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woozor1

macrumors 6502
Jul 15, 2015
272
149
Uk
My inital hands on I definately prefered it to last years feels more premium. Last years felt cheap to me. It was a demo unit there was no videos or internet on the unit i tried so I couldnt test the speakers. Camera looked good the screen seemed quite dim to me when i put it next to my note 8. Id say near max brightness on the pixel 3 xl seemed more like 50% what my note looked like. The ui felt super smoothe and fluid. I wasnt that bothered by the notch either tbh in person it kinda sucks as wasted space but it is what it is. But I quite liked the device I just need to see how the speakers are and how the video audio recording is as I record alot of my guitar playing I so like the best stereo recording.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
My Pixel 2 definitely doesn't get bright enough at max setting in direct sunlight.

Do we know the nit comparison between the 2 and the 3? I know the max of the 3 is a little over 400, I read?
 

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,888
4,698
Johannesburg, South Africa
Nope, still get truncated notifications.
I only just see this now. That is such a shame and poor design by Google. All the more reason to keep the icons in the ears then when disabling the notch.

So your Pixel 3 XL essentially is not a 6.3inch phone, more a 6inch device as there's an intrusion in the display (notch) and when you turn that notch off you essentially lose all ability to use the area on either side of what really is a pointless notch.

Google's obsession with Apple worries me, it feels as though they are taking Android right into the same direction as iOS, which is removing the whole point of being Android. Urrggh...
 

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,888
4,698
Johannesburg, South Africa
Sadly, a software casualty of a hardware mistake.
[doublepost=1539214944][/doublepost]


You deal with this currently with your XS. What you describe is what happens in landscape mode.

That's why the screen gain-argument is only in portrait mode. If you use full screen in landscape and use the ears, so to speak, you're losing screen space via a chunk on the side, like it got bitten out.
[doublepost=1539217018][/doublepost]Great article on the Verge knocking Google's notch.

In short, it's just the worst.
Lol, more like there is a lot of dead pixels on the side of the notch in full screen landscape. It's a weird look. Such a shame.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
Lol, more like there is a lot of dead pixels on the side of the notch in full screen landscape. It's a weird look. Such a shame.

It's an unfortunate trend. Apple users have no choice but to accept it and Android users have to watch OEMs fumble the idea.

Next year, all major flagships might have a notch. Oh well.
 

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,888
4,698
Johannesburg, South Africa
It's an unfortunate trend. Apple users have no choice but to accept it and Android users have to watch OEMs fumble the idea.

Next year, all major flagships might have a notch. Oh well.
I hope Samsung continue to resist this nonsense, honestly. There maybe another flagship without a notch coming soon though, fingers crossed.

I was able to bare the Mate20 Lite notch as I could turn it off, and just have the icons and signal bars in the ears while I enjoy theain display without the distraction of the notch.

OEMs should stop claiming the ears as screen real estate as it is misrepresenting what is actually truly usable whether gaming, watching movies etc...

The whole excuse of "video content not filling the screen" us also pure and utter nonsense, more and more YouTubers seem to be aware of people zooming and so their content is focused well within what you would see when zoomed out but in a zoomed in position. I am also seeing this in Netflix, so the whole thing of "content is in 16:9 so the notch fine" excuse is becoming pointless to.
 
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drinkingtea

macrumors 65816
Jan 31, 2016
1,240
3,271
Checked out the 3 XL at Verizon. It’s beautiful; the screen is gorgeous. The OS is fluid. I didn’t even notice the notch or the chin (y’all really blowing things out of proportion: go see the phone in-person). The phone is light and it feels premium.

The only thing that bothered me was that the notch cut off titles in some apps. Why wouldn’t Google catch/fix this in their own apps? Oversights like this bother me.

I have a year until I upgrade. It’ll be either the 3/4 XL or the XR.
 
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jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,080
19,080
US
Well, on the iPhone, it is bigger than .1 inch--I've measured it. The notch area itself on the Max is approximately .3 and the status bar on the older Plus model phones is at least .2". You can disqualify it if you like but regardless, it's factually, measurable, usable space. And the trade offs are clearly worth it for some of us. Use a full bezel and screen space is reduced--that's a fact that cannot be argued. You may not like it but, that's not an opinion, there will quantitatively be less usable display. In landscape, except for some gaming and a small portion of video content, the usable space is the same regardless. When I use an app like email or a web browser, content is displayed up the the bottom edge of the notch, exactly as it would be if the ears were gone. Most videos aren't impacted by the notch as their aspect ratio is usually less than the iPhone's display, so I'm seeing black side bars regardless. The only way the notch impedes on those videos is if I zoom in which means I'm cutting off a whole lot more of the video on the top and bottom.

Your distaste for the notch is purely aesthetics because functionally, the notch design offers advantages over a full top bezel. And not liking it because of the visual asymmetry is absolutely valid, but that's all it is. Not using a notch design on the iPhone means either a bigger phone to have the same amount of display space or the same sized phone with less display.

EDIT: One more point I meant to mention in an earlier post. Maybe I don't dislike the notch quite as much because the status bar on the iPhone carries much less information than Android has historically. A notch on an Android phone means less room to display status and notification icons. If I relied on those, I'd likely be a bit more pissed off as well.


Great points......But some would argue the notch eliminates funciality and features. It removes information prior model iphones like the 8 Plus had. The 8 Plus was able to display more useful information. The notch is there for purely aesthetics. It does not add functionality but removes information many had grown to appreciate and use.

See the screenshot below of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus.
I agree the bezels are huge on the 8 Plus. But it does add more useful information at the top of the screen.
To get to this information now we have to swipe down. Not a huge thing to do mind you but it is an extra step that one does get used to doing over time.
I like my Xs Max.....really wish it was able to display more useful information.

Xand8Plus.jpg
 
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nospleen

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2002
2,726
1,591
Texas
Checked them out at the Verizon store.

I fully expected to like the 3 better than the XL. But, I walked away liking the XL better. Both screens looked nice, but the XL’s was incredible.

Build quality felt really nice. The UI felt more fluid than my 2XL. Maybe cause it’s new, but I guess time will tell. I’m worried about the 4gh ram though.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
Those are great points! But the notch also eliminates some use things that some would argue are new features or functionality. Comparing the notch in iphones per se. The 8 Plus didn't have a notch

Great points......But some would argue the notch eliminates funciality and features. It removes information prior model iphones like the 8 Plus had. The 8 Plus was able to display more useful information. The notch is there for purely aesthetics. It does not add functionality but removes information many had grown to appreciate and use.

See the screenshot below of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus.
I agree the bezels are huge on the 8 Plus. But it does add more useful information at the top of the screen.
To get to this information now we have to swipe down. Not a huge thing to do mind you but it is an extra step that one does get used to doing over time.
I like my Xs Max.....really wish it was able to display more useful information.

View attachment 794091

Don't disagree. We all have our preferences so the notch will create different levels of compromises. I know you value the battery % on the home screen so that’s an extra compromise for you where as I don’t need that on the status bar and will take the extra few millimeters of device height by not having a full bezel.

TL;DR - we all will have a different notch ‘breaking point.’ :p The iPhone comes in just short of mine. :D The Pixel 3 XL is on the other side of that point.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,080
19,080
US
Don't disagree. We all have our preferences so the notch will create different levels of compromises. I know you value the battery % on the home screen so that’s an extra compromise for you where as I don’t need that on the status bar and will take the extra few millimeters of device height by not having a full bezel.

TL;DR - we all will have a different notch ‘breaking point.’ :p The iPhone comes in just short of mine. :D The Pixel 3 XL is on the other side of that point.
I agree...we all have our preferences about appearances....
I agree with the majority here..... i think the notch on the iPhone xs Max to be less offensive than the pictures I have seen of the Pixel 3 XL.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
Checked them out at the Verizon store.

I fully expected to like the 3 better than the XL. But, I walked away liking the XL better. Both screens looked nice, but the XL’s was incredible.

Build quality felt really nice. The UI felt more fluid than my 2XL. Maybe cause it’s new, but I guess time will tell. I’m worried about the 4gh ram though.


Was there a big difference between the 3 and 3 XL screens? From what I've read, both screens are almost identical, so curious to hear why you felt the XL was better!
 

drinkingtea

macrumors 65816
Jan 31, 2016
1,240
3,271
Was there a big difference between the 3 and 3 XL screens? From what I've read, both screens are almost identical, so curious to hear why you felt the XL was better!
I didn’t really play around with the regular 3 since I have no interest in small phones. But the brief seconds I did, I did not notice a difference between the two screens, but I also did not compare them side-by-side.
 

nospleen

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2002
2,726
1,591
Texas
Was there a big difference between the 3 and 3 XL screens? From what I've read, both screens are almost identical, so curious to hear why you felt the XL was better!


My 2XL screen had what I would describe as grain. It wasn’t terrible, but I could see it. I saw the same thing on the 3, but the 3 XL looked smooth and crystal clear. The 3 XL reminded me of a Samsung, without the over saturation.

The 3 also seemed like the saturation or contrast was cranked up a bit, so maybe they had that one on saturated in the display settings. I didn’t check that.

Both looked nice, but I literally said, Wow, when I picked up the XL. I wanted to like the 3. I love the size of it. It was similar to my iPhone X, just a hair taller.

In no way did I think the 3 was bad though. But on the models they had our, the XL was a 10 out of 10 and the Pixel 3, was like an 8.
 

slitherjef

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2012
1,402
1,189
Earth
IMG_20181011_122045-01.jpeg

So, got my hands on a pixel 3 XL aka notchzilla. Didn't get a chance to look at it too much since it was in demo mode and lashed to the counter. Display looked nice, the device was very slippery, didn't feel sharp, definitely needs a case. Back felt plastic however. The notch very noticeable and eats up a third of the status bar.

Very fluid. The gestures are weird.
 
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Baldilocks

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2012
506
435
Delaware, USA
Great points......But some would argue the notch eliminates funciality and features. It removes information prior model iphones like the 8 Plus had. The 8 Plus was able to display more useful information. The notch is there for purely aesthetics. It does not add functionality but removes information many had grown to appreciate and use.

See the screenshot below of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus.
I agree the bezels are huge on the 8 Plus. But it does add more useful information at the top of the screen.
To get to this information now we have to swipe down. Not a huge thing to do mind you but it is an extra step that one does get used to doing over time.
I like my Xs Max.....really wish it was able to display more useful information.

View attachment 794091

I think there is room for two lines (rows) of information on the notched phones.
 

Lava Lamp Freak

macrumors 68000
Jun 1, 2006
1,572
624
I didn’t really play around with the regular 3 since I have no interest in small phones. But the brief seconds I did, I did not notice a difference between the two screens, but I also did not compare them side-by-side.

I still find comments like this strange because I don't see how the Pixel 3 can be considered a small phone. It's small(er) than the 3 XL, but it's still a large phone. Pixel 3 is about the same size as the original Note, which was a huge phone at the time it was released. I actually wish someone would make a flagship small phone. I'd buy it! What I long for is something the size of the original Moto X with no bezels.
 

Baldilocks

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2012
506
435
Delaware, USA
I still find comments like this strange because I don't see how the Pixel 3 can be considered a small phone. It's small(er) than the 3 XL, but it's still a large phone. Pixel 3 is about the same size as the original Note, which was a huge phone at the time it was released. I actually wish someone would make a flagship small phone. I'd buy it! What I long for is something the size of the original Moto X with no bezels.

The original note was MUCH wider because of it's 16:9 screen. The 3XL will be a much thinner and even shorter device and therefore easier to hold than the Note ever was. As you can see, the Note's screen have a MUCH larger surface area.

compare_zpsxaxjwhfl.png
 

Lloydbm41

Suspended
Oct 17, 2013
4,019
1,456
Central California
Some Best Buys have them on display already, too. There's been photos and impressions at other forums.
I have seen the Pixel 3 now and the screen is very impressive, but the camera... Holy crap. Really friggin good!!
I've been using iPhone's for the last 18 months or so, and the photo quality is amazing on the XL! Better than my iPhone X... by a huge margin.
[doublepost=1539300296][/doublepost]
The original note was MUCH wider because of it's 16:9 screen. The 3XL will be a much thinner and even shorter device and therefore easier to hold than the Note ever was.

compare_zpsxaxjwhfl.png
The regular Pixel 3 is way to skinny. It's a lot skinnier than the iPhone X. The proportions are not right IMO.
 
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Lava Lamp Freak

macrumors 68000
Jun 1, 2006
1,572
624
The original note was MUCH wider because of it's 16:9 screen. The 3XL will be a much thinner and even shorter device and therefore easier to hold than the Note ever was. As you can see, the Note's screen have a MUCH larger surface area.

compare_zpsxaxjwhfl.png

Yes, it was wider. But keep in mind this is coming from someone who cursed the Nexus 5 when I bought it due to how tall it was. My Moto X was the ideal size for me. I loved how it felt in my hand and in my pocket. So I find it frustrating how the trend is continuing for larger and larger phones, and then to hear people call something as tall as the Pixel 3 a "small" phone. 145mm is big for something you carry in a pocket!
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
Yes, it was wider. But keep in mind this is coming from someone who cursed the Nexus 5 when I bought it due to how tall it was. My Moto X was the ideal size for me. I loved how it felt in my hand and in my pocket. So I find it frustrating how the trend is continuing for larger and larger phones, and then to hear people call something as tall as the Pixel 3 a "small" phone. 145mm is big for something you carry in a pocket!

I empathize but you appear to be in the minority. People generally just love big phones now.
 

torana355

macrumors 68040
Dec 8, 2009
3,633
2,734
Sydney, Australia
Yes, it was wider. But keep in mind this is coming from someone who cursed the Nexus 5 when I bought it due to how tall it was. My Moto X was the ideal size for me. I loved how it felt in my hand and in my pocket. So I find it frustrating how the trend is continuing for larger and larger phones, and then to hear people call something as tall as the Pixel 3 a "small" phone. 145mm is big for something you carry in a pocket!
Unfortunately if you like small phones you are in the minority so it will be hard to find a phone that suits you. Personally i carry around a S9+ and the size does not bother me in the slightest, love the screen size when im consuming media on it!!
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
Honestly, MKBHD's "second impressions" video makes a good case for the 3 XL with the notch turned off via developer's settings, of course.

It somehow looks better than the 2 XL. Like, the bezels appear smaller all around by a bit, (the side bezels for sure, right?). It doesn't look quite like the super bloated bezels of the 2 XL.

Or am I crazy? I could be crazy.

Plus the improved screen panel should make it a better overall screen experience, too.

 

nospleen

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2002
2,726
1,591
Texas
Honestly, MKBHD's "second impressions" video makes a good case for the 3 XL with the notch turned off via developer's settings, of course.

It somehow looks better than the 2 XL. Like, the bezels appear smaller all around by a bit, (the side bezels for sure, right?). It doesn't look quite like the super bloated bezels of the 2 XL.

Or am I crazy?

Plus the improved screen panel should make it a better overall screen experience, too.


The side bezels are definitely smaller. They looked good in person. It’s one of the first things I noticed.
 
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