Despite all the display-related issues, the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are among the best Android phones launched this year. They don’t have a revolutionary new design. But they have enough features, including the world’s best smartphone camera, to justify their premium pricing. With the Pixel 2 behind it, Google has started working on the next-gen Pixel phones. We have put together our Google Pixel 3 wishlist of what we want to see in the 2018 flagship Pixel phones.
Google Pixel 3 wishlist: Better OLED display
The high-end smartphone market is almost completely dominated by Apple and Samsung. If Google wants to stay in the game, it has to keep innovating and improving its products. The Google Pixel 2 XL owners have complained about tons of issues with the phone’s display, including burn-in and a bluish tint. Buyers don’t expect that from a phone that costs nearly a thousand dollars.
Even if you keep the screen issues aside, the Pixel 2 doesn’t have a great display. It comes with a full HD 1080p resolution, which is not good enough for a premium smartphone. We expect the next year’s Pixel 3 to offer at least Quad HD resolution.
Bring back the headphone jack
Google, you were one of the first to mock Apple’s decision to drop the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. So, what made you do the same thing for which you mocked Apple? Android is all about convenience and ease of use. People still want the traditional audio jack on their phones. They are not particularly fond of that USB dongle.
Sure, customers can listen to the music using Bluetooth headphones. But wireless headphones don’t offer the same audio quality as the wired ones. We would want to see the good old 3.5mm audio jack on the Pixel 3.
Google Pixel 3 wishlist: Get rid of the bezels
The premium smartphone segment is increasingly going bezel-less. Apple’s iPhone X has an all-screen display with a tiny notch at the top. Samsung is also reducing bezels on its flagship phones with each new model. Google Pixel 2, on the other hand, has thick bezels at the top and bottom. Even the larger Pixel 2 XL has bezels. It’s understandable that the bezels house dual front-firing speakers to enhance the audio experience. We would still want to see reduced bezels on Pixel 3 while keeping the front-facing speakers.
Customizable Active Edge technology
Active Edge is an excellent addition to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The technology allows you to squeeze the phone to activate Google Assistant. Unfortunately, you cannot customize the feature. With Pixel 3, we expect Active Edge to become customizable and context-sensitive. Users should be able to launch their favorite apps with the Active Edge rather than just Google Assistant. You should be able to choose what the Active Edge would do once you are in an app. Maybe squeezing the frame would zoom in the content when you are in Maps, or take a photo when you are using the Camera app?
Google Pixel 3 wishlist: Wireless charging
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones support fast charging, but they don’t offer wireless charging capabilities. Samsung has been supporting wireless charging for years. Even Apple adapted the technology this year with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Wireless charging would become mainstream by next year, and the Pixel 3 cannot afford to miss out on this technology.
Improved water resistance
The original Pixel was one of those rare high-end smartphones that lacked water- and dust-resistance. The new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL come with an IP67 rating for water-resistance. It means the phones can remain submerged in up to three feet deep water for up to 30 minutes. Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phones have an IP68 certification, which means they can survive being submerged in up to five feet deep water for 30 minutes. It’s only a minor improvement, but it would boost the confidence of users.
Google working on three new Pixel phones
Reliable sources recently told Droid Life that the search engine giant was working on not two but three new smartphones for 2018. The company had also planned three devices for 2017, but later killed one of them, which was code-named “muskie.” Sources told Droid Life that the upcoming phones are code-named “crosshatch,” “albacore,” and “blueline.”
Two of them are premium smartphones, while the third one is believed to be a high-end device. If the report turns out to be true, Google’s 2018 smartphone lineup might look like Apple’s 2017 iPhones. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are premium smartphones, while the iPhone X is a high-end phone in a league of its own. It has a radical new design and exciting features that differentiate it from the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
The original Pixel phones were announced on October 4th, 2016. Google unveiled the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL exactly a year later on Oct.4, 2017. If the company follows the same pattern, we can expect the Pixel 3 phones to be announced on Oct.4, 2018. The phone’s launch is still about a year away, so it’s merely an assumption.
What features are in your Google Pixel 3 wishlist? Let us know in the comments below.
