THE PIXEL 3 is one of the most leaked smartphones in recent history, meaning Google is unlikely to have many surprises in store at it…
THE PIXEL 3 is one of the most leaked smartphones in recent history, meaning Google is unlikely to have many surprises in store at it’s 9 October launch.
Thanks to the alleged availability on the Russian black market, the Pixel 3 – and the bigger Pixel 3 XL – have been detailed in full, with numerous leaks confirming the handset’s hefty notch, Snapdragon 845 and single-lens rear camera.
We’ve rounded up everything we know about the Pixel 3 and 3 XL below. And, er, there’s quite a lot.
Release date Backing up earlier rumours, Google has confirmed that it’ll launch its Pixel 3 devices on 9 October, with events scheduled in both London and New York. It’s not yet known when the handsets will go on sale.
Price We don’t yet know how much the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will fetch at launch, with Google managing to keep that tidbit of information under wraps. If anything like last year’s Pixel 2 and 2 XL, expect pricing to start at £629 and £799 SIM-free, respectively.
Latest news 19/9/18: The Pixel 3 and 3 XL have suffered a huge number of leaks over the past few months, and now they’ve been outed in official-looking renders. Dutch blog Nieuwe Mobile has shared the renders, which shows the Android Pie duo housed in fabric-clad cases, similar to those Google sold alongside the Pixel 2.
The images don’t tell us much we don’t already know about the 5.4in Pixel 3 and 6.7in Pixel 3 XL, beyond confirming the handsets‘ single-lens rear cameras and dual-front facing cameras. The Pixel XL 3’s notch is also correct and present, unfortunately.
17/9/18: Google has confirmed that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will be available in mint, black and white colour options. While the smartphones already look set to have few surprises in store, Google has launched a promo site for the Pixel 3 duo – first spotted by Droid Life – that features the outline of a phone, along with the words „Coming Soon“ and some digital confetti.
Clicking on the Google logo on the phone switches between each colour, all but confirming that three models will be available at launch.
3/9/18: Yet another Pixel 3 XL has been spotted in the wild – this time in the back of a Lyft.
The driver of the cab sent images of the as-yet-unreleased smartphone to Android Police after an idiot passenger left the handset in the back of the vehicle.
„He thought his own Pixel 2 XL had somehow fallen back, but he realized it was the 3 XL after seeing the notch and Google logo on the back,“ the report notes.
„The unit had various identifying stickers, which have been blocked out. Alligator returned the phone to the original owner a few minutes later.
Given the number of leaks the Pixel 3 XL has suffered, these latest images don’t tell us much we don’t already know; there’s a hefty notch, a single-lens rear camera and Google’s usual two-tone design around the back.
30/8/18: Google will reportedly unveil its heavily-leaked Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones at an event on 9 October.
So says Bloomberg, which in a report detailing Apple’s incoming 2018 iPhone lineup, notes that Google’s Pixel 3 smartphones will debut a month later on 9 October – debunking earlier rumours of a 4 October launch.
It’s unlikely Google will have many surprises in store, as a number of leaks – allegedly fuelled by the sale of Pixel 3 XL devices on the Russian black market – has revealed almost all there is to know about the Android Pie flagships.
28/8/18: The Google Pixel 3 XL has been exposed in yet another comprehensive hands-on video.
While the availability of the Pixel 3 XL on the black market means the handset has already been outed in all its glory, a new high-quality unboxing video has given us an even closer look at the Android Pie flagship.
Posted by YouTube In DIGI, the two-and-a-half-minute video ( below) shows off the Pixel 3 XL from all angles, confirming its glass back, notched display, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and single-lens rear camera.
The unboxing also confirms what will come in the box: USB-C Pixel earbuds, a USB-C to headphone socket adaptor, and a USB-C ‚Quick Switch Adaptor‘.
24/8/18: The huge number of leaks surrounding the Pixel 3 XL can allegedly be credited to a Ukranian black market deal, who is flogging the as-yet-unreleased Google flagship for $2,000.
That’s according to 9to5Google, which has verified that the potentially stolen, pre-release handsets can be credited for the huge number of leaks surrounding Google’s incoming Pixel 3 XL.
The seller, which is flogging the devices via Telegram, claims the devices were originally intended to be given to Google engineers and has been telling interested buyers that the devices will be globally shipped from London.
A message sent by the seller, seen by 9to5Google, reads: „Remains only 3 pcs. Google Pixel 3 XL I answer immediately to the most popular questions: • The price is 2000 $ • Payment is possible via PayPal or Bitcoin. The second is preferable because PayPal has a horse commission for international transfers. • Dispatch is made from London via DHL or FedEx. Regarding the purchase, please contact [removed] Also I remind you that there is a large amount of Google Pixel 2 XL at a good price. Please!“
23/8/18: We’re still two months away from the official unveiling of Google’s next Pixel phones, but that hasn’t stopped yet more details about the Pixel 3 XL from surfacing online.
New, high-quality images of the flagship ( above) have been posted by Russian blog Rozetked, which reveals almost everything there is to know about the handset. Not only does the leak confirm the Pixel 3 XL’s notched 2960×1440 display and uniform design, but it also reveals that the flagship will feature a Snapdragon 845 processor, Google’s Android Pie OS and bundled USB-C Pixel Buds.
Alleged camera samples from the Pixel 3 XL have also been posted to Instagram user Khoroshev ’s account, showcasing the performance of the smartphone’s alleged 12MP rear-facing sensor.
And if that wasn’t enough, Khoroshev also posted a video of the Pixel 3 XL’s wireless charging in action, confirming that it’ll be the first Google smartphone to support wire-free charging.
21/8/18: The Pixel 3 XL has been spotted out and about in public and photographed by a MobileSyrup reader.
The spy shots ( below), taken on Canada’s public transportation system, confirm that the Android Pie flagship will sport a deep iPhone X-like which will seemingly house two front-facing cameras. It remains unclear whether these will be used to offer Face ID-style authentication, or simply a souped-up portrait mode with bokeh effect.
An image of the rear of the device doesn’t tell us much but appears to show a single-lens rear camera and a new curved glass back. Google’s two-tone design looks set to remain too, despite earlier rumours pointing to a uniform colour scheme.
13/8/18: A prematurely-posted hands-on video has revealed that Google’s Pixel 3 XL will feature a Note 9 -besting 6.7in screen.
The four-minute video ( below), posted by Ukranian blogger ‚iVenyaWay‘, gives us a glimpse of a powered-on, working Pixel 3 XL for the first time. And despite earlier rumours that the smartphone would pack a modest 6.2in display, it shows us that the handset will pack a Note 9-rivalling 6.7in 2960×1440 OLED screen.
Unlike the Note 9, the Pixel 3 XL will sport a chunky notch to house its dual front-facing cameras and a sizable chin underneath the display. It’ll also feature a 2015-esque single-lens 12.2MP camera on its rear, whereas the Note 9 packs an upgraded 12MP dual camera system.
Elsewhere, this comprehensive leak confirms, if legit, that the Pixel 3 XL will pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 3,430mAh battery and a single USB-C port. It’ll also run Android 9.0 Pie, naturally, and the video shows off Google’s new navigation gestures.
8/8/18: The unveiling of Google’s Pixel 3 lineup is presumably still months away, but that hasn’t stopped images of „finalised“ Pixel 3 XL production hardware showing up online.
The pictures ( below) which come via Russian tech blogger Канал Лучкова’s, confirm much of what we already know, showing the Pixel 3s chunky notch, its single-lens rear camera and its new uniform colour scheme, with Google ridding of its usual two-tone design.
A peek at the handset’s Settings menu confirms that the Pixel 3 XL runs Android 9, naturally and packs an 8-core Qualcomm processor (presumably the Snapdragon 845) paired with a measly 4GB RAM and an Adreno GPU. The image also confirms the handset’s screen resolution of 1440×2960 and pixel density of 494.
Also included in the leak is an image of what looks like bundled USB-C headphones ( above), all-but-confirming earlier rumours that Google is prepping a wired version of its Pixel Bud earphones.
6/8/18: The launch date for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL has leaked, courtesy of, er, Google.
YouTube channel This is Tech Today spotted an advert on Famebit, allegedly made by Google, which seeks, ugh, influencers and content creators to cover the Pixel 3’s upcoming launch. The ad confirms the smartphone’s 4 October launch date – the same date that the Pixel 2 and first-gen Pixel made their debut.
Google’s slip up comes just days after specs for the Pixel 3 XL showed up on Geekbench, confirming that the smartphone will pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 CPU paired with a measly 4GB RAM.
