Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, and Home Hub

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Google’s Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Home Hub, and Pixel Slate launch, with the hosts arguing that Google used the event to reframe itself as a useful, trustworthy utility company amid the Google+ security exposure. They debate the phones’ display quality, the controversial notch, camera software tricks, pricing, and Google’s broader strategy versus Apple, Facebook, and Samsung.

Main Topics: Google’s event and brand repositioning (Priority: 5/5): The hosts argue Google used the keynote to emphasize utility, privacy-adjacent trust, and helpfulness rather than specs, likely to counter the Google+ exposure and distance itself from Facebook-style engagement-driven products. Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hardware (Priority: 5/5): Discussion focused on the improved build quality, better screen calibration, glass backs, wireless charging, pricing, and carrier availability, with mixed reactions to whether the phones justify their cost. The Pixel 3 XL notch (Priority: 5/5): The large notch became a major point of contention, with the hosts debating whether it meaningfully adds screen space and whether Android’s handling of notch behavior makes it look awkward or broken. Pixel camera features and software intelligence (Priority: 5/5): The camera segment covered Top Shot, Photo Booth, Night Sight, Super Res Zoom, Google Lens, and the new wide-angle selfie camera, with the hosts debating whether these are genuine innovations or gimmicks. Google Home Hub and Pixel Stand (Priority: 4/5): The Home Hub and Pixel Stand were discussed as examples of Google’s assistant and ambient-computing strategy, especially the Hub’s small size, lack of camera, smart-home controls, and photo-frame mode. Pixel Slate and Chrome OS future (Priority: 4/5): The Slate sparked a broader discussion about Chrome OS evolving into a full desktop-like platform, its hardware quality, pricing tiers, keyboard design, and whether Chrome OS can become a serious tablet/laptop system. Facebook Portal comparison (Priority: 4/5): The hosts contrasted Google’s no-camera Home Hub approach with Facebook Portal, which they viewed as a privacy disaster despite impressive video-calling tech.

Key Arguments: Google framed its products as utilities that help users directly, which the hosts saw as a deliberate attempt to reinforce trust and avoid comparison to Facebook’s toxic brand. The Google+ security exposure forced Google to talk about itself in terms of usefulness, digital well-being, and security rather than data harvesting or engagement metrics. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are a clear hardware improvement over the Pixel 2 line, especially in display quality, haptics, and overall premium feel. The Pixel 3 XL’s notch is too large to be elegant, and Android’s notch-handling behavior can make the UI look broken or awkward. Camera features like Top Shot and Super Res Zoom may be legitimately useful because they solve real problems, but some features still feel like software gimmicks until review testing proves otherwise. Google’s decision to add a second front-facing camera is defended as enabling better selfies and speakers, but the hosts questioned whether that justifies the enormous notch and the price increase. The Home Hub is positioned as a camera-free smart display for every room, but its killer feature may actually be the photo-frame and ambient-light adaptation mode. Pixel Slate represents Google’s bet on Chrome OS as a desktop-class platform, but the low-end configurations look underpowered for the price. Facebook Portal has technically impressive calling features, but the trust problem makes the product feel fundamentally unacceptable to the hosts.

Data Points: Pixel 3 price: $799 - Launch price for the smaller Pixel 3 model. Pixel 3 XL price: $899 - Launch price for the larger Pixel 3 XL model. Pixel Slate starting price: $599 - Base price for the Chrome OS tablet, though hosts warned against buying the cheapest configuration. Pixel Slate keyboard price: $200 - Separate accessory cost for the keyboard cover. Home Hub price: $149 - Launch price for Google Home Hub. Pixel Stand price: $79 - Wireless charging stand that also triggers a special display mode. Facebook Portal price: $199 - Base Portal model price. Facebook Portal Plus price: $350 - Larger rotating-display Portal model price. Google+ session length stat: 90% of sessions under 5 seconds - Google cited this in explaining how little the service was used. Screen mode options: Natural, Boosted, Adaptive - Pixel 3 display color modes discussed during the hardware breakdown. Pixel 2 XL display issue: LG OLED was perceived as gritty/brown and had burn-in concerns - Used as a comparison point for why the Pixel 3 display surprised them. Pixel Slate screen size: 12.3 inches - Approximate display size discussed by the hosts. Home Hub screen size: 7 inches - The Home Hub was repeatedly described as much smaller than expected. Pixel Slate thickness: 7 mm - Mentioned while comparing tablet size and portability. Pixel Slate resolution: 2K by 3K - Slate’s display resolution as discussed in the hardware overview. Camera feature count highlighted: 5 major features - Top Shot, Photo Booth, Night Sight, Super Res Zoom, and wide-angle selfie/group selfie were emphasized.

Pivotal Quotes: "Google is here to help you." — Dieter Bohn: Used while discussing Google’s keynote framing and attempt to reposition the company around utility and trust. "Many people have connected devices in their home and they don’t even know it." — The VergeCast hosts quoting Google: Referenced during the Home Hub discussion as an example of Google’s smart-home pitch and its somewhat creepy framing. "The notch on the Pixel 3 XL looks like you’re looking at your phone, and then Gonzo came and he wants to talk to you real bad." — Dieter Bohn: A vivid complaint about the oversized Pixel 3 XL notch and how unnatural it looks in person.

Implications: Google is betting that useful software can outweigh privacy distrust and hardware price pressure. If its camera AI and ambient-computing products deliver, Google could strengthen its hardware ecosystem; if not, the notch, pricing, and trust issues may limit adoption.