The Google Pixel 3 XL has again been spotted in public. This new Google Pixel 3 XL leak follows a leak last week, when the handset was snapped in a Toronto streetcar. Now, an anonymous person was seen carrying the next-gen Pixel handset in the TTC subway in Toronto.
Google Pixel 3 XL leak – nothing new
Someone luckily saw the device in question, and was quick enough to take some pictures of it. The snapped pictures were shared with the Canadian tech publication MobileSyrup, which published them. The photos reveal the front and back of the phone, and the looks match the earlier Google Pixel 3 XL leak.
Pixel 3 XL spotted on TTC again with notch and two front-facing cameras https://t.co/1T5s1kCThA pic.twitter.com/6fpbbWHPDL
— MobileSyrup (@MobileSyrup) August 20, 2018
As per the leaked photos, the handset would have a display notch, come with a Google keyboard and UI, and two-tone rear design. On the back, a barcode sticker was visible, suggesting that the handset could be a prototype or an employee version. Also, the back panel shows a single image sensor with an LED flash. The back is similar to the Pixel 2 XL, with a glass panel covering the top area, and a matte finish below the glass panel.
This Google Pixel 3 XL leak also reveals an edge-to-edge screen at the sides with no bezel on the left or right edge. The notch can be seen housing dual-lens front-facing cameras. The notch, however, is thinner and wider than the one on the iPhone X. Google was expected to debut a notch in the Pixel handsets as it has updated Android Pie with the support for that feature.
Further, the snapped image shows the screen with status bar icons: the battery icon, vibration and network status on the right, and time and app notifications on the left. The user is possibly using WhatsApp. There is no way of knowing if the snapped handset on the TTC subway is of the Pixel 3 XL, but judging from the previous leaks, it does look like it is.
Pixel 3 – release date, price and specs
Google’s next-gen Pixel handset – both Pixel 3 and 3 XL – are expected to debut on October 4 this year. The date has been mentioned in the Canadian Google ad looking for influencers. Also, the launch history of the Pixel handsets supports this date. The original Pixel came out on October 4, 2016, while the Pixel 2 was announced on October 4 last year. The release date for the Pixel 2 was October 19. A launch in the first week of October would give the Pixel 3 a release date in October again.
Talking of price, it is pretty hard to guess as lately the high-end smartphone prices have constantly been increasing. The iPhone X and the Note 9 are a good example of this. So, there are chances that the next-gen Pixel handsets would also cost more. The entry-level Pixel 2 was priced at $649.
Talking of the expected specs, the Pixel 3 XL would feature a 6.7-inch QHD+ (1440×2960 pixels) display. The handset will be powered by a Snapdragon 845 SoC, and come with 4GB RAM. The next-gen Pixel handset would have a 3,430mAh battery, a 12.2-megapixel rear camera and three front sensors of 8.1-megapixel resolution. Google will likely add facial recognition and wireless charging support to the next-gen Pixel handsets. And, from the previous leaks we know that there is a speaker in the bottom bezel.
Pixel Watch – what to expect?
Along with the Pixel 3 handsets, Google is also expected to debut a Pixel Watch running on the Wear OS. One report even claimed that the company is developing three watches. If there are three models indeed, one could focus on design and one on fitness.
Like the Google Pixel 3 XL leak, there hasn’t been any leaked image of the Pixel watch. So, how the watch will look is not known, but we can expect it to be sleek and aesthetically pleasing to pull buyers away from the Apple Watch.
Further, there are reports that the search giant would develop the Pixel watch in-house, rather than contracting third-party vendors. Making it in-house will allow the company to exercise stricter control over the watch’s design and features.
Additionally, rumors are that Google is also working on a low-cost Pixel model. Initially, reports were that this low-cost handset would debut in July or August, but now the launch is speculated to be in early 2019. The handset would reportedly run on the Snapdragon 710 chipset.
