Google Just Leaked The Pixel 3 Release Date And I’m Not Surprised At All

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Google’s upcoming Pixel devices are among the most anticipated smartphones of the year. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have leaked many times in the last few weeks. And now Google itself seems to have leaked the Pixel 3 release date. But there is no reason to be surprised. We kind of expected the company to unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL on the date it just leaked.  

Famebit listing hints at Oct.4 Google Pixel 3 release date

Have you heard of something called Famebit? No? It is a Google-owned influencer marketing platform. Famebit connects brands with YouTube content creators. It allows advertisers to work directly with content creators on sponsored content and advertisements. Google seems to be using Famebit to get some local YouTube influencers in Canada to try out the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets and “share their story.” 

The search engine giant’s ad posted on Famebit suggests the Pixel 3 release date is set for October 4th. Loyal Google fans probably know that last year’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were also unveiled on the same date. The original Pixel and Pixel XL also debuted on October 4th, 2016.  

Google’s ad was first spotted by Brandon of YouTube channel This Is Tech Today, and was later verified by folks at Android Police. It is unclear whether the Famebit listing was created by Google itself or one of its ad agencies. The description reads, “The Pixel 3 phone is launching October 4th, 2018. Looking for Canadian creators only.” 

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are not the only products Google is expected to unveil at the Oct.4 event. According to reliable tipster Evan Blass, we will also see a new Pixel Watch powered by Wear OS, second-generation Pixel Buds, and an improved PixelBook laptop with thinner bezels than before. The rumor mill also claims there could be an improved Daydream View VR headset and Google Home speakers.  

What will the new Pixel phones look like?

Recently, folks at XDA Developers shared leaked images of the Pixel 3 XL, confirming most of the rumors. The larger of the two models will have a display notch, though the cutout appears to be taller and narrower than the iPhone X. Also, the Pixel 3 XL retains a thick chin at the bottom to accommodate the stereo speakers. It means the device will not offer a truly bezel-less experience.  

Google Pixel 3 XL Clearly White
Image Source: dr.guru / XDA Developers (screenshot)

The smaller Pixel 3 is expected to look almost identical to last year’s Pixel 2 with few design changes. It will not adopt the notch, meaning you’ll still see thick bezels at the top and bottom of the phone. According to the rumor mill, the Pixel 3 XL would sport a 6.2-inch P-OLED display while its smaller sibling would get a 5.4-inch screen.  

Leaked images suggested that the Pixel 3 XL would get an all-glass back panel while retaining its signature two-tone design. The all-glass rear panel would facilitate wireless charging. According to XDA Developers, the back panel will be a combination of glossy and matte glass. Google’s Pixel range is one of the few premium smartphones that don’t yet offer wireless charging.  

Further, the images show only a single camera on the back but dual cameras on the front. It seems a bit weird that rivals are moving to triple cameras to enhance the photography experience while Google is sticking to a single rear lens. Huawei’s P20 Pro with its three rear lenses is the world’s best smartphone camera. It will be interesting to see how the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL’s single camera challenges the P20 Pro.  

Google Pixel 3 XL
Image Source: dr.guru / XDA Developers (screenshot)

Also, it’s not yet clear why Google has added dual cameras on the front of Pixel 3 XL. If Google wanted to enable portrait selfies, it could have used AI and machine learning to artificially blur the background. After all, the Pixel 2’s single rear camera takes great portrait images. So, what’s the purpose of the second front-facing camera on Pixel 3 XL? Google could use it for 3D facial recognition or augmented reality.  

Rumored specs

Twitter tipster Ice Universe recently shared a picture of the Pixel 3 XL’s Geekbench listing. The listing confirmed that the upcoming Pixel flagship will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset, which is found in most of the premium smartphones of this year.  

According to the Geekbench listing, the Pixel 3 XL will pack only 4GB RAM. Of course, 4GB RAM should be sufficient to perform most tasks without any lags. But competitors such as OnePlus and Huawei offer up to 8GB RAM on their flagship devices. In fact, the latest OnePlus 6 is among the most powerful smartphones released this year.  

Both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will run Android 9.0 P out of the box. The software natively supports display notch and dual cameras. It also offers better notification control and advanced AI integration into apps. The Android P will also bring Digital Well Being to Pixel 3. The feature lets you see and control how much time you spend on your device and within individual apps.  

Google Pixel 3 release date isn’t too far away. Are you excited about the device?  

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