro in Twilight
Huawei Mate 20 (Pro) in Nederland
Huawei hoopt beide toestellen vanaf 2 november in de winkels te hebben in 3 verschillende uitvoeringen: Midnight Blue, Black en Twilight. De eveneens aangekondigde Emerald Green en Pink Gold-uitvoering komen hier vooralsnog niet uit. Prijzen voor de Mate 20 beginnen bij 799 euro, de Mate 20 Pro kost 899 euro. Hiervoor krijg je in beide gevallen 128 GB aan opslaggeheugen wat overigens uit te breiden is met een Huawei’s nieuwe NM-geheugenkaart. Vroege bestellers krijgen bij een toestel een cadeau. Bestel voor 1 november een Mate 20 en krijg daar een gratis Watch GT bij, bij de Mate 20 Pro krijg je daar naast een Huawei Watch GT ook nog een draadloze lader cadeau bij.
Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Mate 20 verkrijgbaar is
Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Mate 20 Pro verkrijgbaar is
AIVAnet 