Google Pixel 3 vs. Google Pixel: Should you upgrade?

We're a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. With years of experience testing hundreds of Android phones, we're here to help you make an informed decision when considering an upgrade.

Google Pixel 3

The perfect upgrade

$799 at Google Store

Pros

• Compact form factor
• Fantastic cameras
• Excellent OLED display
• Stereo speakers
• Wireless charging

Cons

• No headphone jack

If you're still using the first-gen Pixel, the Pixel 3 is the ideal upgrade. The phone has a much more modern 18:9 display and the cameras are the best you'll find on an Android phone today. Factor in the stereo speakers, wireless charging, and the all-new OLED panel, and you have a phone that edges out the Pixel in almost every category.

Google Pixel

Comes up short

$355 at Amazon

Pros

• Great camera
• 3.5mm jack

Cons

• Huge bezels
• No waterproofing
• No wireless charging
• Inferior front camera

The first-gen Pixel still has a lot going for it, but the design just doesn't hold up in 2018. While the phone is slated to pick up a few camera features from the latest Pixels, it isn't likely to receive new platform updates. With the Pixel 3 sporting a larger screen and a retooled camera, it's time to consider an upgrade.

The Pixel became a fan-favorite for its compact size and unchanged hardware from its larger sibling. The Pixel 3 retains all of that while managing to offer a significantly larger screen and vastly upgraded cameras.

Reasons to upgrade to the Pixel 3

The smartphone industry has moved to taller 18:9 displays over the course of the last 18 months, and with phones in general getting bigger, there's a noticeable shortage of compact devices. That's where the Pixel 3 comes in. Although the phone comes with a larger 5.5-inch display, the overall dimensions aren't all that different from the first-gen Pixel.

That makes the Pixel 3 ideal for one-handed use, and the switch to the 18:9 form factor has allowed Google to trim the bezels while offering stereo speakers and dual front cameras. The Pixel 3 has all the trimmings of its larger sibling but in a much more compact form factor, making it the perfect upgrade from your Pixel or even the Pixel 2.

Category	Google Pixel 3	Google Pixel
Operating system	Android 9 Pie	Android 9 Pie
Display	5.5-inch OLED 2160x1080 (18:9) Gorilla Glass 5	5.0-inch AMOLED 1920x1080 (16:9) Gorilla Glass 4
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Pixel Visual Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM	4GB	4GB
Storage	64/128GB	32/128GB
Expandable	No	No
Rear camera	12.2MP, 1.4-micron, PDAF f/1.8, OIS	12.3MP, 1.55-micron, PDAF f/2.0, EIS
Front camera 1	8MP, auto focus f/1.8, 75-degree lens	8MP, f/2.4, 1.4-micron
Front camera 2	8MP, fixed focus f/2.2, 97-degree lens	NA
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS
Audio	Stereo speakers USB-C	Mono speaker 3.5mm jack
Battery	2915mAh Non-removable	2770mAh Non-removable
Charging	18W USB-C PD Qi wireless	18W USB-C
Water resistance	IP68	No
Security	Fingerprint sensor	Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm 148g	143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5mm 143 g
Colors	Just Black, Very White, Not Pink	Quite Black, Very Silver, Really Blue

The design at the back has also been updated, and while it feels like metal to the touch, it is in fact Gorilla Glass 5 with a finish that's designed to mimic a metallic back. The glass back facilitates wireless charging, and Google's $79 Pixel Stand accessory unlocks new functionality. Elsewhere, the Pixel 3 comes with IP68 dust and water resistance. And while there isn't a headphone jack, Google is including a pair of USB-C earbuds in the box with every Pixel 3.

The Pixel 3 is a considerable upgrade from the Pixel in almost every category.

The camera always dominates the conversation when talking about new Pixels, and it's astounding what Google has managed to achieve with computational photography. The Pixel 3 has a single rear camera with an imaging sensor that's unchanged from last year, but Google's advances in image processing mean the phone is able to take better photos.

It's up front where we see most of the changes in this area. The Pixel 3 has dual 8MP + 8MP cameras at the front, with the secondary sensor enabling wide-angle selfies. The front shooter on the Pixel 2 was already the best in the business, and with the addition of the wide-angle lens the Pixel 3 solidifies its position at the summit.

Google Pixel 3

The perfect upgrade

$799 at Google Store

The Pixel 3 delivers upgrades in all the right areas.

Google hasn't altered the formula too much with the Pixel 3. You're still getting a phone with a compact size, but the switch to an 18:9 form factor facilitates a larger display, and unlike the Pixel 3 XL, there's no annoying notch to deal with. Couple that with the fantastic cameras on offer, and the Pixel 3 is an easy sell.

Google Pixel

Comes up short

$355 at Amazon

It's time to make the switch to the Pixel 3.

The Pixel has plenty going for it, but it just doesn't hold up next to the Pixel 3. If you're rocking the Pixel, the Pixel 3 is the upgrade you've been waiting for.