INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Update:Google itself has now mentioned the name Pixel 3 in Android source code, and sources indicate a Google watch is coming
Plus, a cheaper version of the Pixel 3 is rumored to be in development and it could launch in July or August.The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2
XL are among the best phones of 2017, so there’s a good chance the inevitable Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be among the best phones of 2018
And, today, we’re already hearing early rumblings about both Android phones.Little is known yet, but we’ll update this article as we
hear more, and in the meantime we’ve taken some educated guesses at the likely release date, price and features.We’ve also come up with
a list of all the main things we want from the next phones in the range, from a customizable Active Edge to screen improvements and more.Cut
to the chaseWhat is it The next pure Android flagship from GoogleWhat will it cost Likely upwards of $649 / £629 / AU$1,079When is it out
Probably October 2018Google Pixel 3 release date and priceThe Google Pixel 3 launch date could be on October 4, 2018, and we arrived at this
date due to the fact that the Pixel 2 launched launched on October 4, 2017, while the original Pixel and Pixel XL launched on October 4,
Google clearly likes to stick to a schedule.An early October launch event would put the likely Pixel 3 release date in October (last year,
it was October 19), and it might not be alone
Google is reportedly going to launch the Pixel 3 an and Pixel 3 XL with an official Google Pixel Watch that runs Wear OS.Before that, we
could also get a lower-cost Pixel model that's been rumored to be in the works
It's said to be launching in July or August.Price is another thing we can only guess at for now
As the Pixel 2 starts at $649 / £629 / AU$1,079 and the Pixel 2 XL starts at $849 / £799 / AU$1,399, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL may well
have similar prices.But if anything they’re likely to cost more, since the Pixel 2 XL costs more than the Pixel XL launched at, and since
smartphone prices at the high-end seem to be rising in general.But as noted above, a cheaper version of the Pixel 3 might also be in the
works, so if it is, and if it launches globally rather than just in emerging markets, then you might be able to pick up a new Pixel for less
than that.The Pixel 2 XL is even more expensive than its predecessorGoogle Pixel 3 news and rumorsWe haven’t heard much about the Pixel 3
yet, but we have seen the name mentioned by Google itself
Specifically, a mention of Pixel 3 has been found in code on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) site, which all be confirms it's in the
works.In fact, three new Pixel phones might be in the works
According to a “trusted source” speaking to Droid Life, the phones are codenamed “crosshatch”, “albacore” and “blueline”,
and supposedly two of them will be considered premium, while one is thought of as high-end.That split sounds like it might be similar to
what Apple’s done with the top-end iPhone X and the slightly lower-end iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
So in other words we might get a Pixel 3, a Pixel 3 XL and then something even higher-end above them.That’s if this rumor is accurate and
all three models launch, which they may well not, especially as three models were for a while rumored for the Pixel 2 range.One of those
three Pixel 3 models has additional evidence for it, as mentions of crosshatch have been spotted in a comment on an AOSP listing.It’s
worth noting also that all these codenames are types of fish, which was true of previous Pixel handsets as well.What we want to seeThe Pixel
2 and Pixel 2 XL got 4 stars and 4.5 stars in our reviews respectively, so there’s still room for improvement, and adding the following
features to the Pixel 3 would be a step in the right direction.1
Smaller bezelsThe Pixel 2 has sizeable bezels, hopefully the Pixel 3 won'tFrom the iPhone X to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, many 2017
flagships have all but eliminated bezels, but not the Pixel 2.This is a phone which still has quite large bezels above and below the screen,
and while they serve a purpose (housing the front-facing speakers) we’d like to see them worked on for the Pixel 3.Hopefully Google and
its manufacturing partners will find a way to significantly slim down the bezels without sacrificing speakers on the front.2
Customizable Active EdgeActive Edge on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL lets you squeeze the sides to launch Google Assistant
It’s a handy feature, but unlike on the HTC U11 that’s all it does and it can’t be re-mapped.For the Pixel 3 we want the feature to
return, but we want it to be context-sensitive, so for example if used in the camera app it would perhaps take a photo, and for the core
functionality to be customizable, so you can use it as a shortcut to whatever app or feature you want.3
Camera app improvementsThe Pixel 2 has a great camera, but the app is far from perfectDespite just being a single-lens one, the camera on
the Pixel 2 is among the best you’ll find on a smartphone, but the software could use some work.For example, we’d like gesture controls
for timed photos and the ability to switch between the main and selfie cameras with a swipe, like you can on Samsung and LG phones.They’re
little tweaks, but they’d make using the camera a little faster and a little more pleasant.4
A return of the headphone jackDespite taking a dig at Apple for ditching the headphone jack when launching the original Pixel, Google has
also got rid of it for the Pixel 2, which is a decision we’d like to see reversed for the Pixel 3.We don’t expect that to happen, if
anything ever more handsets are going to start removing the port, but for many users it’s an inconvenience and the benefits of its removal
just don’t seem overly compelling.5
Wireless chargingThe Pixel 2 range has reasonable battery life and supports fast charging, but doesn’t have wireless charging, which is a
major omission, especially now even Apple is supporting it.We expect wireless charging to become a lot more popular in the next year, thanks
to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, so it will stand out even more if the Pixel 3 doesn’t support it.6
Screen improvementsThe screens on both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL show room for improvementThe standard Pixel 2 has just a 1080p screen,
which isn’t particularly sharp for a flagship in 2017, so we’d like to see it upgraded to QHD for the Pixel 3.The Pixel 2 XL meanwhile
is sharp enough, but in our review we found that the viewing angles aren’t great and nor is it especially vibrant, so we’d like to see
work done to improve those aspects for the Pixel 3 XL.7
Better water resistanceThe Pixel 2 range sports IP67 certification, which means it can survive being submerged up to 1 meter deep for up to
30 minutes.That should be plenty, but these are flagship phones we’re talking about and some rivals offer more
The Samsung Galaxy S8 for example has IP68 certification, meaning it can be submerged 1.5 meters deep for the same duration.It’s a small
change, but one that could at the very least give buyers more peace of mind that their expensive purchase is fully protected against rain
and spills.tdkq2NYzSyAqd2hF5Uzoeg.jpg#
