Google Pixel 3 has its work cut out

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have arrived, the newest handsets from Google aimed at taking on Apple and Samsung at the top end of the smartphone market. The Pixel 3 has its work cut out for it however, with Google currently holding just 1.36 percent of the Australian mobile market, a long way behind the 57.69 percent held by Apple and the 21.99 percent held by Samsung - according to StatCounter.

Google have made some significant steps forward with the Pixel 3. The company seems to have addressed one of the biggest issues holding the Pixel back, by significantly enhancing the display used in the Pixel 2. Negative reviews of the Pixel 2 focused on dull colours, screen burn-in and retention, and shifting colours when viewing the phone from an angle, all cardinal sins for smartphone displays. Google have introduced upgraded OLED panels for the Pixel 3 and paid extra attention to screen calibration. Early reviews suggest that Google’s efforts have successfully banished the issues that affected the Pixel 2. Google have also dubbed the phone’s camera as “the world’s best”, loading the phone up with a 12.2MP f/1.8 rear-facing camera and dual 8MP front facing cameras.

Google will release the devices in Australia on 1 November, with prices starting at $1,199 for the Pixel 3, and $1,349 for the Pixel 3 XL.