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Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Camera Features Explained; Better than iPhone Xs?

Google has finally unveiled the Pixel smartphones of the year with the new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The design of the smartphones has already been leaked on the internet before, but the features were a mystery until Google made the smartphone’s official. The specifications of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are the best you have on the market, but some of the changes and upgrades make this smartphone, the Pixel 3.

Display: To Notch or not to Notch

The Google Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5 inches FHD+ display which is an 18:9 screen with Pixel 2 XL like bezels. The Pixel 3 XL comes with a more prominent 6.3 inches QHD+ display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio and notch on display. Both the display panel are the same from the previous generation, but Google made some improvements to look it even better than before.

The displays are protected by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection to keep it from scratches and smudges. The smartphone comes with Always on screen, it shows what’s playing right now in music and it comes with the HDR support (UHDA certification.)

Camera

Pixel 3

Google Pixel smartphones always amaze people with their fantastic camera performance every year and this year is no exception. The camera on the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is impressive and the new features which Google added to the camera app are fantastic too. So let’s check out all the features one by one and see what these features do.


New Camera Interface

Pixel 3

Google has upgraded the interface of the camera app on the Pixel smartphone which is also going to be the stock interface for the Android 9 Pie. The interface now looks sleek and is easy to use than before. The hamburger menu has been removed, and the swipe mode changer has been added just like in iOS.

Google Lens

Google Lens is the feature which Google introduced last year, and most of the flagship smartphones are using this feature by now. Google has added this feature right into the Pixel 3’s camera app. Currently, there is no need to switch app; it will recognize the things in the camera app only.

Object tracking Focus

The Pixel 3 comes with a feature which locks the focus on a moving object like a dog or a kid. Once you tap on the object you want to keep your focus on while shooting a video; the smartphone will keep the focus on that object for the whole video.

Portrait mode with Adjustable Bokeh

Google Pixel’s Portrait mode is one of the best you can get on a smartphone, but Google wanted to make it even better. So, Google has made the edge detection better in Pixel 3, and now you can change the depth of the pictures even after clicking the picture. You will also be able to change the point of focus in the picture after clicking the image and save it with changed focus.

Top Shot

Google tried that every photo you take on your Pixel 3 should be perfect with the timing; hence Top Shot. What this does is capture a burst of the picture when you click a picture and takes all the movement and recommend you the best shot from the images. If you are not happy with the recommendation, then you can quickly change the final image from the burst pictures.

Night Sight

Google has added a NIght SIght feature to take better and brighter images at low light conditions. Google compared the picture shot from Google Pixel 3 to the picture shot from iPhone Xs and showed that Pixel 3 takes a much brighter image than iPhone. This feature is going to come to the older PIxel smartphones next month including the first generation Pixel smartphones.

Super Res Zoom

 

Google added a Super Res Zoom feature in Pixel 3 which takes high-resolution videos and images. Even though the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL doesn’t come with a secondary telephoto lens to optically zoom into scenes, but it uses an algorithm to fill in the missing detail using your shaky hands.

Selfies

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL comes with a dual lens setup at the front, and it does not do what you think it does. It makes the selfie canvas bigger so you will get more room into your selfies. You can now bring in more people in the selfie which was not possible before or most smartphones.

Google Playground

Google has rebranded the AR Stickers as Playground and brought a lot of new characters from Marvel and a new official Childish Gambino Sticker. These AR Stickers now works in selfie camera too so you can take selfies with these characters.

Conclusion

Google has taken the Pixel 3’s camera to another level, these features will make a huge difference in smartphone’s photography. The smartphone comes with a lot of useful and unique feature to play with. Stay tuned to check our Pixel 3’s camera review which will come soon, and follow us on social media to get a notification about it.

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Abhishek Bhatnagar

Abhishek Bhatnagar, a known technology blogger & YouTuber from India. A Software Engineer by qualification, now he works as the editor-In-Chief, Webmaster, & Managing Director at Gadgets To Use. He runs a number of other technology websites as well.