The Pixel 3 will start at $799 while the Pixel 3 XL starts at $899. The Pixel Stand, a wireless charger that works with the phones, will sell for $79. US residents can preorder the phones now with shipping starting on Oct. 17. People in the UK can preorder now with phones arriving Nov. 1. More markets will be added Nov. 1.
The phones have 5.5-inch and 6.3-inch displays on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, respectively, and 64GB and 128GB storage options
The camera comes with a feature called Top Shot, which uses AI to pick the best moments to take a picture. Other features include Night Sight, used in low-light settings without a flash, and Super Res Zoom, which improves zooming without losing image quality.
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL come in three colors, each with cheeky names: Just Black, Clearly White and Not Pink. The phones have glass backs with matte and glossy textures in two-tone backing. Both phones are larger than last year’s models, with the Pixel 3 at 5.5 inches and the Pixel 3 XL at 6.3 inches.
The Pixel 3 has two front-facing cameras to fit more details in the frame, which will be particularly useful for group selfies. Google said the second camera captures “184 percent more of the scene” as the iPhone XS, so if you need a wide angle the Pixel 3 might be your best bet.
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be Google’s third time at bat against hardware rivals such as Apple, Samsung and Amazon. Google unveiled its first Pixel phones in 2016, signaling the company was investing more in its own branded hardware to compete with Apple and Samsung in the premium segment. It’s now one of the premier Android smartphones despite a deeper bench of phone makers in the market.
