Google on Monday rolled out the final update for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The update, which was announced back in November, carries the latest February security patch and officially retires the devices from any further software support.

Both models had hit their official EOL back in October 2021 but Google was kind enough to provide an additional patch just as it did with the Pixel 2 series.

The update is actually the second after the Pixel 3 series’ hit the end of its guaranteed update period, with the first being a patch for the crucial Microsoft Teams emergency calling issue.

Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that the OTA is indeed the final release. The update is labeled “Feb 2022” and comes in two variants, with Australian carriers Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone getting their own version.

• Pixel 3 XL: Android 12 — SP1A.210812.016.B1 (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone AU), SP1A.210812.016.C1
• Pixel 3: Android 12 — SP1A.210812.016.B1 (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone AU), SP1A.210812.016.C1

The Google Pixel 3 XL was Google’s first attempt at an all-display front, although the result was a controversial notch paired with a huge chin. Design blunders aside, the flagship phone continued to impress with its camera capabilities and well-optimized, simplistic software.

The Google Pixel 3, on the other hand, went for a more traditional design and offered specs near-identical to its XL sibling save for the smaller battery and display with a lower pixel count.

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Google has recently released the January update for multiple Pixel devices which surprisingly includes the Pixel 3 and 3XL. However, the update is still on hold for Pixel 6 series devices which will receive multiple bug fixes later in January. So, let’s take a look at what the new update carries.

According to an official post made on Google’s support forums, The update is rolling out this week with build number SP1A.210812.016.A2. The update brings the January security patch and a whole host of bug fixes. The most notable fix mentioned in the changelog is that Google is finally getting rid of the bug that prevents users from making emergency calls when certain third-party apps are installed on their pixel devices.

One of these culprits is the Microsoft Teams app, for which the company recently has released a patch. However, Google is making changes on a firmware level to prevent this issue from happening again in the future.

Pixel 3a to Pixel 6 series devices also receive a bug fix that was causing an issue where phones would unlock by themselves after a missed call. Other than that, a whole host of fixes and changes have been made all across the board for multiple devices, which you can check by reading the complete changelog.

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Widevine issues are something that every Android OEM appears to be dealing with lately with a few of their devices, and Google is no exception. Multiple Pixel users had earlier complained about being unable to stream content from Netflix in a resolution higher than 540p, which is definitely not ideal for today’s 1080p and even 2K smartphone displays. It seemed that pretty much every device from Pixel 3 and up was affected.

Google in April this year then acknowledged the problem, promising it was working on a fix. However, fast forward eight months later to today and there’s still no sign of a fix. And new complaints keep piling up.

For the uninitiated, problems with video quality on streaming apps like Netflix emerge due to Widevine issues. OEMs typically get their devices L1 certified which allows playing content at 1080p. The Pixel phones were not excluded from this treatment, but for some reason, the Widevine certification dropped to L3 for some users. L3 means that Netflix can play in quality no further than 540p.

Multiple complaints have resultantly popped up and one Redditor has even compiled a list of complaints across the internet (via XDA Developers). While the list obviously contains reports dating back to early 2021, there are also some from as recent as 21 days ago, proving that the problem never really disappeared.

Eight months sure is quite a long time for fixing a bug like this, which makes us wonder if Google has quietly swept the entire thing under the rug. The Google Pixel 3 is also nearing its EOL with software updates – all the more reason to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Anyhow, for now, we recommend those Google Pixel owners affected by the Widevine issue to take the matter up to the official Pixel Phone forums or Twitter to remind Google about it, just in case they’ve forgotten.

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An odd incident recently occurred where a Google Pixel 3 user was unable to call 911 during an emergency. Now, the results of the official investigation from the company has revealed some interesting reasons as to why this happened.

Back in November 2021, Reddit user u/KitchenPicture5849 (Via AndroidPolice) shared his unfortunate experience on the social media platform. The user had placed an emergency 911 call for an ambulance, but only after the phone ringing once, the Pixel 3 froze completely. This further hampered any further attempts from the user to communicate with the person who was on the other side of the call. While the device had managed to reveal the location to the emergency services on the call, the user was unable to share crucial details like his address, apartment number, or even the condition of the person that required medical assistance.

The Pixel 3 was basically stuck on the app screen. Fortunately, the Reddit users managed to reach emergency services through the landline. But considering the gravity of the situation, this could’ve been a fatal experience for those that only use smartphones. When sharing his experience on Reddit, the user also recreated the bug and found that his Verizon logs showed no record of a call being placed to 911. This prompted Google to start its own investigation into the issue that is thankfully not widespread at the moment.

So what caused this issue? A Pixel Community account revealed that the bug was spotted on devices where the users had installed Microsoft Teams but hadn’t logged in with any account. It added that an “unintended interaction” between the app and Android prevented emergency calls from being made. So now, both Google and Microsoft are promptly working on a fix as of right now.

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Google is known to provide the highest number of Android version upgrades for its Pixel phones along with offering the most extended security update support. But all good things come to an end and the Google Pixel 3 series is no exception. The lineup is now officially considered end-of-life and will not be receiving any Android or security updates.

As such, last month’s October security patch was its very last. The Pixel 3XL and Pixel 3 currently run Android 12 – also the final major update. The series was not included in this month’s security bulletin either.

The Google Pixel 3 series made its debut back in October 2018 and booted into Android 9.0 Pie for the first time. It has now lived through 4 Android versions, having bagged 3 Android upgrades.

The EOL could spark concern in users waiting on a definitive fix for the EDL mode issue. For the uninitiated, it is a problem that many have become all too familiar with and has caused multiple Pixel 3 units to suddenly stop working and become completely unresponsive, irreversibly. Affected phones stop booting into Android and instead display Qualcomm’s “Emergency Download (EDL) mode.”

Hopefully, the EOL will not also mean the end of support with issues like these.

Google had recently announced five entire years of timely monthly security patches for its freshly-launched Pixel 6 series. Some had hoped that the Pixel 3 series would get similar extended support but that sadly hasn’t been the case.

The Google Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p P-OLED HDR display and is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor. It sports a single 12.2MP rear camera and two 8MP shooters upfront. The XL model comes with the same camera setup but featured a larger 6.3-inch notched display with a denser 1440p resolution. Both devices hold up fairly well even today, although the notch and bezels and may be considered a deal-breaker by many.

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Reports of Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices dying early deaths have been circulating for around a year. However, Google now appears to actually be doing something about it, as per multiple reports on Reddit.

Google’s ‘Advanced Hardware Support Team’ has likely been contacting some users (via: PiunikaWeb) that had earlier fruitlessly complained about their Google Pixel 3 series device getting bricked because of getting locked into EDL mode, saying that they are offering a replacement.

“A few days ago I received an email from the Advanced Hardware Support Team saying they wanted to offer me a replacement because they were needing to look at some of these devices. I quickly shipped out my bricked 3XL and they’re supposed to be sending me a replacement device, unsure what model it will be yet,” says one user.

The move is surprising considering Google Support was previously unhelpful for such cases due to expired warranties on most affected devices. It is unclear at the moment as to what model is being offered as a replacement, although most believe that it will be a refurbished Pixel 3 or 3 XL, judging from support’s usual behavior.

The reports from users being offered replacements are few at the moment, but we should hopefully be seeing more of it happening. After all, the problem seems to be occurring randomly, likely due to some hardware fault, with the users having nothing to do with it.

For the uninitiated, the Google Pixel 3 series EDL bricking issue is a fairly widespread one with reports about it still piling up on Google’s Issue Tracker, support forums, and Reddit for a year or so. All the affected say the same thing – their Pixel 3/3 XL shut down one fine day for no good reason and failed to ever power on again. Attempting to boot up the device results in it going into the Qualcomm recovery mode called ‘Emergency Download (EDL).’ The usual tricks to flash a fresh Android ROM are unhelpful because the bricked device stays put in the EDL mode and refuses to go into the regular fastboot mode.

Google had recently confirmed that it indeed is aware of the problem but said that it had “nothing to add” at the time. However, the California-based company now seems compelled to do something about the issue, probably because mishandling of the Pixel 3 series fiasco can translate to bad publicity, which can potentially impact Pixel 6 sales. Although, we hope that it is nothing but good intentions.

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Google has unveiled the Pixel 6 series flagship smartphones and is expected to officially launch the lineup next month. Ahead of the latest Pixel series phones are available for purchase, the older Pixel 3 and 3 XL users are facing major issues with their unit.

As per the latest report coming from Ars Technica, users of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are complaining about their phones suddenly stop working and become completely unresponsive. It adds that the phones can’t boot into Android and only shows Qualcomm recovery mode called “Emergency Download (EDL) mode.”

The usual method for flashing a new version of Android on the device isn’t working given that users cannot get out of the Emergency Download (EDL) mode and into the normal bootloader to use tools like fastboot or Google’s slick.

It is speculated that the problem is not released to a software update rolled out by the company but is likely related to hardware because of a lack of recoverability options. Also, the fact that users have been reporting this issue over the course of several months, indicating an end of life for a batch of hardware components.

Folks at TrustedReviews reached out to Google and the tech giant’s spokesperson confirmed that the company is aware of the problem, but had nothing else to say related to this matter. We expect more information from the company in the coming days.

Google Pixel 3 series was released at the end of 2018 and was available for purchase for about 18 months and comes with a two-year warranty. For the Pixel 4 XL, the company extended the warranty to three years because of some hardware issues. So, Google could do the same and extend the warranty for Pixel 3 series owners.

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Recently, the Google Camera app, which is an exclusive app for the company’s Pixel series of smartphones, has been suffering from negative reviews and feedback. But it seems that the issue might not be with the software but rather failure in camera components of the Pixel devices.

AndroidPolice reported on the matter after the search engine giant recently stated that there aren’t any major software related issues in the application. This implies that the users that are facing the camera issues might be suffering from a defect in the hardware on their Pixel smartphones. For those unaware, the number of reports regarding issues with Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 series cameras have been on the rise and the nature of these problems do not point at a software related bug or glitch.

Certain users are having troubles with their device’s rear facing camera, which reportedly stop functioning at times, crash, display just a black screen, or even display an error message to the users. These issues might occur on a regular basis or may even appear on random occasions and has even affected both the first party Google camera app and third party apps as well, like Snapchat or Duo, when these apps try to switch to the rear cameras.

At the moment, wiping app data, factory resets, and even rolling back system software has proven to be ineffective in fixing the issue. Various customers had initially believed that a software change had triggered the problem, but the inconsistencies in these cases and timings indicate otherwise. Meaning, it is likely that the issue is related to the internal components of the Pixel smartphones. Although, we have no way of confirming this right, so take this report with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more updates.

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A growing number of Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 3 users have recently been complaining about their devices. Reports of users facing battery issues have been prominent, with people having their handset’s battery swell up.

According to a PhoneArena report, the number of posts regarding the bloated batteries has been growing in number since back in May. Images show that the swelling is so severe in certain cases, that it pushed against the rear panel, lifting it out of its housing. These posts have been flooding in the Google Support Forum and on Reddit. Certain users even reported on the problem after noticing that they weren’t able to charge their devices wirelessly anymore.

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According to one Reddit post, a user had arranged for a replacement Pixel 4 XL from Verizon. However, the company didn’t have the model in stock and were sending him a Samsung Galaxy S10+ instead. This led to the speculation that the battery swelling issue is the reason behind the early discontinuation of the Pixel 4 series. Although, this is just an unconfirmed rumor, so take it with a pinch of salt.

So for those facing a similar issue, it is advised that you seek a device replacement. However, if your Pixel 4 or Pixel 3 is out of warranty, Google is still providing replacements, albeit with refurbished models. Keep in mind, Google will not be offering another smartphone if your replacement also faces the same issue after a year or two. Notably, the issue is known to affect the Pixel 3 XL and Pixel 4 XL as well.

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Google is set to launch its latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 4 lineup at the “Made By Google” event which is scheduled for the 15th of October. A day before their announcement, tipster Ishan Agarwal has shared a Tweet claiming that the company will discontinue the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL after the launch of its latest high-end devices.

This is the Google Pixel line-up for this year and a comparison image for the same: Pixel 4, 4XL, 3a and 3a XL. Found the same marketing image as well. Looks like Pixel 3 will be discontinued after all. #Pixel4 #madebygoogle pic.twitter.com/XJDDCbkCFa

— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) October 12, 2019

Noteworthy, this would be the first time that Google adopts this strategy. After the launch of the Pixel 2 in the October of 2017, Google continued selling its predecessor, the original Pixel at a discounted price. A similar policy was adopted last year when Google Pixel 3 was launched, as the company continued selling the Pixel 2 at a lowered price to entice customers looking for an economical handset.

In 2018, Google has launched two affordable siblings of the Pixel 3, dubbed the Pixel 3a and the Pixel 3a XL, they naturally have watered down specs in comparison original handset. Nonetheless, they retain the same camera sensors and exceptional photography performance that Pixel 3 is known for.

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Therefore, Google no longer needs to sell the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at a lowered price after the launch the of Pixel 4 lineup as it isn’t a very profitable scheme for the company. Moreover, due to poor sales of Pixel 3 lineup, the company has already slashed its price permanently by $ 300. Consequently, the difference between the price of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a lineup is just $ 100. Henceforth, it won’t make much sense to reduce their price any further.

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Google is preparing to launch new mid-range smartphones – Pixel 3a or Pixel 3a XL. Already plenty of rumours and leaks have revealed a lot about both the devices. Recently, Google Senior Vice President of Android, Hiroshi Lockheimer showed off a few photos from an “unreleased phone” on Twitter.

He claims to have used the phone to snap some pictures of Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard office from the 60s. Further, it’s being speculated that the “unreleased phone” would be the upcoming mid-ranger Pixel 3a. However, he didn’t share the photos due to obvious reasons.

I got to see Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard's office from the 60s yesterday, it was super cool! But…

I took pictures with an unreleased phone so I probably shouldn't share them here.

The offices looked like this https://t.co/fPE7um3gyv

— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) March 30, 2019

We expect the company to launch new smartphones at the upcoming Google IO 2019 conference scheduled from May 7 to May 9 in Mountain View, California.

An affordable version of the Pixel 3 series – Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will launch without any notch. Unlike the metal and glass material on Pixel 3 models, the Pixel 3a series is said to debut with polycarbonate plastic. Moreover, a lower-quality display and a slower processor will find its way on the Pixel 3a series.

Further, it is speculated to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chipset coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Whereas its elder sibling Pixel 3a XL is rumored to debut with Snapdragon 710 processor. There will be a 5.6 inch OLED display with full HD+ resolution on Pixel 3a, while the Pixel 3a XL will feature a 6-inch display with the resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels. Both the devices will sport a single 12-megapixel sensor on the rear side and an 8 MP camera on the front side.

• Read More: New Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL details: Storage, Colors and Price

The new devices won’t be dust or water-resistant but allege to include a 3.5 mm headset jack. The Pixel 3a could be sold for $450 whereas the Pixel 3a XL may be priced at $550.

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Honor V20 is going to debut in the European market with the moniker Honor View 20 and it is ready to conquer the segment of affordable flagships in the Old Continent. But the phone will have a lot of competition, so it is all but obvious that it will have the biggest success in Europe. Two of its most important competitors are surely the Oppo Find X which is the first Oppo device to come in the European market and the new Google Pixel 3 which is one of the most compact flagships in the market. Here is a specs comparison.

Honor View 20 vs Oppo Find X vs Google Pixel 3

Design

If you need the phone with the most impressive look, you should go either for the Honor View 20 or the Oppo Find X. The first is one of the few devices with a hole in-display for the front camera, placed there to minimize the bezels. It also has a stunning glass back with suggestive light effects on it. Oppo Find X is the first phone with a motorized slider design consisting of a slider that houses all the cameras. It comes with an incredibly high screen-to-body ratio, no notch, and no holes. Google Pixel 3 has not a very attractive look, but it is the most compact device.

Display

In terms of viewing quality, Google Pixel 3 has the best display, even though it is the smallest one with just 5.5 inches (18:9 aspect ratio). It features a better color reproduction thanks to 100% DCI-P3 coverage and the HDR10 technology, and it also has a higher pixel density. Last but not least, it has stereo speakers on the front, enhancing the multimedia experience. The second place goes to Oppo Find X with its wide AMOLED display. Honor View 20 has just a midrange IPS panel, so it takes the last place.

Hardware/Software

The hardware side of the Honor View 20 is the most powerful thanks to the Kirin 980 chipset delivering blazing speeds and a huge smoothness. The phone is equipped with up to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage and it runs a custom UI. But Google Pixel 3 has another important advantage, even though it has lower-end hardware: it comes with a stock Android experience and faster updates. The Pixel line-up usually gets updated before every other phone.

Camera

Even though it has just a single sensor on the back, Google Pixel 3 is able to deliver the highest photo quality. It has incredibly good autofocus as well as a perfect optical stabilization, and it is even able to provide a great bokeh effect, despite not having a secondary depth sensor. The front camera is very interesting as well thanks to the double sensor which includes an ultra wide angle lens. Excluding the Google Pixel 3, I would choose the Honor View 20 because of its stunning 48 MP sensor on the back, which maximizes the detail and delivers a low level of noise in low light conditions.

Battery

Honor View 20 has a battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh, a rare thing for flagships. It can provide up to two days of battery life with moderate use and it wins the battery comparison. Oppo Find X has a slightly smaller battery, but it has the fastest charging technology, while Google Pixel 3 cannot compete with its opponents because its capacity is just at an average level.

Price

Google Pixel 3 is my favorite phone from this trio because it has important added values such as a better camera, water resistance, faster updates and stereo speakers, but Honor View 20 has a definitely higher value for money because it costs just €600/$682 while Google Pixel 3 costs about €850/$966. Oppo Find X has more or less the same price as the View 20 thanks to online street prices.

• Read More: The Huawei Honor V20 Goes Up For Pre-Order On Giztop!

Honor View 20 vs Oppo Find X vs Google Pixel 3: PRO and CONS

Google Pixel 3

PROS

• Compact
• Excellent display
• Always up to date
• Stereo speakers
• Excellent cameras

CONS

• Lower-end hardware

Huawei Honor View 20

PROS

• Unique design
• Good cameras
• Great hardware
• Bigger battery

CONS

• Worse display

Oppo Find X

PROS

• Slider design
• Big battery
• Good display
• Great selfie camera

CONS

• Average rear cameras

The post Honor View 20 vs Oppo Find X vs Google Pixel 3: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

With people always searching for phablets and big-sized displays, compact phones became extremely hard to find, especially when it comes to flagships. Almost every actual flagship has a display above 5.5 inches. The most powerful exceptions in the actual market are Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, Google Pixel 3, and the new Sharp Aquos R2 Compact. This is a comparison which will help you discover who is the best.

Sharp Aquos R2 Compact vs Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs Google Pixel 3

Design

In order to offer these devices at a more affordable price compared with normal flagships, Sony and Sharp decided to cut costs for the design releasing their compact flagships with a plastic back. Given that Google Pixel 3 is the only one with a glass back and it is also waterproof with the IP68 certification, it wins the design comparison. But note that Google Pixel 3 is less compact than its opponents.

Display

All of these handsets are equipped with amazing displays, even though they do not have the highest resolutions. You will get a great color reproduction in each case as all of them are HDR10-compliant, but the one that we prefer is the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact because it also supports a 120 Hz refresh rate. But someone may like Google Pixel 3 more due to its bigger display size and the P-OLED technology.

Specs & Software

These devices all come with the most powerful Qualcomm’s processor of this year: the Snapdragon 845. So you will always get awesome performances in every scenario, gaming included. But Google Pixel 3 is treated with faster updates and it comes with Android 9 Pie out of the box, and these are important added values. On the other hand, Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact gets updated fastly as well: indeed, you can already get Android Pie on it. Sharp Aquos R2 Compact has just been announced, so Android 9 Pie is already installed here too.

Camera

I prefer Google Pixel 3 even when it comes to cameras. It has an amazing rear sensor with a 12.2 MP resolution, a bright f/1.8 aperture, and OIS. Its autofocus is very accurate and the color reproduction as well. And this device even offers a dual front camera which captures a lot of light and includes an ultrawide secondary sensor.

Battery

With a bigger battery and a very optimized energy consumption, Google Pixel 3 probably provides a longer battery life than both its opponents. We do not believe that Sharp Aquos R2 Compact will be at its level, while Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is not a surprising device when it comes to battery life, even though it is more than sufficient.

Price

The listing price of Sharp Aquos R2 Compact is not known yet, and its availability will be probably limited to Japan, at least for the initial period. So, unless you are from Japan, it will be hard for you to get it. Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact can be easily purchased at a price under €500, while Google Pixel 3 carries a price tag of €860. If we base on the price, it is actually a wiser choice to grab a unit Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact. And we believe that Sharp Aquos R2 Compact will carry a good price tag as well. But overall, Google Pixel 3 is the best phone of this trio with its better design, faster updates, a better camera department and even a bigger battery.

• Read More: Sharp Aquos R2 Compact is official with dual notches and Snapdragon 845

Sharp Aquos R2 Compact vs Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs Google Pixel 3: PROs and CONS

Sharp Aquos R2 Compact

PROs

• Great display
• Amazing hardware
• Original aesthetics
• Android Pie

CONS

• Plastic back

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

PROs

• Flagship hardware
• Good display
• Affordable price
• Stereo speakers

CONS

• Plastick back

Google Pixel 3

PROs

• Great hardware
• Always updated
• Stereo speakers
• Great cameras
• Good display
• Great design and build

CONS

• Higher price
• Less compact

The post Sharp Aquos R2 Compact vs Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs Google Pixel 3: Compact Phone Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google recently launched its third-generation of Pixel series smartphones — Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Unlike the previous generation models, the new-generation phones come with the back panel made up of glass.

With the introduction of the glass back panel, the company was able to introduce support for wireless charging. However, what concerns the most people related to the glass panel is the durability.

Thanks to Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything YouTube channel, we now know what happens when the Pixel 3-series phone goes through a round of torture tests. From the video, we can see that the device stands up to almost everything what was thrown at it, thanks to the Gorilla Glass 5.

While the glass is durable, the device easily left permanent damage and markings on the frosted/matte glass portion of the Pixel 3 XL phone. Rubbing materials like coins on the back of the phone leaves marks that could be rubbed off, but keys and other such sharp or semi-sharp objects left deep gouges that are permanent.

The phone’s aluminium edges are covered in a plastic-like coating and could easily be scrapped away by applying some force. But, it seems that the fingerprint sensor’s functionality does not get affected even with a few scratches on it.

As for the burn test, the screen of the Pixel 3 XL withstood an open flame for about 30 seconds before the pixels became completely dead, which recovered soon after. It appears that the phone had no flex-related issues and also passed the bend test, without any cracks.

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So, if you’re someone who likes to keep their devices looking as good as they did on the first day of purchase, you should consider using a phone case or a skin on the phone.

(Source)

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Google recently launched its new generation of Pixel smartphones — Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Yesterday, it was revealed that the Pixel 3 XL comes with a display panel from Samsung.

Given that both the devices are almost same, it seemed that the Google could have used the same panel for the non-XL model as well. However, that is not the case. A teardown of the Pixel 3 reveals that it comes with an OLED display panel from LG.

This is the same panel that was used in last year’s Pixel 2 XL. For those who are unaware, the Pixel 2 XL was widely criticized because of the issues pertaining to temporary image retention, smearing of black colors at low brightnesses, and graininess.

The year’s display panel of Pixel smartphones is completely opposite than the last year’s. Last year’s Pixel 2 used a display panel from Samsung while the Pixel 2 XL featured a display panel from LG’s display division. Samsung’s experience with notched display could be the reason for this flip.

Last year, it was reported that Google is planning to invest around $880 million in South Korea-based LG Display as it plans to secure a stable supply of flexible OLED panels for the Pixel 3-series smartphones. The investment from Google was reported to help the facility of LG boost display production.

Many reviewers have suggested that the 5.5-inch 18:9 display panel of the Pixel 3 is almost same as the 6.3-inch 18.5:9 display of Pixel 3 XL. Google notes identical 100,000:1 super contrast ratio, full 24-bits depth, and true black levels on the specifications page for each phone.

As far the phone’s specs are concerned, the Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5-inch 18:9 display with 2160 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. The front and rear of the phone is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5.

There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood, but it’s under-clocked at 2.5GHz which the company justifies as a step to save battery power. It also comes with a dedicated security chip – the Titan M, which keeps the OS and your passwords secure.

It packs 4GB of RAM and comes in two storage options — 64GB and 128GB and as usual, it lacks support for storage expansion. It has IP68 ratings, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a USB Type-C port for charging.

The phone still comes with a single rear camera of 12.2-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture and a 1.4um pixel size. On the front side, there’s a dual 8-megapixel sensors — one with 97-degree wide-angle lens and another is a standard sensor with f/1.8 aperture. The camera comes with bunch of features, including Top Shot and Super Res Zoom.

Read More: Google registers a new type of independent Stylus patent for cross platform data portability

It runs Android 9.0 Pie operating system out-of-the-box and is powered by a 2,915mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. The 64GB model is priced at $799 while the 128GB storage model costs $800.

(Source)

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Google‘s #madebygoogle event is already upon us as it would commence on Tuesday (October 9) at 11 am ET (8 am PT, 15:00 GMT). The main highlight of the event will no doubt be the unveiling of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Before now, the renders of the models have made several appearances, some coming officially from Google. The notch on the display is the biggest feature of the model as it differentiates its design entirely from that of its predecessor.

Apart from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, Google is rumoured to have got a Pixel Ultra in the works. The device is said to feature a large, notch-less and edge-to-edge display. There is also talks of a Pixel Mini with a smaller size. The device was reportedly spotted on GFXBench recently, code-named Bonito. Other smart home products will also likely be unveiled.

Read Also: Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL official pictures and key details leaked

In case you are interested to watch the event live, there are several channels to follow the live stream.  The event will be streamed live from New York on the Made by Google Instagram page (@madebygoogle). The Livestream can also be viewed on the Made by Google YouTube channel. Once again, the event kicks off at 11 am ET (8 am ET, 15:00 GMT) on Tuesday (October 9).

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Google is just few days away from launching the third generation of Pixel series. The Pixel 3 series has created a record of leaking the most in tech history even before the launch. Already, Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL has leaked in three different colors such as Black, White and Mint. Today, a fourth Pixel 3 color variant has been spotted in the source code of the Google Japan’s Pixel launching teaser page.

After taking so many rounds on the internet, it is revealed that Google Pixel 3 is coming in the Pinkish Beige color. Few days ago, company posted a teaser on the website and digging deeper the same page, it is reflected that Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will feature a fourth color option. Twitter user @CasVanDinter revealed the code that suggested the Google Pixel 3 pink color.

Apart from this, if you see the image with a little more focus,there are some additional colors like Blue, Green, Pink and Black. Google has confirmed that they will be hosting an event for the launch of new Pixel 3 series on October 9th in New York.

There's a fourth color in the source code #Pixel3 (@frontpagetech) pic.twitter.com/zutFwTRzKp

— Cas van Dinter (@CasVanDinter) September 16, 2018

Google Pixel 3 Specs

Additionally, Pixel 3 will carry a 18:9 display with the 5.4 inch size having full HD+ resolution. It will come packed with Snapdragon 845 on board with 4 GB RAM. There would be no notch on the Pixel 3 device, but will carry the latest Android 9.0 Pie on the board.

The Pixel XL 3 will feature a 6.71 inch rectangular notch display with the resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels. It will carry 6GB of RAM with 64/128 GB of internal storage. It will also come packed with Android 9.0 Pie on board.

• Read More: Google Pixel 3 XL Black variant unofficially poses for the camera

All above details are rumored, but still we believe these are the specs which will come with the new Pixel 3 series devices. Well, there’s a speculation that it might carry a wireless charging option with two front facing cameras as leaked by GizmoChina few days ago.

It is reported that Google is building a cheaper version of the Pixel device and is due for the launch this year. So, let’s wait and watch what happens on October 9.

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The Google Pixel 2 line-up was announced back in October 2017 in three color variants: Black, White, and Blue. This year, the number of color variants of the new series composed of Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL will be the same. There will be Black and White variants, but the third color will be a more original Mint hue. This is what just appeared on a new “Coming soon” website hosted by the Mountain View giant. If you visit it, you will see the outline of the upcoming handsets with the Google logo.

If you click the logo, you can switch between three color variants. Inside the outline of the phone in the White and Mint color variants, there is another green contour which makes us think White and Mint Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL will have green physical buttons. Instead, the Black variant has a gray line which should stand for gray buttons at the sides. Big G already confirmed that its upcoming flagships will be unveiled on October 9th in an event held in New York, just the day before Razer Phone 2 will be official. From what the latest leaks and even the new website suggest, the backplate will still be composed of two pieces with different colors.

• Read More: The first Google Pixel 3 official teaser hits but theres nothing new

The original Google Pixel 3 is expected to come with an 18:9 display sporting a size of 5.4 inches and a Full HD+ resolution, without notch. On the other hand, the XL variant will have an almost rectangular notch as well as a tri-borderless design and a chin containing a front speaker. Both will sport OLED displays, but Pixel 3 XL will offer a bigger size of 6.71 inches and a Quad HD+ resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels. Each of them will have a dual camera on the front, while only the XL variant will have a dual setup on the back.

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Ahead of the October 9 launch event for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, Google has started releasing teasers of the expected launch. The Pixel 3 and its bigger sibling has been the subject of several leaks. So, you shouldn’t be surprised that Google’s first teaser isn’t very rich in content. Not that we expect the company to release so many details, anyway. 

The Pixel 3 teaser should rank as one of the simplest we have set our eyes on in a long while. It is just a big number “3” alongside a “Get the scoop” sign-up button to get updates of what Google has got in store. If you’ve already signed up for updates from the Google Store like we did last year, you won’t have to sign up again. You’ll only see the message: “Looks like you’ve already enrolled for updates from the Google Store. Be on the lookout for some news from us on Oct. 9“.

Read Also: HD Unboxing Video of Google Pixel 3 XL posted online

The Pixel 3 XL is expected to pack a 6.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels and 494ppi while the Pixel 3 will have a 5.5-inch display. Both models will be powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. At the rear, the models are said to still have a single 12MP sensor while selfies will be taken care of by an 8MP shooter. The Pixel 3 XL will also get its juice from a 3,430mAh battery while the Pixel 3 will have a battery capacity of around 3,000mAh. Apart from the Pixel 3 models, Google is expected to also unveil several products. We’ll have to wait until the launch to get the full details of what Google has in store for us.

(source)

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Google first threw a surprised last week when it announced that its much-anticipated launch event will hold on October 9 in New York instead of the traditional venue which is San Francisco. The company has thrown up yet another surprise by sending out invitations for another launch event holding on the same October 9 but in Paris.

From the look of things, both launch event will run simultaneously in Paris and New York. The New York launch will signify the unveiling of the flagship Pixel 3/3XL and other products for the North America market, On the other hand, the event in Paris means Google is going all out to release the new models in Europe at this same time. This indicates the company is planning to aggressively market the smartphones on the continent.

Read Also: Google Pixelbook 2 appears in multiple leaks to confirm its imminent launch

Apart from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones, Google is also expected to unveil a Google Home hardware as well as Pixelbook 2 with its bezels reduced. The company may also expand the reach of its existing product range in Europe during the Paris launch.

(via)

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Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are expected to be the first smartphones that would run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. The models have already appeared severally in leaks and that isn’t likely to end until Google official lift the veil covering the models on October 9. Before that happens, the Pixel 3 XL live photo has once again appeared online and this time around it is a black coloured variant.

The model was reportedly spotted by an unnamed drive for Lyft, a ridesharing outfit, at the back of his car not long after dropping off some passengers. This is likely a pre-production unit and could be different from the final launch units but with the rate at wish the next-gen Google Pixel models have appeared in leaked photos and videos, we doubt if there is much surprise on the design aspect. The present leaked unit is similar to the ones we have seen in the past but the smartphone appears to have a transparent protective cover on. It retains the wide notch at the top as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The device also comes with a single rear camera which is all but confirmed.

Read Also: Google Pixel 3 XL unboxing video, hands-on images leaked

The Pixel 3 XL is expected to pack a 6.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels and 494ppi while the Pixel 3 will have a 5.5-inch display. Both models will be powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. At the rear, there is a single 12MP sensor while selfies are taken care of by an 8MP shooter. The device will also get its juice from a 3,430mAh battery.

(source)

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Google is expected to unveil its third-gen Pixel series model within the second half of the year. The model has been a regular on renders and leaks with some details coming out along the line. We have now laid our hands on a set of CAD drawing of the protective casing for the Google Pixel 3 XL. The casing seems to have been designed in line with the renders of the Pixel 3 XL that is already in the open.

From the renders outed with the casing, it is reaffirmed that the Pixel 3 XL will have a notch display design at the from with a dual camera setup lying within the notched aspect. The leaked casing also reaffirms that the device will come with a single camera at the rear which is sort of a surprise as it deviates from the growing dual camera trend. The leaked casing shows the rear camera will be located at the top left corner while there will be a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor at the middle. The renders also include that of the front and it is still similar to the earlier one, that is a notch design with the notch housing dual camera sensors and the earpiece. The render also shows the device will have the front-facing stereo speaker located at the chin. While there are two cameras at the front, Google Pixel 3 XL will pack a single sensor at the back. The device also has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor 

Read More: Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL Design Revealed Through 360-Degree Renders

It beats our imagination why Google would want to stick with a single rear camera sensor when the trend is dual sensors. We’d have expected a single sensor on the Pixel 3 and a dual camera setup on the Pixel 3XL but that may not be the case.

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A leaked render of the Google Pixel 3XL recently highlighted the presence of a notch design at the front similar to the iPhone X’s. The leak also shows the device will come with a single camera at the rear which is sort of a surprise as it deviates from the growing dual camera trend. Another leaked render has now emerged, reaffirming this new design.The leaked casing shows the rear camera will be located at the top left corner while there will be a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor at the middle. The renders also include that of the front and t is still similar to the earlier one, that is a notch design with the notch housing dual camera sensors.

Read More: Google Pixel 3 May Come With Wireless Charging & Also Have Active Edge

It beats our imagination why Google would want to stick with a single rear camera sensor when the trend is dual sensors. We’d have expected a single sensor on the Pixel 3 and a dual camera setup on the Pixel 3XL. That could still happen, considering since one of the first renders of the Pixel 3 series pointed to the presence of dual rear shooters.

(source)

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Google is obviously working on the next-gen Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Both models are expected to launch in a couple of months from now but we recently spotted the tempered glass screen for both the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. This is in addition to a few renders of the models which were created by fans. Phonearena has now joined the fray of creators of Pixel3 and Pixel 3 XL renders with its ten cents. The U.S blog issued a disclaimer that the renders were “based on preliminary information about the respective device(s), such as, but not limited to, factory CAD blueprints and live photos of the device(s), or accessories thereof. As such, the images found herein may not be fully representative of the final design of the device(s) “.

Now, lets closely analyse the renders which only capture the front designs of both models. The design seems to have been crafted from the leaked tempered glass protectors which hinted at where the sensors and front camera will be located. If we are to go by these designs, it means the Pixel 3 XL will feature a notch on its display, while the smaller model will have proper top and bottom bezels but trimmed down when compared with that of the Pixel 2. 

Read More: Google Pixel 3 Makes First Appearance in AOSP, Hints At Improved Networking

The models are also going to pack front stereo speakers if the renders are to be believed. Unfortunately, we still can’t tell if the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL will finally join the dual camera trend sweeping through the industry since the rear design is still unknown. However, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL renders seem to suggest the presence of dual selfie shooters. Since the renders are based on the tempered glass protector which leaked on China’s Weibo, it could as well be fake. So, take this with a pinch of salt.

(source)

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Google Pixel 3 is still more than six months away from going official. So, it is relatively early to start talking about the device. But the tech giant may well have started working on the next-gen flagship. XDA Developers have now reported on the spotting of what should be the first official mention of a Google Pixel successor, though probably by accident.

The name Pixel 3 was spotted on a new AOSP commit for a particular function of the Android OS codenamed Cherrypick. The new feature decides which Auto Selection Network UI to use. In case you don’t know, Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is an initiative created to guide the development of the Android mobile platform. The Android platform consists of the operating system (OS), middleware and integral mobile applications.

According to XDA Developers, HAL stands for Hardware Abstraction Layer, which is “a piece of software that bridges the gap between the Android OS and the hardware. What this means is that there may be a new kind of bond between software and radio, one that may allow Wi-Fi networks to scan continuously rather than have to hit refresh and wait for a few seconds.

Read More: Google Pixel 3 Concept Reveals Full Screen Design with Very Slim Bezels, Dual Front Speakers

The new feature may have come out unexpectedly since the source code for Android P is yet to be released. When that is done, we may be able to scoop more details about the Pixel 3. For now, nothing is known about the specifications of the Pixel model.

(source)

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