JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 117section at the top houses the camera with the lower
part containing the fingerprint scanner. This time
around, it’s a fully glass design, with the lower section
offering a matte finish, which looks and feels luxurious.
It’s not as grippy when compared to a typical glass
back, but feels nicer and won’t show fingerprint marks
as much. Importantly, this change also enables wireless
charging for the first time on a Pixel phone. We’ll talk
about this in more detail later.
It’s the front that you’ll see the biggest change
due to a change in display aspect ratio – an
industry-wide trend. Smaller bezels not only look
better but mean you get a larger screen in a body
that’s essentially the same. Whatever side of the fence
you’re on, the regular Pixel 3 is the model without a
notch. The Pixel 3 XL, for the first time on a Google
phone, has the divisive feature. Both have a camera
bump on the rear, but it’s small and not a big deal.
Much of the elements we’re used to are the same,
so you get a USB-C port, no headphone jack, and
waterproofing – the latter is now IP68 instead of IP67.
Our main worry is dirt collecting in the speakers on
the front as they are slightly recessed.
Colour options are once again Clearly White, Just
Black and the new Not Pink (which has a peach tone
in real life) – each, apart from the black model, have
a difference accent colour on the side button.Display
The most obvious change is the display, which as we
mentioned is now using an on-trend tall aspect ratio. It’s
18:9 to be precise and sticks with a Full HD+ resolutionJANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 117sectionat the top houses the camera with the lower
part containing the fingerprint scanner. This time
around, it’s a fully glass design, with the lower section
offering a matte finish, which looks and feels luxurious.
It’s not as grippy when compared to a typical glass
back, but feels nicer and won’t show fingerprint marks
as much. Importantly, this change also enables wireless
charging for the first time on a Pixel phone. We’ll talk
about this in more detail later.
It’sthefrontthatyou’llseethebiggestchange
duetoa changein displayaspectratio– an
industry-wide trend. Smaller bezels not only look
better but mean you get a larger screen in a body
that’sessentiallythesame.Whateversideofthefence
you’reon, the regular Pixel 3 is the model without a
notch. The Pixel 3 XL, for the first time on a Google
phone,hasthedivisivefeature.Bothhavea camera
bumpontherear,butit’ssmalland not a big deal.
Much of the elements we’re used to are the same,
so you get a USB-C port, no headphone jack, and
waterproofing – the latter is now IP68 instead of IP67.
Ourmainworryis dirtcollectingin thespeakerson
thefront as they are slightly recessed.
Colour options are once again Clearly White, Just
BlackandthenewNotPink(whichhasa peachtone
inreallife)– each,apartfromtheblackmodel,have
adifferenceaccentcolourontheside button.
Display
The most obvious change is the display, which as we
mentioned is now using an on-trend tall aspect ratio. It’s
18:9 to be precise and sticks with a Full HD+ resolution