What can we expect from the next Pixel phones? The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL aren’t that far off…
For Android fans there’s little as exciting as the launch of a new Pixel with pure, unadulterated, Android software.
The leaks surrounding the Pixel 3 have been prolific, with little left to the imagination about these phones. Google has sent out invitations for the launch event, colours are being teased and there’s not long until launch day.
Here’s everything we know – or think we know – about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Google Pixel 3 release date 9 October launch confirmed Pre-orders will open immediately
Google has officially invited the media to a 9 October event in New York City and a livestream relay in London, where we will be in attendance. The invitation spells out “I <3 NY” and we guess that the “<3” is for Pixel 3.
Google might also unveil other devices during its event. There has been talk of a new Pixelbook as well as the leak of the Google Home Hub, which looks like a rival for the Amazon Echo Show.
The previous Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were announced on 4 October 2017, with pre-orders starting immediately afterwards. Google has confirmed via an email to customers that preorders will again start immediately after the 9 October event, and while it didn’t specify these pre-orders were for the Pixel 3, it is assumed they will be. @jon_prosser Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL price Pixel 2 was £629 Pixel 2 XL was £799
When Google replaced Nexus with Pixel, it also adopted consumer pricing. As such, we’d expect the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL to be priced as premium products.
There haven’t been any substantial leaks that specifically address pricing, but we’d expect them to be similarly priced when the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are announced.
There has been one leak that has revealed pricing details however. A promotional flyer from UK network EE shows the Pixel 3 available from £58 a month with £10 upfront for the handset. The Pixel 3 XL is £63 a month with £20 upfront, although both are on 20GB data plans. Again, this suggests the prices will be in line with the Pixel 2.
Best Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL deals
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL design Notch design Water resistance probable Black, white and green colours possible
HTC was responsible for the Pixel and Pixel 2, while LG designed the larger Pixel XL devices in the past. Subsequently, Google acquired a lot of HTC’s smartphone talent, suggesting that more will be done in house. The $1.1 billion deal that concluded in January 2018 means Google now has the team to design its own Pixel smartphones, but it’s believed that Foxconn will be manufacturing them.
Based on a number of leaks of devices in the wild, prototypes, and what are reported to be press renders, it appears that the new Pixel 3 phones won’t change significantly in design to the previous models. They maintain a fairly consistent visual identity. 1/6 WinFuture
The Pixel 3 now looks like a smaller version of the old Pixel 2 XL, curving the corners of the display as the 2017 Pixel 2 XL did. It appears Google is sticking to a similar design as the Pixel 2, with that rear divided in texture, made up of a top section that’s glossy and a bottom that’s matte. It’s been reported that the Pixel 3’s rear will be all glass however, rather than being metal and glass as it was on the Pixel 2.
Turning to images of the Pixel 3 XL we have a notched design, making quite a difference to the front of the phone. There’s still a fairly wide bezel to the bottom of the phone and we have to wonder why this isn’t being designed out for a more contemporary look. 1/6 WinFuture
When it comes to colours, there’s been a suggestion that it’s going to be available in black, white or green – something hinted at by Google’s own website – but the lack of green leaks makes us think that’s only going to for the button highlight, which you can see in a number of leaked images. That said, the email sent by Google does show a “3” GIF that changes between white, black and the mint colour so you never know.
There has also been the suggestion that there will be a pink/Sand version of the phone, and a full hands-on leak .
There is a lot of suspicion surrounding the volume of leaks for the Pixel 3 models. There was a spate of “leaks” including being left in the back of a Lyft cab as well as appearing in a full hands-on. Interestingly, one of the hands-on shots shows the box content, including a sticker with an email address on it where Google is spelled wrong – googel.com. Could all these leaks be a hoax to distract us from the real phones? rozetked Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL display Pixel 3 XL: 6.3-inch, 2960 x 1440,18.5:9 aspect, notch Pixel 3: 5.5-inch, 2160 x 1080,18:9 aspect, no notch OLED displays likely
One of the first details to emerge about the Pixel 3 display comes from a reliable source. Shared via Twitter, Ben Geskin compared the new Pixel 3 with the Pixel 3 XL, showing off a notched display.
This is Google #Pixel3 and #Pixel3XL pic.twitter.com/jd2nBiRb27
— Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) May 28,2018
Geskin has a good track record with leaks, but it’s also backed up with other leaks, presumably from somewhere in the hardware supply chain and the large number of handset leaks we’ve now seen. We already know that Android is accommodating notched displays in Android Pie.
In terms of sizes, it’s claimed that the Pixel 3 XL would offer a Quad HD+ resolution at 2960 x 1440 and a pixel density is 494ppi. There does now seem a problem with this leak as images from other leaks show the display to be 6.3-inches as reported by the box it comes in. That would put the pixel density at 522ppi. The aspect comes out at 18.5:9 based on those figures.
The Pixel 3 will come with a 5.5-inch display, offering 2160 x 1080 pixels, which results in an 18:9 display, with 439ppi. The smaller Pixel handset gets no notch.
Both are reported to be OLED – with the unwire.hk leak saying that the display is pOLED, so it’s likely to be from LG Display rather than Samsung. Let’s hope the colour tuning is better received than it was on the Pixel 2 XL. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hardware Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 likely Increase in RAM and storage possible No headphone jack
The Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL all featured the latest respective Qualcomm platform at the time of their launch so we’d expect Google to put the Snapdragon 845 platform in the new Pixel 3.
This leak shows a picture of what it claims is the Pixel 3 XL’s screen showing a Qualcomm processor, coupled with Adreno 630 graphics and 4GB RAM. There is no mention of battery capacity or storage though. The Unwire.hk leaks reveals a 64 and 128GB handset options will be available. MySmartPrice
The leak of the Pixel Stand is confirmation that wireless charging is going to be included and the battery in the Pixel 3 XL is reported to be 3430mAh, which is pretty big – but far from the most capacious battery out there. The Pixel 3 battery is reported to be 2915mAh, a small increase from the 2017 models.
The 3.5mm headphone jack was ditched for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL it isn’t making comeback for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, with USB Type-C being the go-to port for all charging and audio needs.
