Google Pixel 3 preview: Everything we know so far
UPDATE: Purported leaked prototypes show a serious notch
THE NEXT GENERATION
Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL built upon the solid foundation of their predecessors, with the Pixel 2 XL being particularly impressive. Will the third time be the charm for Google in delivering the definitive Android experience? Well, rumours are swirling ahead of an expected autumn launch for the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, both of which might come with significant new designs in tow. We’ve already seen a fair number of purported leaks and reports about the phones, and the rumour mill will only churn more and more as the expected release nears. So, what will we see from the Pixel 3 line? Here’s what we’ve heard so far.
WHEN WILL THE PIXEL 3 HIT SHELVES?
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL (shown) were both announced and released in October 2017. Unsurprisingly, Google seems set to stay the course with its release cycle. Bloomberg suggests that the Pixel 3 phones will also debut in October, about a month after Apple’s expected iPhone XI announcement. It’s a window that works for Google, making it typically the last major smartphone announcement before Christmas. FACT OR FICTION? Fact. Google has carved out the post-Apple window as its own. That shouldn’t change.
WHAT WILL THE PIXEL 3 LOOK LIKE?
Android 9.0 P packs in native support for screen notches, sparking speculation that the Pixel 3 would pack a notch. That might be half true. Supposed screen protector leaks in late May suggest that the Pixel 3 XL will pack a notch atop the screen, while the standard Pixel 3 will stick with a full display. Both look to pack taller-than-normal aspect ratios, and the notch shown for the Pixel 3 XL is a little taller than the iPhone X’s, but not nearly as wide. Another purported leaked prototype of the Pixel 3 XL, posted on the XDA Forums in early June and shared by Android Police, matches the screen protector from the front, while the back looks nearly identical to the Pixel 2 XL, albeit with an added sensor between the camera and flash module. Android Police suggests that the “crosshatch” bootloader name matches up with existing information. Incredible leak or just an impressive fake-out based on the earlier leaks? You decide, but it does seem like details are starting to pile up.
WHAT ABOUT THE SCREEN?
If the leaked screen protectors are legitimate, we ought to see taller screens on both of these handsets. That might be something like 18:9 on the Pixel 3, and maybe 19:9 on the Pixel 3 XL. We saw a 6in Quad HD OLED display on the Pixel 2 XL and a 5in 1080p LCD on the Pixel 2, and leaker Ice Universe suggests that Google will use LG-made OLED panels for the Pixel 3 XL. No word yet on the standard Pixel 3, but another LCD seems possible.
HOW MUCH POWER WILL THE PIXEL 3 PACK?
Google has been rocking the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with each Pixel, using the Snapdragon 835 last year, and that approach should stay the same. Many 2018 flagship phones are turning to the slightly more powerful Snapdragon 845, and we fully expect that to be the case with the Pixel 3 phones as well. A report from WinFuture lines up with that.
WHAT KIND OF CAMERA WILL IT HAVE?
Google famously defied the dual-camera trend with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and ended up packing the most powerful camera on the market in late 2017 and early this year. That’s no longer the case, as the triple-camera Huawei P20 Pro is our new camera champ. What about the Pixel 3, then? Believe it or not, Bloomberg reports that both phones will stick with just the one main camera on the back. Interestingly, though, the Pixel 3 XL is reported to have two front cameras, while the standard Pixel 3 sticks with one. We’re not totally sure what Google is cooking up with that XL move, but we’re certainly intrigued to see what’s planned.
