Google Pixel 3 Lite gets reviewed on video ahead of official announcement

by Cosmin Vasile / Jan 16, 2019, 8:54 PM

Google Pixel 3 Lite gets reviewed on video ahead of official announcement

Although Google does not seem to want to sell smartphones in high volumes, the fact that the company is gearing up to launch two affordable Pixel phones could mark a change in strategy.

The Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL are two middle-class smartphones that are rumored to arrive at Verizon at some point this spring. Renders of the phones have already leaked online last year, but Ukrainian tech blog Andro News has taken things a little further and published a short video review of the Pixel 3 Lite.

You can find the full specs list below, but there are a few things that aren't mentioned there. First off, the Pixel 3 Lite is a cheap smartphone, which is why Google has opted for a plastic body. Secondly, unlike the current Pixel models, the upcoming Pixel 3 Lite will include a 3.5mm audio jack on the top side.

Another major reveal is related to the camera, which apparently is just as good as the ones on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Even though the device shown off in the video is a pre-production unit, it takes exceptional pictures.

The only downside seems to be the fact that both Pixel 3 Lite models will ship with Android 9 Pie on board, if they'll be launched on the market this spring, immediately after Google I/O 2019.

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18 Comments

1. Subie

Posts: 2257; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

I like it. Except for the 32gb of internal storage which makes it a no go for me.

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 8:59 PM 9

2. logicsdude

Posts: 77; Member since: Jun 25, 2014

How is being launched with Pie a downside? Is there a better option

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 9:01 PM 11

3. middlehead

Posts: 420; Member since: May 12, 2014

You forget what site you're on. They were hoping it'd launch with ios..

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 9:11 PM 25

4. Scott93274

Posts: 6024; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

For real! I have the Pixel 2 with Android Pie and it runs flawlessly. How is that at all possible a downside???

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 9:18 PM 3

9. BL4NKF4CE

Posts: 115; Member since: Aug 06, 2017

Because Android Q will already have been announced before the phone is released.

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 11:34 PM 0

12. cmdacos

Posts: 3763; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

But not even close to release...

posted on Jan 17, 2019, 4:01 AM 1

8. BL4NKF4CE

It’s supposed to be released after Google I/O which is where Android Q is probably going to be announced. That’s why they’re calling P a downside.

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 11:33 PM 0

16. DFranch

Posts: 490; Member since: Apr 20, 2012

Q will get announced at Google I/O, but will not be finished until July - August. And will be updated within days of Q becoming official. What is the downside?

posted on Jan 17, 2019, 7:04 AM 1

5. Scott93274

Assuming the price hits the right mark, I wouldn't be opposed to buying this phone, though the 32 GB is hard to swallow though. I really wish Google would open up to the idea of having expandable storage on their devices. Cloud services are only going to be universally accepted once unlimited plans become the market norm.

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 9:21 PM 2

17. tokuzumi

Posts: 1757; Member since: Aug 27, 2009

If memory serves me correctly, Microsoft owns the patents for using expandable storage with a phone. Royalties need to be paid to MS to have a SD card slot on a phone. And with the strange dynamic between MS and Google, Google isn't about to voluntarily give money to MS. But 32GB is not enough in 2019.

posted on Jan 17, 2019, 7:55 AM 0

6. aman5mathur

Posts: 236; Member since: Mar 28, 2014

Instead, the title sounds like - PhoneArena judges a pixel 3 lite pre-production unit How could you call pie a downgrade??

posted on Jan 16, 2019, 11:19 PM 1

11. ullokey

Posts: 172; Member since: Jul 28, 2015

The compact series from Sony is a good alternative

posted on Jan 17, 2019, 2:36 AM 0

10. LEEDAQ

Posts: 140; Member since: Aug 07, 2018

this or Redmi note 7?

posted on Jan 17, 2019, 1:51 AM 0

13. Nionx

Posts: 164; Member since: Oct 30, 2017

Seems to be the Pixel to buy to me. Returned the headphone jack, got rid of the notch and kept the camera. Win, win, win. Let it be aggressively priced to go up against the likes of the OnePlus and I think they'll have a winner