Pixel 3 XL Unboxing Video (Leak)

[RaRa85]

I would never let the notch dictate which size phone. I don't like small phones. Hell I would even take a 7 inch screen.

Well that's perfectly fine for you. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[TheDonJ77]

I realize google's constraints with hardware. I just really wanted this to a great phone.

I couldn’t agree more!

 

[dsignori]

... Google, on the other hand, is a Software company and is basically using what it sees in the devices made the year prior to keep up as best it can. There's almost zero hardware innovation happening in smartphone design on the Google front. But didn't Google buy HTC's engineers? Yep, they did. But that was too recent to have any positive impact on the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, both of which are merely enhancements of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL existing designs.

Meh .. IMO, this is the last year anyone gets to use the "they're not a hardware company" excuse. For nearly $1000, they have run out of runway to use this as a crutch. We know it's about the Google experience, and not solely the hardware, but still. It's a different argument at a $500 price point of course.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

Meh .. IMO, this is the last year anyone gets to use the "they're not a hardware company" excuse. For nearly $1000, they have run out of runway to use this as a crutch. We know it's about the Google experience, and not solely the hardware, but still. It's a different argument at a $500 price point of course.

I can understand how it be the last year that you would accept that argument but I don't think that next year is going to be the year that they somehow become Hardware geniuses. The only way that Google is going to start surpassing Samsung on Hardware is to either Buy Samsung or create artificial intelligence that can do it better than Samsung.

 

[RaRa85]

I can understand how it be the last year that you would accept that argument but I don't think that next year is going to be the year that they somehow become Hardware geniuses. The only way that Google is going to start surpassing Samsung on Hardware is to either Buy Samsung or create artificial intelligence that can do it better than Samsung.

No. They can just actually try. Google doesn't mind being where they are in the hardware department. I don't think it's about that for them. If it we're I have no doubt they would have put out a more compelling device hardware wise this year.

 

[anon(10092459)]

No. They can just actually try. Google doesn't mind being where they are in the hardware department. I don't think it's about that for them. If it we're I have no doubt they would have put out a more compelling device hardware wise this year.

Well yes and no .. if we assume that Google wants 20% of revenue (let's just assume that) to come from hardware and diversify their business, that would be $22 billion top line revenue from the hardware division. If we assume $800 (that's generous) per unit between the regular Pixel and the XL, Google would need to sell 27.5 million phones.

If 2017 numbers are correct, roughly 4 million units sold, getting to 27.5 million will be quite a feat I just don't know that that's what they want to do ..

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Meh .. IMO, this is the last year anyone gets to use the "they're not a hardware company" excuse. For nearly $1000, they have run out of runway to use this as a crutch. We know it's about the Google experience, and not solely the hardware, but still. It's a different argument at a $500 price point of course.

Essential was a brand new company and made a phone with better design on their first attempt than Google has with three years of the Pixel line.

Software company excuse is rubbish. Google have the capacity and capital to pull hardware experts and design a super slick phone. How is the Pixelbook such a nice looking device, whereas the Pixel 3 XL is the best they can do? Much smaller companies are coming up with much, much better designs.

Aside from that, their resistance to put in more ram, a larger battery, more internal storage etc, just shows that they're not interested in competing on a hardware level, and instead better selfies is high up on their list of importance. They'd rather put in the largest, ugliest notch seen on a phone so people get those super selfies over better performance with more ram, a longer lasting phone with a larger battery, and more space with additional on-board storage. And of course there's the big question mark about the quality of the screen this time around. It was unacceptable last year, it'll be a write-off if it's not good this year.

The only way I can see the Pixel 3/3 XL being somewhat competitive is if it's priced at $650/$750 respectively.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

Essential was a brand new company and made a phone with better design on their first attempt than Google has with three years of the Pixel line.

Software company excuse is rubbish. Google have the capacity and capital to pull hardware experts and design a super slick phone. How is the Pixelbook such a nice looking device, whereas the Pixel 3 XL is the best they can do? Much smaller companies are coming up with much, much better designs.

Aside from that, their resistance to put in more ram, a larger battery, more internal storage etc, just shows that they're not interested in competing on a hardware level, and instead better selfies is high up on their list of importance. They'd rather put in the largest, ugliest notch seen on a phone so people get those super selfies over better performance with more ram, a longer lasting phone with a larger battery, and more space with additional on-board storage. And of course there's the big question mark about the quality of the screen this time around. It was unacceptable last year, it'll be a write-off if it's not good this year.

The only way I can see the Pixel 3/3 XL being somewhat competitive is if it's priced at $650/$750 respectively.

What is Essential's product? So far, hardware. They have as close to zero unique software touches as makes all odds.

What is Google's product? So far, Android, Gmail, photos, calendar, assistant, chrome, etc, etc. With an occasional piece of hardware to push those products.

These are not the same approaches and they're not after the same goals.

 

[atakin77]

What is Essential's product? So far, hardware. They have as close to zero unique software touches as makes all odds.

What is Google's product? So far, Android, Gmail, photos, calendar, assistant, chrome, etc, etc. With an occasional piece of hardware to push those products.

These are not the same approaches and they're not after the same goals.

Google hardware and software are two different things. Saying a company is a diversified conglomerate (offering different products and services) and using that as an excuse for potential shortcomings in products or design is stretching it. If that's the case, they shouldn't be as diversified and should instead focus on their core which in your argument isn't hardware.

Google has been in the hardware business a long time, this isn't new to them. Outside of the screen, they did a really good job with the 2XL, and to me the 3XL feels very iterative at best. This is very disappointing to me as I've bought every new Nexus or Pixel as soon as I could for the past four or five years.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

Google hardware and software are two different things. Saying a company is a diversified conglomerate (offering different products and services) and using that as an excuse for potential shortcomings in products or design is stretching it. If that's the case, they shouldn't be as diversified and should instead focus on their core which in your argument isn't hardware.

Google has been in the hardware business a long time, this isn't new to them. Outside of the screen, they did a really good job with the 2XL, and to me the 3XL feels very iterative at best. This is very disappointing to me as I've bought every new Nexus or Pixel as soon as I could for the past four or five years.

The difference in what we're all talking about is that these "shortcomings" can only be defined so if you are expecting them to produce a product that follows the approach of Samsung with the skill set of Samsung. If you are instead expecting them to produce a Pixel phone, looking at the Pixel and Pixel 2 should be the driving set of cues, in which case we're getting exactly what we should expect.

 

[RaRa85]

The difference in what we're all talking about is that these "shortcomings" can only be defined so if you are expecting them to produce a product that follows the approach of Samsung with the skill set of Samsung. If you are instead expecting them to produce a Pixel phone, looking at the Pixel and Pixel 2 should be the driving set of cues, in which case we're getting exactly what we should expect.

So we should expect the same thing every year?

 

[ClintRo]

No we "get" a notch this year!!! LOL

And a smaller battery.

 

[dsignori]

The difference in what we're all talking about is that these "shortcomings" can only be defined so if you are expecting them to produce a product that follows the approach of Samsung with the skill set of Samsung. ...

I don't believe this. Making the battery smaller is a shortcoming for anyone and everyone. You don't need to be Samsung to NOT make the batter smaller, for example. Who knows why (everyone has an opinion), but IMO Google is making some poor design decisions that cumulatively are lowering the value proposition for me.

None of this is because they don't have the skill set of Samsung, it's because Google is making bad design decisions. Remove the headphone jack ,make the battery smaller this time, add a notch. These are decisions made not out of a lack of skills, but out of a lack of design vision IMO.

This is coming from someone who loves the Pixels ( I have the 1 and 2 XLs), but who has kind of had enough of this path - for this price ..

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

So we should expect the same thing every year?

We should not expect them to follow Samsung's path. Especially when we all keep acknowledging that they're following Apple's shadow.

 

[Mike Dee]

I don't believe this. Making the battery smaller is a shortcoming for anyone and everyone. You don't need to be Samsung to NOT make the batter smaller, for example. Who knows why (everyone has an opinion), but IMO Google is making some poor design decisions that cumulatively are lowering the value proposition for me.

None of this is because they don't have the skill set of Samsung, it's because Google is making bad design decisions. Remove the headphone jack ,make the battery smaller this time, add a notch. These are decisions made not out of a lack of skills, but out of a lack of design vision IMO.

This is coming from someone who loves the Pixels ( I have the 1 and 2 XLs), but who has kind of had enough of this path - for this price ..

Im not sure exactly why the battery is smaller, but as far as I'm concerned the battery is insignificantly smaller. I'm not defending their decision, however I don't think we'll notice. I would have preferred a larger battery based on my usage but I'm getting a good day out of a single charge so I'm not going to complain. My guess is they needed space for something else. Possibly the second selfie camera, and wireless charging. I'm not sure if going full glass detracts from available space. Maybe someone else knows.

I have to admit that unless there is something else spectacular they have done it makes upgrading from the 2XL a tough call.

 

[dsignori]

Im not sure exactly why the battery is smaller, but as far as I'm concerned the battery is insignificantly smaller. I'm not defending their decision, however I don't think we'll notice. I would have preferred a larger battery based on my usage but I'm getting a good day out of a single charge so I'm not going to complain. My guess is they needed space for something else. Possibly the second selfie camera, and wireless charging. I'm not sure if going full glass detracts from available space. Maybe someone else knows.

I have to admit that unless there is something else spectacular they have done it makes upgrading from the 2XL a tough call.

Yeah, I agree. My 2 XL battery life was generally good as well. I was impressed. Still, it would have been nice for them to throw us a bone in such a big phone by increasing the size. As you say, it's a tough call. for sure no one is gonna beat the software experience and smoothness.

 

[atakin77]

The difference in what we're all talking about is that these "shortcomings" can only be defined so if you are expecting them to produce a product that follows the approach of Samsung with the skill set of Samsung. If you are instead expecting them to produce a Pixel phone, looking at the Pixel and Pixel 2 should be the driving set of cues, in which case we're getting exactly what we should expect.

I'm not expecting or wanting Google to produce a Samsung phone, if I wanted that I would buy a S9+ or a note 9. What I am expecting is a company that has been involved with design, production and distribution of phones for nearly a decade to do better than they are.

Looking at the progression of the Pixel to the Pixel 2 now to the Pixel 3, I'm having difficulty following the "driving set of cues" that is dictating the design choices. I look at the the 3XL, if the leaks are accurate, and basically see my 2XL with a notch and smaller battery. Maybe others see something else, but that is what it looks like to me.

I love Google phones... I've used nothing else for five years and my wife and kids all use Pixels as well. I'm as big a Google fan boy as anyone... Not a single apple product of any sort in my house. I expected more from the Pixel 3 and I'm disappointed in what Google designed. And I don't think that is unreasonable.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

Looking at the progression of the Pixel to the Pixel 2 now to the Pixel 3, I'm having difficulty following the "driving set of cues" that is dictating the design choices. I look at the the 3XL, if the leaks are accurate, and basically see my 2XL with a notch and smaller battery. Maybe others see something else, but that is what it looks like to me.

Another way of stating what you listed is you see a Pixel 2 XL which adds more screen real estate and which sacrifices less than 2% of the max battery capacity in order to add wireless charging.

 

[anon(10092459)]

I love Google phones... I've used nothing else for five years and my wife and kids all use Pixels as well. I'm as big a Google fan boy as anyone... Not a single apple product of any sort in my house. I expected more from the Pixel 3 and I'm disappointed in what Google designed. And I don't think that is unreasonable.

I don't think being disappointed in the design is being unreasonable at all. Disappoint is a part of life, after all. If this year's model doesn't do it for you, keep the 2 XL and see what happens with 4 XL next fall.

 

[atakin77]

Another way of stating what you listed is you see a Pixel 2 XL which adds more screen real estate and which sacrifices less than 2% of the max battery capacity in order to add wireless charging.

I'd rather have more battery, especially with more screen, if that's the trade off to put in wireless charging. Outside of trying the wireless charging I my wife's car, I would never use it.