- Analysis by KJ David
The third iteration of Google's self-branded Pixel flagship comes in the form of the 5.5-inch Pixel 3, which, despite leveling with some of the best smartphones of its time on certain aspects, suffers from a few questionable cons. For one, unlike some of its contemporaries, it does not go all-out in terms of storage, settling for a 128GB maximum internal memory 
(Google also ships a 64GB variant) without providing any room for expansion . In comparison, a few close competitors boast 256GB or even 512GB of native storage and come with external memory card trays.
Another slight drawback is the fact that is comes with no more than 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM , considering that 2018 saw a few heavyweights that boasted 6GB or even premium-class 8GB RAM counts (Check out Phonerated's list of 8GB-RAM phones here). Having said that, its processor, which is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 split-octa-core chip clocked at 2.5GHz + 1.6GHz 
, makes sure that it stays within flagship territory performance-wise, at least as far as this on-paper review of its pros and cons is concerned.
Headlining its pros is the Pixel 3's 5.5-inch Flexible OLED 18:9 2160 x 1080 (FHD display , although it falls short of the 500ppi sweet spot for VR-ready smartphones, scoring only a 443ppi pixel density . Nevertheless, it charges into the virtual reality fray with native compatibility with Google's Daydream View VR headset . Additionally, its display is bedecked with an Always-On feature, support for HDR content, and an impact-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 5 finish .
While it does away with a dual-lens rear camera setup, which was somewhat the go-to imaging solution around the time it hit the market, the Pixel 3's 12.2-megapixel dual-pixel camera, which is rigged with spectral and flicker sensors, a 4K-2160p video-recording option, as well as both optical and electronic image stabilization , still makes the upmarket cut in our book. What is more interesting, though, its its dual 8-megapixel selfie camera that is made up of a 97-degree wide-angle lens and a standard-angle lens.
Rounding out its pros and cons is a 2915mAh battery that powers up either through the phone's 18W fast charger or through Qi wireless charging. Note, though, that a few competing models with tantamount specs pack up to 4000mAh of raw battery power . This Pixel edition is made waterproof and dust-tight by its IP68 rugged certification and it comes with a Gorilla Glass 5 backing.
Running on the Android 9.0 Pie platform, the Google Pixel 3 serves as a solid choice for tech-savvy users seeking a high-caliber Android.
On-paper Star rating: 
Does it feature memory expansion? Despite our efforts, we couldn't find out.
It's disappointing that we could not find its weight information.
- Recommended alternative: Photo gallery of the latest slim phones
It comes with native support for Virtual Reality (VR) content, which it delivers mainly through Google's Daydream View headset.
It is described as a rugged phone (more sturdy, better water-resistance, etc).
Its processor speed of Quad 2.5GHz (+ Quad 1.6GHz) with 8 cores is among the fastest in the current market.
NFC is used by electronic payment systems and other uses.
It carries the Miracast technology, a system that lets you share your display with a TV
We are talking about an above-average screen, making it a phablet: 5.5 inches and a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels means about 12.1 square inches and an image sharpness of at least 443 dots per inch (DPI)!
It features a high-megapixel camera (12.2-megapixel (dual-pixel cam))
The selfie cam resolution seems just about average.
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