The Pixel 3 has not yet been unleashed upon the world, but if the soon-to-be previous-gen Pixel 2 is anything to go by, we’re expecting great things…
Last year’s Pixel 2 received great acclaim, although, in all fairness, it wasn’t a perfect phone. So here are the top five things we would want to see in the Pixel 3 in 2018. Fingers crossed!
A better display
Reports of multiple display issues on the Pixel 2 XL have surfaced ever since Google announced the phone.
We’ve heard people complain that:
- The display looks dull and washed out, despite the phone relying on an OLED screen
- The screen exhibits a blue shift when viewed even slightly off-center
- The display has burn-in
- Responsiveness issues on the sides
And these are just a few examples.
So in 2018, we hope Google has learned something from the experience and will bring a higher-quality panel to the new phones. One that will not leave you wondering, why did I pay $850 for this phone?
A more premium design
While the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL certainly crammed a lot of features under the hood, the devices were certainly not the best-looking, not when compared to rivals such as Samsung and Apple.
Yeah, Google has added some nice design touches last year (think the Panda Pixel 2 XL), but the Pixel 2’s outdated look with large bezels disappointed a lot of fans. As for the Pixel 2 XL, it has a pretty huge chassis that makes it pretty bulky.
What’s more, neither the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL actually feel like premium phones. While the industry has been busy developing gorgeous glass designs or perfecting stylish aluminum finishes, the Pixel 2 XL features a flat back with a rough texture.
Hopefully, in 2018, we’ll see a change in dynamics in this department. According to the leaks we’ve seen so far, the Pixel 3 should come boasting a design similar to last year’s Pixel 2 XL. So at least it’s going to look like a modern phone. While the larger Pixel 3 will get a notchy display. Love it or hate it, it seems the notch is here to stay. No word on whether they are going to be glass phones or whether Google is going to stick to metal.
Wider availability
Google’s Pixel phones have a loyal fan base, but the company isn’t breaking any records in terms of sale. Why?
One of the reasons is this – limited availability. The search giant gave the exclusive rights of selling the phone in the States to Verizon, the country largest carrier. The phones are also sold via Google’s own Project Fi and on the Google Store. Other than that, there are no other official distributors.
This strategy has cut out millions of potential buyers. But if it means to be serious about its smartphone game, Google needs to take steps to put its phones in cellular stores where people can actually walk in and try out the devices before buying.
The Pixels also need a better online presence. At the moment, the Google Store only sells the phone in a handful of locations worldwide.
An improved loudspeaker
Even if both Pixel 2 models feature dual front-facing speakers, the sound quality isn’t one of their best features.
Well this year, Google will hopefully make some sort of upgrades in this department. According to recent leaks, both third-generation Pixels will get stereo speakers. Although, we haven’t heard anything about a potential upgrade in quality this year.
Built-in audio has never been a particularly strong suit for most phones. Although in recent years, we’ve seen a few handsets that actually make onboard audio a priority. Samsung has started doing the same with its Galaxy S9 and LG too with its V30 family and more recently with the G7 ThinQ. So it’s time for Google to get on board with this going trend and outfit the Pixels 3 with a better loudspeaker.
Wireless charging
Wireless charging is certainly no novelty and the Nexus phones of old used to offer this feature.
That all changed when Google introduced the Nexus 6P which had a metal back. Ever since then, the search giant’s phones have lacked this feature.
Well, we certainly hope Google will bring back this little convenience in 2018, at least for the sake of matching the competition. Most high-end phones today offer these feature starting with the Galaxy S9.
Yeah, this would mean the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will have to be made out of glass, but that’s not really a bad thing, considering this design-change would phones would look more premium.
What would you like to see improved in the Google Pixel 3 series? Let us know what you think below.
