As per recent developments, Google legal and security teams, and Foxconn’s team are both investigating the matter
As the tradition goes like, Google is expected to launch this year’s Pixel phones aka the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL in October. The exact launch date of the phones, however, is yet to be revealed by the company. With around two months left for the launch, several rumours, leaks and hands-on videos of the high-end Pixel 3 XL have already flooded the internet, and surprisingly, most of these leaks come from one single source, who has got of some of the units of the phone and is posting pictures of it online.
Apparently, this is a Ukrainian black market dealer who has managed to get hold of some the pre-production units of the Pixel 3 XL and is selling them for a stupendous price tag of $2,000 — which roughly translates to Rs 1,40,331.
There’s, as of now, no report on how and from whom did the dealer got these 3XL units. But, as per recent developments, Google legal and security teams, and Foxconn’s team are both investigating the matter and are involved in internal discussions about the leaks.
The Ukrainian dealer — who goes by the name Luchkov — is said to be associated with a blog called the Wylsacom Media, as mentioned in its Telegram account. Wylsacom is the same source that leaked the hands-on video of the Pixel 3 XL and also the live images showing the phone in all its glory, on Thursday. Reportedly, the dealer, through its Telegram account is soliciting buyers to get the unannounced Google Pixel 3 XL for $2,000.
The dealer — as reported by 9to5 Mac — has a bunch of near-production units of the Google Pixel 3 XL. If you’ve been following our reports on the leak of the Pixel 3 XL, in the latest one we had written about the leak of high-res images of the phone. The pictures have been leaked by this black market dealer itself. Not only that, the dealer also posted a hands-on video of the Pixel 3 XL charging, revealing that the phone will come with wireless charging support.
It all started a month ago when the same Ukrainian dealer posted not just the pictures of the phone but also its retail box. The leaked retail box revealed a very crucial information regarding the upcoming Pixel phone. It showed the Pixel 3 XL come packed with headphones, which looks a lot like the Google Pixel Buds with wires.
As reported by 9to5 Mac, the dealer is asking $2,000 for a Pixel 3 XL unit. The dealer is asking the consumers to transfer the money either via PayPal or Bitcoin. The dealer has also shared shipping details, where it’s mentioned that the dispatch will be made from London via DHL or FedEx. Alongside offering the unannounced Pixel 3 XL, the dealer claims to offer “Google Pixel 2 XL at a good price”.
As of now, there are no concrete details on how many Pixel 3 XL units have this dealer managed to obtained and sell. There’s also no information on where did this dealer get these units from. But, what 9to6 Mac has confirmed is that the seller has “indeed successfully selling many pre-production Google Pixel 3 XL units on the black market.”
