Pixel 3 review: The best Android phone of 2018

id="cnetReview" section="rvwBody" data-component="indepthReview"> During its annual developers conference this year, Google announced the Pixel 3A and Pixel 3A XL -- two budget phones that kick off the company's new endeavor to make cheaper, more affordable phones. The devices are essentially reworked versions of the Pixel 3 and the larger 3 XL, which originally debuted in October 2018. 

Seven months after its launch, the Pixel 3 was the best Android phone of 2018 and remains one of the top phones you can get nowadays. It truly is awesome, galaxy note 8 specs and along with the Night Sight update, it includes the best camera you can currently get in a phone.With only a single rear camera, the Pixel 3 pulled off photo tricks that its competition at the time, including the OnePlus 6T, iPhone XS and Galaxy Note 9 needed two cameras (or at times, even more) to pull off. And with Night Sight, it can brighten up even the darkest of scenes without a flash so well that I'm not entirely convinced it isn't witchcraft.

View full gallery The Pixel 3 (left) and larger Pixel 3 XL.

Sarah Tew/CNET But the other half of the Pixel's draw is Google's software and the entire ecosystem it's ingrained with. Google wants you to use Assistant and it wants you to integrate it with other Google services like Gmail and Calendar. At times it's useful -- particularly Assistant's new ability to answer calls on your behalf. (Yes, it's as bonkers as it sounds, but it does help to combat the scourge of spam calls in my life.) The constant notifications and tips and prompts get annoying, but fortunately you can turn these functions off.

So is an outstanding camera (which takes better photos than the iPhone XS), wireless charging, water resistance and Google's user experience worth the $799 (£739, AU$1,199) starting price for the 64GB Pixel 3? If you don't care about expandable storage, I say yes. At face value, the phone costs as much as the Samsung Galaxy A20e specs Revealed S9 and it's cheaper compared to the iPhone XS' $1,000 (£999, AU$1,629) baseline price. The identically priced 128GB iPhone XR is a tempting alternative, but its camera just doesn't measure up to the Pixel 3.

If you do want extra storage though, things get more complicated. The S9 ends up being the better value since it can hold up to 400GB of extra data, and oppo a9x vivo y3 antutu the 256GB iPhone is actually cheaper than the Pixel 3 at any capacity in terms of price per gig. At any rate, if all these phones are out of your budget, but you love the Pixel 3's camera, consider the Pixel 3A instead.

But if you are willing to pay up, the Pixel 3 is outstanding. It may not look as luxurious as the iPhone XS or Galaxy S9, but it enjoys the extra perks that come from being a Google phone, which include unlimited cloud storage and timely software updates. And huawei honor 20i specs with its superlative, easy-to-use camera, the Pixel 3 is top-notch.

Keep in mind, too, that the Pixel 3 is available in a larger 6.3-inch model (compared with this model's 5.5-inch display). The Pixel 3 XL starts at $899 (£869, AU$1,349) and offers a bit more battery life and a hideable notch on its display. But features, including the cameras, are otherwise the same.

Originally published Oct. 15, 2018
Update, galaxy a40 specs Nov. 15: Adds final camera testing and additional impressions. The overall rating has moved from 8.7 to 8.8 and the phone has been awarded a CNET Editors' Choice; May 21, 2019: Adds Pixel 3A and Pixel 3 A XL information