Pixel 3 is expected to build upon everything its predecessors did right while addressing fan complaints.
One of the Google Pixel 2’s biggest criticisms was on the XL unit in particular.
Many users insisted the OLED panel used gave off a blue tint when looking at it from an angle.
In fact Express.co.uk noted the same issue when we reviewed the device last year.
We said: “The displays on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL aren’t great. In fact, they’re not even good – with the latter being by far the worst offender.
“The OLED panel on the Pixel 2 XL is incredibly bland, with colourful app icons and photographs appearing washed-out on the six-inch display.”
Google will surely learn its lessons from early units of the Pixel 2 and ensure Pixel 3 does not suffer from the same issues.
With that said, here is everything we think we know about the upcoming Android smartphone.
Design
Google Pixel 3 has seemingly been plagued by a number of leaks that appear to have lifted the lid on the flagship.
A user on messaging service Telegram recently posted a clip of an alleged Pixel 3 XL unit being unboxed, spotted by Android Police.
The footage showed a Pixel with an incredibly large screen that featured a controversial notch at the top.
The same user later posted another video of the supposed Pixel 3 XL unit running a benchmarking application dubbed Antutu.
Such software is designed to analyse a device and display its internal specifications.
Most interestingly the app insisted the Pixel 3 XL will come with a whopping 6.7-inch display.
If such a design choice turns out to be true it would mark a huge bump in size from the Pixel 2 XL.
Google’s current flagship sports a 6-inch panel.
Pixel 3 is expected to build upon everything its predecessors did right (Image: Google • OnLeaks •)
Antutu added the display will be of a 2960×1440 resolution and have a pixel density of 491 pixels per inch.
The Pixel 3 XL was also said to power the massive screen with a 3,430mAh battery and come packing a Snapdragon 845 processor in addition to 4GB of RAM.
The benchmarking software also declared the Pixel 3 XL will tout a 12.2 megapixel camera on its rear.
This would be the same quality as currently found on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.
Antutu added the new flagship will come with a whopping 3 sensors on its front.
Such a claim may be a mistake as prior rumours have discussed only two lenses being present on Pixel 3 XL.
The unit shown in the recent leak also featured a front-facing speaker on its front and a signature rounded fingerprint sensor on its rear.
This suggests Google’s latest Pixel smartphones will not feature a futuristic scanner inside the front glass.
The Pixel unit shown in a recent leak featured a front-facing speaker (Image: PhoneArena • Twitter @MilenYanachkov)
Features
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will come packing Android 9 Pie out of the box.
The latest version of the operating system was recently unveiled by Google and boasts a wealth of new and useful features.
Most notably the software introduces gesture navigations that allow users to get around Android with the flick of a finger.
Google insisted such a move was made because of the changing smartphone climate that is seeing bezels shaved and display sizes get bigger.
The tech giant said: “Making your phone smarter and more adaptive is important, but we also want Android to be easier to use and more approachable.
“In Android 9, we’ve introduced a new system navigation featuring a single home button.
“With a single, clean home button, you can swipe up to see a newly designed Overview, the spot where at a glance you have full-screen previews of your recently used apps.”
But it appears the Pixel 3 will come packing gesture navigation by default out of the box.
In an interview with Android Central, EK Chung, the UX manager for Android handheld and Pixel at Google, insisted future phones from the tech giant will abide by such a rule.
However if Android lovers do not want to use this feature they can turn it off in the settings menu.
Google Pixel 3 has been plagued by a number of leaks (Image: Getty)
Accessories
A new pair of Pixel Buds could arrive with Google’s newest phone.
As hinted by notable leaker Evan Blass, a new version of the headphones could be on the way.
But such speculation was heightened by the Telegram video posted recently that showed some new buds featured in the packaging.
However unlike the Pixel Buds that debuted last year, this version was wired and featured a USB-C connector at the bottom.
This suggests the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will not come sporting a headphone jack.
Google’s current flagship Pixel 2 XL sports a 6-inch panel (Image: Getty)
Release date
Google Pixel 3 is widely presumed to be announced on October 4, the same day both the original Pixel and the Pixel 2 make their respective debuts.
Although no official confirmation has yet been made by the tech behemoth, Evan Blass declared a hardware event will take place later this year that will debut the Android device.
He added the phone will be announced alongside new Pixel Buds and a Google Pixel watch.
Bless wrote: “Besides the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and second-gen Pixel Buds, a reliable source tells me – with high confidence – that Google’s fall hardware event will also introduce a Pixel-branded watch. Have a great summer!”
The reliable tipster added a new Pixelbook could be announced and ship before the end of 2018.
He went on: “Add to this fall hardware lineup a second-generation Pixelbook, with smaller bezels, scheduled to ship before the end of the year.”