When Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh introduced the Pixel 3 last week, he didn't utter the word "Android" a single time. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are Google phones. They swim in a sea of Google data and promise to use Google's machine learning to make everything better: photos, annoying spam...

Larger; better screen; Beautiful design; Excellent camera and wide angle selfie cam; Radically improved screen; Loud; clear front-facing speakers; Excellent camera and wide angle selfie cam

Largish top and bottom bezels; Easily scratched rear finish; Limited availability from US carriers and internationally; Doofy notch; Easily scratched rear finish; Limited availability from US carriers and internationally

Google announced the third generation of its Pixel phones last week , once again with regular- and XL-sized variants. I was given the Pixel 3 XL to review, and I absolutely love it... except for the hideous notch.

It's one of our favorite phones of the year, but the Pixel 3 XL isn't what we usually see from big-screen phones. For instance, it costs less than $1,000 (more specifically, $899, £869 and AU$1,349), and it has only one rear camera lens.

The Pixel 3 XL has a top-of-the-line camera that includes an enhanced low-light feature and it can now take wider selfie shots; It's water resistant, has wireless charging and its Google Assistant has convenient new skills such as call screening

The phone's onscreen notch is taller than other phones'; It doesn't have expandable memory or a headphone jack

The Pixel 3 is the ultimate expression of Android and proof that AI done right can make your life easier.

Excellent performance; Quality OLED display; Top-tier cameras; Charming design; Call Screen is a godsend

A bit expensive; Bezels could be slimmer

During its annual developers conference this year, Google announced the Pixel 3A and Pixel 3A XL -- two budget phones that kick off the company's new endeavor to make cheaper, more affordable phones. The devices are essentially reworked versions of the Pixel 3 and the larger 3 XL, which originally debuted in October 2018.

The Pixel 3's truly exceptional cameras and AI-powered call screening give it an edge on the other great phones in 2018's crowded winners' circle.

The Pixel 3 takes brilliant photos, even in super low-light, with its single rear lens and it can capture wider selfie photos; It's water resistant, has wireless charging and it can screen unwanted calls.

The phone doesn't have expandable memory or a headphone jack; The shot-to-shot camera delay can be sluggish in certain modes.

It's a testament to just how high expectations are for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL that, even after months of the Google phones leaking, interest in them remains high. Now, the pair of Android 9 Pie handsets are finally headed to shelves, promising the cutting-edge in Google's computational...

Camera technology leads the pack; Elegant; tactile glass & metal design; Wireless charging is a welcome addition; OLED screens look great

Pixel 3 XL notch is divisive; More expensive than last year's Google phones; Still no headphone jack

The Google Pixel 3 XL is the big-screen, best-camera phone combination of 2018, a one-two punch when it comes to offering an expansive, color-rich display and photos your friends won't believe came from a smartphone.

Best camera phone we've tested; Problem-free 6.3-inch OLED display; Solid battery life vs smaller Pixel 3

The notch cut out is hard to ignore; Not one-hand friendly as Pixel 3; More expensive; like all 2018 phones

The Google Pixel is the panacea of Android phones, designed to show what you can do with pure Android software, tuned to the Google-designed hardware. Its pièce de résistance is the camera, where Google's aim is to showcase what artificial intelligence (AI) can really do.

Outstanding camera performance; Android Pie is clean and fast; High quality design and build; No screen issues this time around

Battery life isn't class leading; Some software foibles

The hounding influx of new smartphones, slipping into the market every other day, can be tiring but there are select smartphones that cut through this noise and still manage to keep you raring and interested.

Scratch-resistant glass design; IP68 rating; Striking display rated among best by DisplayMate; Mind-blowing and unbeatable camera; Wide-angle selfies; AR characters and Google Lens built into the camera app; Front-facing stereo speakers; Wireless charging and Pixel Stand support; MIMO Wi-Fi

Lacking RAM; 4K video capped to 30fps; Poor notch optimization in YouTube; Disabling the Notch is unnecessarily complicated; Inability to disable navigation gestures

Google Pixel 3 stands out of the crowd with its stunning design and camera performance. But its not only about camera, despite having 4 GB of RAM it is capable of handling high-graphics intensive games smoothly. With smooth and clean UI, it is the perfect Android phone out in the market.

Brilliant photos; super low-light; wider selfies; wireless charging

Doesn't have expandable memory and a headphone jack; no pro/manual mode