Google's Pixel 3 XL has speed, fantastic software, an excellent camera, and unrivaled A.I. features you can't find anywhere else.

Excellent camera, Fluid software, useful A.I; features, Fast performance, Fingerprint-free rear glass design, Great screen, speakers

Mediocre battery life; The notch is really; really ugly; Photos can sometimes look too saturated

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

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.

The Google Pixel 3 is one of the few Android smartphones to offer the latest hardware in a handy size. But is that enough to make it stand out from the competition We've tested Google's new device in our hands-on.

For the third year in a row, Google has released its own-brand smartphone under the PIxel label, in a choice of two sizes, to try and put into physical form its vision of what a mobile phone should be – a direct, Google-ified, Android rival to the iPhone .

Google aces the camera again; Screen is big and beautiful; Pixel Android and speedy updates

Did you notice that notch; Battery life is unspectacular; No in-screen fingerprint reader

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

If there's one thing I wanted from the Google Pixel 3 XL, it's that it didn't make a repeat of last year. The Pixel 2 XL was an otherwise cracking phone but its flawed display held it back from greatness.

Fabulous camera; Superb performance; Android Pie goodness

Mediocre battery life; No secondary rear camera

The Google Pixel range has always been for Android purists – those who want Google's operating system without the customisation and bloat provided by most manufacturers.

Top-quality camera; Lots of power; Pure Android with speedy updates

Sub-par battery; Big bezels; Screen could be sharper

Let's get the elephant out of the room, I am no fan of a notch, that's why I got the smaller pixel. Also because I have used a series of big phones, from Note 5 to Note 8, I miss the compactness of smaller phones.