Pixel 3 release – Why this phone could have a huge advantage over all its Android rivals

The Google Pixel 3 is expected to be announced and released later this year and the tech giant will be seeking to improve upon everything the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL did right in addition to addressing issues Android fans had with the flagship.

A recent post on Phone Arena insisted the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be announced on October 4.

If true, this would be exactly the same date the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were announced in 2017.

Both iterations of the Pixel 3 are expected to pack turbocharged internals, Android P out of the box and a new camera capable of taking incredible pictures.

The tech behemoth is also rumoured to bring a revamped display to the fold following criticism of a blue tint present on some of its Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices.

But Google could also take advantage of a new feature to give itself a major advantage over its rivals.

This week glass manufacturer Corning announced a new technology that promises to drastically improve protection against drops.

The vice president and general manager at Corning Gorilla Glass, John Bayne, declared Gorilla Glass 6 “has been engineered to survive multiple drops”.

He added: “As consumers become more dependent on their smartphones, the opportunity for potentially damaging drops is also on the rise.

“Now more than ever, it’s critical that the cover glass provides outstanding protection.

“Corning Gorilla Glass 6 improves upon Gorilla Glass 5 by surviving drops from higher heights, but, more importantly, has been engineered to survive multiple drops.”

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL boasted Gorilla Glass 5.

The company also emphasised the need for durable glass at a time smartphones are seeking to minimise their bezels in favour of an all-screen design.

Scott Forester, the division vice president of Marketing and Innovation Products, noted: “In addition to addressing drop height and drop frequency, Gorilla Glass 6 was also developed to meet the requirements of modern designs that use glass for more than 85 percent of the enclosure.

“With both its aesthetic and performance advantages, glass is on the right side of the technology curve and will continue to be the material of choice for mobile consumer electronics.”

Gorilla Glass 6 is currently in production and is available to smartphone manufacturers.

This means if Google featured the new glass in its forthcoming flagship it would have a major advantage over flagships that launched earlier in the year, such as the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

The Galaxy Note 9 will also surely miss out on the new glass technology, meaning it could come up short against the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL mere months after its release.

Corning noted Gorilla Glass 6 is “expected to reach the market in the next several months”.