Google Pixel 3 Release: Everything You Need to Know is a post by Cory Gunther from Gotta Be Mobile.
The Google Pixel 3 release date is at least a few months away, but we already know plenty about Google’s new phones. Here, we’ll go over all the latest Pixel 3 news, leaks, specs, release details and any new rumors.
Even though the Pixel 2 is still a great phone, potential buyers are already looking ahead to what’s next. Recently, we’ve received several leaked photos, release date rumors, and a few surprises you might not like. This is what to expect from Google’s new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones.
- Google Pixel 3 Release Date: Late October
- What is the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL?: Google’s duo of high-end Android smartphones
- What to expect?: A familiar premium design, & a big notch in the Pixel 3 XL screen
- How Much Will it Cost?: Around $649 and $849 like last year
Now that you know a few of the basics and we’ve answered some important questions, read on for the latest news and rumors.
Google Pixel 3 Release Date
First things first, we want to go over (and put to rest) some Pixel 3 release date rumors. A few unreliable sources suggested an early release of August or September, but that’s doubtful.
We believe Google will announce and release the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in October, just like they’ve done for the last several years. Expect an event at the beginning of the month, and a release date a few weeks later around October 19th or 26th.
In May, Bloomberg reported that Google plans to release two flagship phones made inside and out by Google themselves, with the help of Foxconn, around the end of October. That’s traditionally when the search giant releases new Nexus and Pixel devices.
However, if Google wants to compete with Apple’s iPhone 9/11, or iPhone X Plus in 2018 they might want to move up the release date. Simply because Apple’s new phone will be official in September. We’ll update this post if anything changes, or we hear new release rumors.
Pixel 3 Display & Design
At this point, you’ve probably seen the leaks all over the internet. If not, it looks like Google will take an approach similar to almost every other manufacturer, aside from Samsung, and stretch the screen to the top of the phone. Giving users an edge-to-edge display. However, like Apple and others, Google will add a notch to the top. Furthermore, it looks like Google’s notch is shorter and taller than most.
Based on rumors, the smaller Pixel 3 will have a 5.3-inch AMOLED screen and look similar to the Pixel 2 from 2017. However, the bigger Pixel 3 XL will have a monstrous 6.2-inch bezel-free screen. Here are a few leaked photos of the display, design, and more.
At first, an image leaked of screen protectors. These unverified images show a huge bezel on the smaller phone, and a notch on the other. That said, those designs have since been confirmed by Bloomberg, and several other “real-life” photos that emerged in early June.
As you can see from these images, the design closely resembles the entire Pixel family, dating back to the original Pixel. And while some will hate the notch, others will love the bigger edge-to-edge display. For those uninterested in the notch, the smaller Pixel 3 is reportedly going from 5-inches to 5.3-inches this year.
Read More: 5 Things We Want From the Pixel 3
We can clearly see what looks like two cameras on the front, and surprisingly, one a single camera on the back. In a market where Apple, Samsung, LG, Motorola, OnePlus and virtually everyone has dual rear cameras, Google is sticking to a single powerful sensor. More on that below, but we’re expecting AI and software to do the heavy lifting other manufacturers require a second camera lens for.
Last but not least, looking closely at these leaks we see what looks like a glass back on the Pixel 3 XL. Instead of a two-tone metal and glass back, Google could finally go with all glass. And while that makes it more fragile, it also introduces wireless charging. Something they’ll need to offer if they want to compete with Samsung and Apple.
Basically, Google is following Samsung and Apple’s lead whether you like it or not. On the plus side, that Bloomberg report suggests Google and it’s recently purchased HTC team made these phones, and Foxconn will manufacture them. Making the Pixel 3 the first phone made inside and out by Google. Instead of HTC, Huawei, or LG building them like we saw with the LG-made Pixel 2 XL.
Google Pixel 3 Specs & Features
The Pixel 3 will be Google’s best smartphone yet. One thing to keep in mind is you’ll get to choose between two different phones to get exactly what’s right for you. And potentially even three, if one or two rumors end up true.
Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Specs (Rumored)
- 5.3 and 6.2-inch Quad-HD AMOLED Displays (XL will have a notch in the screen)
- 8-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Processor with 4-6GB of RAM (Same as Galaxy S9, Note 9, etc)
- 64 and 128GB storage configurations, no microSD expansion
- Android 9.0 P Software (Popsicle, Pancake, Peanut Butter)
- Improved 12.3 Megapixel Rear AI Camera with f/1.7 aperture, tons of software tricks
- Dual 8MP Front-facing cameras for Portrait selfies, emoji and more
- Dual Front-Facing Boomsound Stereo Speakers
- 3,000 mAh and 3,520 mAh Battery with fast and wireless charging
- IP68 Dust & Water Resistant
- USB Type-C, Google Assistant, Face Unlock technology, no 3.5mm headphone jack
- more
Here we made a list of specs based on speculation, leaks, rumors, the competition, and what we’ve seen from previous years. It’s highly likely that almost everything shown above is accurate, or very close to being correct. Basically, these will be two powerful phones that will take on the Galaxy Note 9, new iPhone’s and even the upcoming Galaxy S10 in 2019.
We don’t know if the screen sizes are accurate, how big the batteries will be, or if Google will opt for wireless charging. Given the iPhone X has it, and new iPhone’s will too, Google will likely follow suit.
Before we finish, it’s worth mentioning that we could see a third Pixel 3. Either at the same time as these two phones or in early 2019. Droid-Life found codenames for three Pixels. Those being: Pixel 3 XL “crosshatch”, Pixel 3 “blueline”, and a 3rd phone codenamed “albacore”.
Off to Taiwan for @computex_taipei today, but here’s a tidbit for ya: Google is working on a “mobile” device based on the Snapdragon 710 currently scheduled for launch in the 1st half of 2019. Sounds like this might be the (or one of them) upcoming mid-range Pixel phone.
— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) June 2, 2018
A popular leakster recently shared the message above on Twitter. Claiming Google has an affordable “mid-range” Pixel phone coming in early 2019. That could be the third phone we keep hearing about. We hear a similar rumor every year, then Google just releases two phones. So, take this with a grain of salt, and we’ll wait until we know more before saying anything else.
Google Pixel 3 Cameras
Surprisingly, all the leaks we’ve seen thus far suggest Google will be one of the only manufacturers in 2018 to offer a phone with only one camera on the back. Don’t worry though, as they’ll use AI and machine learning to take incredible photos. The single 12.3 MP camera on the Pixel 2 was just as capable (or better) than dual cameras on the iPhone 8 Plus, Galaxy Note 8, and many other phones with two cameras.
Basically, don’t let the single camera on the back worry you. Google uses some impressive technology and advanced artificial intelligence to let the software do all the hard work. Stuff that everyone else has to add a second camera lens for.
That said, we are seeing dual front-facing cameras. This is likely to offer an improved Portrait mode selfie camera, emoji’s like Samsung and Apple, and potentially some new Iris or Facial scanning security measure. We don’t have any concrete information about the camera yet but expect one of the best smartphone cameras of 2018 from the Pixel 3.
Final Thoughts
In closing, it looks like Google will deliver two excellent new smartphones later this year. A somewhat compact Pixel 3, then a massive 6.2-inch Pixel 3 XL the size as Samsung’s Galaxy S9+. Then, we could see some sort of 3rd budget device in early 2019 that completes Google’s current smartphone plans.
When the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL arrive they’ll run Google’s brand new Android 9.0 P software, deliver a premium design, more features, and the bigger phone will have a huge notch in the screen. Although, recent images in the Android P beta suggest Google could surprise everyone and release a truly edge-to-edge phone with no notch or bezels anywhere. See for yourself below.
That’s all we really know about the Pixel 3 for now. We’ll continue to update this post as we learn more about a potential October launch, the camera, and anything else that surfaces.
Google Pixel 3 Release: Everything You Need to Know is a post by Cory Gunther from Gotta Be Mobile.
