There isn’t much we haven’t seen of the upcoming Pixel 3 XL at this point.
We’ve already have what seems to be an unboxing here.
Assuming the spate of videos are legit, here’s a breakdown of the current Pixel 2 XL vs. the soon-to-be-released Pixel 3 XL.
Front — camera notch vs. bezels:
- Pixel 3 XL*: the top notch — narrower but taller than the iPhone X’s notch — houses two camera lenses and possibly one of the speakers. The dual cameras are for better selfies and they also bring an improved portrait mode. Bloomberg was one of the first to report on the dual-lens front shooter.
- Pixel 2 XL: no notch, has slim bezels at top and bottom. The top bezel holds the camera and sensors and one of the speakers while the bottom bezel holds the other speaker.
- Cutout critics: Some have called the notch “lazy and stupid” and others, based on leaked photos, say the front of the 3 XL has a “ comically gigantic notch and chin” (Though it’s actually not that bad per this video.)
Display — size TBD:
- Pixel 3 XL: responding to my query on Friday, I was told by Russia-based Rozetked that 3 XL’s display is about 6.2 inches. It’s worth noting that a humongous display is not depicted in the images on mobile-review.com, which compares it with the Huawei P20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9. The monster display rumor cycle** began when a Ukrainian YouTuber who posted a video (courtesy of Android Police) running the Antutu app showing a 6.7-inch display.
- Pixel 2 XL: 6-inch display. I’ve been using the Pixel 2 XL for the last 8 months and its 6-incher makes for a big phone. A 6.2 inch display seems like a reasonable bump-up and is closer match to recent videos and images.
Wireless charging:
- Pixel 3 XL: on board
- Pixel 2 XL: N/A
Speakers:
- Pixel 3 XL: at top in notch, bottom on chin.
- Pixel 2 XL: Stereo speakers on top and bottom bezels.
Rear Camera: single lens
- Both the Pixel 3 XL and Pixel 3 will have “upgraded, single-lens cameras on the back,” according to Bloomberg. Apple uses dual cameras but, so far, Google has achieved remarkable image quality using a single lens with software optimizations, as Bloomberg points out. See Pixel 3 XL photo samples here, courtesy of Rozetked.
- Pixel 2 XL: dual-pixel autofocus, 12.2 MP, f/1.8 aperture.
Processor: next-gen Qualcomm
- The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL should get silicon like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor, according to MySmartPrice.
- Pixel 2 XL: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.
Back Button fingerprint ID: not going away
- Pixel 3 XL: back button. Note: the back buttons are not any slower than the Face ID on an iPhone X — even with “Raise to Wake” and “Tap to Wake” enabled on the X.
- Pixel 2 XL: back button.
Fixes: OLED gen 3
- We should see an improved OLED display on the Pixel 3 XL. So it’s reasonable to expect that Google will address the excessive off-angle blue shift (tint) and muted colors that hampered the OLED from LG Display on the Pixel 2 XL. Google has already begun to address this with later builds — at least based on my experience of trading up to a later Pixel 2 XL build.
Price / release date:
- The 64GB Pixel 2 starts at $649 the Pixel 2 XL at $849 (64GB). Don’t expect Google to stray too far from those numbers with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Last year, new Pixels were announced in October.
Pixel Watch to go along with new Pixel phones?
- “Besides the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and second-gen Pixel Buds, a reliable source tells me…that Google’s fall hardware event will also introduce a Pixel-branded watch,” says reputable leaker Evan Blass.
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*Smaller Pixel 3: no notch but smaller bezels than the over-sized ones on the Pixel 2.
**Google could always surprise us with a 6.7-inch monster Pixel. Needless to say, we won’t know until Google announces.
