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The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones are almost here – here's everything we know about them


UPDATE: Check out our Pixel 3 review fresh from the launch!

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We're now just hours away from seeing what Google has been making with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, and we've collected all the unofficial news, rumours and leaks right here. And there are a lot of them.

Made by Google Pixel 3 XL launch: how to watch it live on 9 October
As well as new phones we've also heard rumours that a Pixel Watch could be on the cards for the 9 October event, as well as a new Chromebook and even a dock to slot your brand new Pixel 3 phone into.

So it's a fond farewell to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL – thanks for the memories – and time to embrace faster speeds, improved features, and possibly a notch or two. Here's everything we know so far about the new Pixels, and what to expect when they're unveiled.

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Pixel 3: release date and price


The Pixel 2

We now know when the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are going to launch, thanks to the event invites that Google has sent out: the 9th of October is the big day, if you want to mark your calendars.

According to media reports, the phones are going to launch that day too (it's a Tuesday) – there won't be any delay between the phones getting announced and us all being able to put down some cash for them.

Prices are less certain, but last year's Pixels started at £629 (UK) or $649 (US) for the smaller model, and £799 (UK) or $849 (US) for the bigger phone, and it seems probable that Google will follow the same kind of structure this year.

A few whispers had pointed to the arrival of a mid-range Pixel too (maybe along the lines of the iPhone XR) but that looks unlikely now, even if Google is having some fun teasing a super-mini version of its flagship phone.

Pixel 3: all the rumoured features

Even with launch day just around the corner, the leaks and rumours around the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL continue to flood in. Even Google is getting in on the act, with a teaser uploaded to a site in Japan that would appear to reveal three colours for the new Pixel: white, black and mint.

If that's accurate then it would mean mint is replacing the "kinda blue" we saw with the 2017 launch. The animated renderings do look very Pixel-like, and coming straight from Google this is one of the more reliable tips we've got.


Google Pixel 3 leak

We're also heard that a special "sand" colour (pink, really) could be making an appearance alongside the three that we've mentioned above. The source for that is reasonably reliable, so it could be on the cards. Perhaps we'll get different colours for the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL.

We've also seen plenty of leaked videos hit the web that show off the Pixel 3 phones from all angles. At this rate there isn't really going to be much that Google can share with us that we haven't seen already. It sounds like the camera is going to be one of the main selling points again.


Google Pixel 3 leak (credit MobileSyrup)

Even sharp-eyed members of the public are getting in on the act, snapping shots of what are apparently Pixel 3 XL phones while out and about. The image above was snapped in Canada and would appear to show the notch that is rumoured to be heading to the Pixel 3 XL.

Around the back the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL look like being the same as their predecessors, with a single-lens rear camera, a rear fingerprint scanner, and a subtle two-tone effect to add a touch of elegance to proceedings.


Leaked image via XDA Developers

And we've got plenty more leaked images to share with you, if you need them – such as the picture above, posted to the forums on XDA Developers.

It's supposedly the Pixel 3 XL, and again that notch is up at the top of the screen (apologies if you're not a fan, but the software might allow you to hide it). It also backs up the idea that Google is going to stick with the single-lens rear-facing camera.


Google Pixel 3 XL leaked images

The same intrepid XDA Developers leaker, meraz9000, went on to post even more photos of the Google Pixel 3 XL, now available to view from almost every angle. We can't promise you that these pictures are genuine yet, but the more of them that appear, the more inclined we are to believe they're real.

While they don't tell us much about the specs, the grainy shots do give you an idea of how the Pixel 3 XL might fit in your hand. It also apparently confirms a glass back for the new phone, which might suggest wireless charging is arriving on the Google Pixel phones at last.


Google Pixel 3 leak (credit @evleaks)

If you want some more official-looking renders, then we've got those too: the image above was shared by the usually reliable Evan Blass on Twitter, showing the comparative sizes of the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL (with notch).

There are now so many video and image leaks of the phones that it seems very likely that these are the finalised designs, all ready for their unveiling on 9 October. Not massively different from the Pixel 2s, but different enough


Google Pixel 3 XL renders

Meanwhile, check out the gorgeous render of the Google Pixel 3 XL above, placed next to an iPhone. This isn't an official image but it's a guesstimate of what the final handset might look like, based on all the leaks and details we've heard so far.

Full credit to the smart and talented @PhoneDesigner on Twitter, who came up with the Pixel 3 XL render shown above. They're not the only unofficial renders we've seen, either. If Google's next big phone ends up looking as good as this, we're definitely interested.

Leaked image via SlashLeaks

Next up we have these interesting-looking screen protectors for the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL, which surfaced on SlashLeaks. It would seem that notch is confirmed for the bigger Pixel phone, but won't be present on the smaller Pixel 3, so you can choose whether you want to go for the notch or not.

Numerous other sources have reported this will be one of the key differences between the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL. Bloomberg says Google wants to cut out the notch next year for a true edge-to-edge screen, and that both phones will have dual-lens front-facing cameras. Apparently Google might also switch to Foxconn as its supplier, the firm that builds the iPhones.


The rumours are backed up by multiple sources, including the usually reliable @OnLeaks, who says the Pixel 3 screen will come in at 5.3 inches with the Pixel 3 XL display measuring 6.2 inches.

As for the rest of the specs, the use of the Snapdragon 845 chip seems inevitable, as it's in every other Android flagship this year. RAM and storage may well get a boost too, but Google will no doubt also emphasise the importance of AI and the cloud in ensuring the smooth performance of the Pixels.

Google Pixel 3 leaks

If you're a fan of the squeezable side mechanism we saw on previous phones, you'll be pleased to know it's making a comeback, as per an official video uploaded by Google itself in Japan.

As per the video, Active Edge – the official name for squeezing the sides of your Pixel to launch various features and actions – is coming back. Unfortunately the teaser clip doesn't reveal too much in terms of actual specs or design tweaks.

Android P beta images

We do know that the Pixel 3 phones will come with Android 9 Pie on board, and there has been talk that the Android Pie beta included some sneaky shots of the Pixel 3 (above). That seems far-fetched but you'll be able to take advantage of Pie's gestures, digital health dashboard, and other new features on the new phones.

What else could Google include? Wireless charging is the obvious one, so that's a decent bet for whatever Google unveils later this year – as we mentioned above, that would probably mean a switch to a glass back for the phones, to make wireless charging easier.

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While we wait for more news and rumours on the new Pixel to drop, why not check out the Pixel 3 concept renders video by DBS Designing, which we've embedded above? Of course it's very unofficial, but it might tide you over until October.

We're hopeful that Google's next pair of smartphones are going to be two (or three) of the best handsets of the year. Who knows, we might even get a Google Pixel smartwatch at the same time.

Pixel 3: the story so far


The Pixel 2 XL

On the 4 October 2016, Google officially ditched the idea of the Nexus programme and decided to start making its own smartphones - or at least take more responsibility for the hardware design as well as the software on board.

The first Pixel and Pixel XL lacked some of the key features and specs of other flagship phones, but attracted a lot of praise for their software and the quality of the camera, which is always one of the key features for any smartphone buyer.

The successors to those two phones were announced last October by Google, successors which bumped the specs up a little, added some missing features like waterproofing, and gave buyers the choice of an 18:9, bezel-free display on the larger Pixel phone alongside a more traditional-looking, smaller model.

Again the cameras received a lot of attention, and with unlimited Google Photos storage thrown in, these are definitely worth a look if picture quality is most important to you.

With a new Google Home speakers and a new Pixelbook launched alongside the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL, Google seems to be ramping up its hardware efforts, and taking an Apple-like approach to developing both hardware and software in the future.

As we wait and see what's next, we'll bring you all the Pixel 3 news right here.

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