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Google Pixel 3 wish-list: five things we wish Google improved

By Victor Hristov

Updated: Jul 10, 2018, 9:21 AM

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Google Pixel 3 wish-list: five things we wish Google improved

In about three months or so, Google is expected to unveil its new phones, the rumored Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

Leaked components of the phone have already revealed a big part of the secret around these phones: they will finally have a better design, with bigger screens and smaller bezels, and they will likely be better in every way.

So with just several months until the launch, it really does not make much sense to go and buy the current Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and you're better off just waiting for the new gadgets.

But before they come, we reminisce about the things that we really, really want to see fixed and improved in the new Pixel 3 series. This is our wish-list with the 5 things we wish Google changes in the Pixel 3.

1. Use a quality screen

Our number one complaint with the Google Pixel 2 XL was certainly the low quality display. Just tilt the screen at a slight angle and it loses all sense of color, turning into a depressing shade of blue. Some Pixels also have a big problem with ghosting, an effect that leaves trails of things you have viewed on your screen permanently "ghosting" over what you are currently seeing.

Our big wish for the Pixel 3 series is that Google really takes those issues seriously and brings a high-quality display panel to the new phones that will match their premium pricing and status.

2. Get rid of the Verizon exclusivity and bring it to more carriers and countries

Let's face it: Google Pixel phones are not the most popular ones out there. Sure, the geeks and Android fans know about them, but they are just not that popular among the general public.

There is a reason for that and it boils down to the very limited availability of Google Pixel phones. It's like Google doesn't even want to sell a Pixel phone to you! In the United States, Google has picked Verizon Wireless as the exclusive carrier for the Pixel 2 series, meaning that most people on the other carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint simply cannot buy a Pixel easily.

And worldwide the situation is even worse. The Google Pixel series are only officially sold in a handful of countries, while in many others the phones are just not available at all.

3. Focus on design

Image courtesy of Phone Designer

The Pixel phones certainly have their character with the signature glass element around the camera and panda black-and-white Pixel 2 XL even got many people excited with its looks, but once you actually use a Pixel phone, it's hard to be too excited about its design. The phone actually has bigger side bezels than most flagship phones of the past few years and the top and bottom bezels still exist.

The Pixel 2 XL is also bulky in a cumbersome way. It lacks any ergonomical design features: while other big phones like OnePlus have a curve on the back, the Pixel 2 XL features a flat back that makes it extremely hard to handle with a single hand.

While the industry has moved to sleek glass designs and has perfected various aluminum finishes, the Pixel 2 XL features a surprisingly coarse back that almost feels unfinished. Yes, it is solid, cold metal, but it does not feel premium as you’d expect for a device with a hefty price like the Pixel.

4. Bring a better-quality loudspeaker

While both the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have dual front-firing speakers, the sound quality from these speakers is barely anything out of the ordinary. The sound just lacks the punch and richness that we saw is possible with newer phones like the iPhone 8/X series and the Samsung Galaxy S9 family.

That's why we wish that Google upped its game with better quality loudspeakers in the Google Pixel 3 series. After all, Google has now gotten hold of a bunch of engineers from HTC, a company known to have brought a small revolution to smartphone speaker sound back in the day.

5. Add wireless charging

Wireless charging has been around for years, but only recently it has really started to grow in popularity and we find ourselves more and more in love with the simplicity and convenience of wireless charging.

Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 2/XL with their metal backs do not support wireless charging currently. We sincerely hope that this changes in the Pixel 3 series and Google brings this little convenience to its flagship phones. After all, even the Nexus 4 years ago supported wireless charging!

The dream: an affordable, OnePlus-like Google Pixel phone

Speaking of the Nexus, we are once again reminded of the past. The Nexus 4 and the Nexus 5 come to mind as two brilliant phones combining the speed and simplicity of pure Android and the affordable price of a Nexus.

These days, OnePlus is the only company that fills the void from the Nexus program, but we really wish Google itself brought the Nexus idea back to life. We don't know whether this is possible: an affordable Android phone made by Google, maybe a smaller phone, a Pixel SE of sorts, but that is our secret wish for the future of Google phones.

What would you like to see improved in the new Pixel 3 series of phones? And do you have a secret Google-phone dream? Don't hesitate to let us know in the comments below.

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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.