Arriving in early October, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are among the worst-kept secrets in recent times. Here’s what we know about the new Google phones.
We’re still a month from launch and yet reviews of the Pixel 3 XL are already appearing online, leaving very little to the imagination.
Highlights include the addition of wireless charging and some wired Pixel Bud earphones in the box, but while other smartphone makers are adding multiple cameras to the rear it appears Google is switching things around with just one at the back and two at the front.
We expected Google to announce its new phones on 4 October for the third year running, which the company accidentally more or less confirmed .
However, insiders speaking to Bloomberg instead point to a 9 October release date for the new Google phones. We’ll update you when the exact date is made official.
Google will likely keep its pricing in line with the 2017 models, which currently start at £629 for the Pixel 2 and £699 (reduced from £799) for the XL, direct from Google
According to an early review, the 3 XL should cost around $749 and the 3 around $649.
Nearly all the leaks have been concerned with the larger model of the pair, the 3 XL. This is expected to be the flagship, and as in recent years the standard Pixel will likely be a smaller, cheaper, less well specified phone.
Both phones will run Android Pie out of the box, which focuses on improvements in three main categories – intelligence, simplicity, and digital wellbeing – with the most obvious change in the Pixel 3 likely to be its new single-button navigation system, which you swipe from side to side to see open apps or pull up to view predicted apps.
They may also be supplied with wired versions of the Google Assistant-integrated Pixel Buds headphones, and with HTC’s involvement feature Active Edge gestures and front-facing BoomSound speakers. Neither phone has a 3.5mm audio jack, but a USB-C to 3.5mm adaptor is in the box.
The above image of the Pixel 3 XL leaked via mobile-review.com .
The above image of the Pixel 3 leaked via Reddit .
Read next: Best new phones coming in 2018 and beyond
Follow Marie Black on Twitter.
