Google Pixel 3 XL: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Google continues its journey into what it sees as a "pure" Google phone, but is that enough to wow consumers against the rest of the 2018 premium phone pack?

Every phone manufacturer has its flagship phone for the year, and Google's no different. It is also the home of the Android operating system.

The Google Pixel 3 XL launched alongside the Pixel 3, and Google's pitch for its Pixel phones hasn't changed all that much. It's a phone for the Google faithful, with a strong accent on Google services and the software optimisations that its search smarts can bring to bear.

Design

• Choice of three colours
• Glass back for wireless charging
• No headphone jack

• Read more on the Google Pixel 3 XL design

  

  Google's designs for the Pixel 3 XL leaked well before the launch, which left few surprises when it was announced. Google even poked fun at the leaks prior to the launch event starting. As widely rumoured beforehand, the Google Pixel 3 XL is a 6.3-inch phone with a 523ppi OLED display.

  It's available in three colour styles: the now-standard "Just Black" and "Clearly White" as well as the new "Not Pink" colour. Google's being cute here because it's pink, although not vibrantly so.

  Google has stuck to not offering a 3.5mm headphone jack in the Pixel 3 XL, and like its predecessors, there's no microSD storage expansion either. However, it does feature a glass back and that's both a style choice and one that enables wireless charging.

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Camera

• Single-lens camera only
• Software smarts are key

• Read more on the Google Pixel 3 XL camera

  
  The Pixel 2 XL made do with a single camera and a lot of AI smarts to deliver leading performance, but since its debut we've seen a bevy of even better dual-lens cameras as well as Huawei's exceptional triple-lens Huawei P20 Pro.

  Google has stuck to its single-camera philosophy with the Pixel 3 XL, providing just a 12.2MP single lens at the back. Where Google is claiming superiority is in how it implements machine learning to optimise not only shot selection, but also how it stitches images together for everything from taking photos that skip people blinking to smarter zoom via multiple exposures.

  It's also claiming superior low-light performance, calling out Apple's recently launched Apple iPhone XS specifically at its launch event via the photo below:

  

  Software features for the camera are where Google hopes to entice consumers, with features such as the burst-mode "Top shot", which takes multiple exposures and uses machine learning to try to pick the best shot. "Super Res Zoom" uses multi exposure to give you cleaner digital zoom, and "Playgrounds" adds AR stickers to your shots because every 2018 flagship phone has to have some kind of cartoon gimmick.

  However, around the front, you will find dual lenses with a focus on taking better wide angle selfies or group shots as desired.

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Performance

• Snapdragon 845 processor
• Android Pie onboard

• Read more on the Google Pixel 3 XL performance

  

  The Google Pixel 3 XL runs on the processor of choice for 2018, namely Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, although it's packing a relatively modest 4GB of RAM compared to other Android flagships. Again, though, Google's pushing the Pixel 3 XL as a phone heavily optimised by software, in this case Android 9 ("Pie"), which will ship with the Pixel 3 XL.

  Google has already released a beta of Android P for existing Pixel owners as well as for a range of other phones. The Pixel 3 XL will more likely make the most out of what is already a very impressive software update. Many Pixel buyers stick with the brand purely because it promises regular software updates for years after purchase.

  Google's also promising a few Pixel-specific features, such as AI-led call screening to bring your calls to life on your screen before you decide to pick them up, although it's not clear if this is a feature that will be US-specific or not. The Duplex-based restaurant booking feature of the Pixel 3 XL almost certainly will be – at least at first.

  Like its predecessor, the Google Pixel 3 XL features squeezable sides to invoke the Google Assistant, a feature it calls "Active Edge". It's an HTC feature, and one that Google only uses lightly compared to the customisable approach seen on phones such as the HTC U12+.

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Battery life

• 3430mAh battery
• Wireless charging comes to Pixel

• Read more on the Google Pixel 3 XL battery life

  
  The larger size of the Google Pixel 3 XL affords it a little more battery space than the regular Pixel 3, and as a result it packs in a larger battery – 3430mAh to be precise. That's still a little lower than many other flagship Android phones, many of which pack in 4,000mAh batteries. Again, software optimisations in Android Pie might make that moot.

  Wireless charging finally comes to the Google Pixel family with support for Qi charging as well as for Google's own Pixel Stand charger, which will add unique notification elements while your Pixel 3 XL gets more juice.

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Early Verdict

• Google's new phone is impressive, but it has serious competition.

• Read our early Google Pixel 3 XL verdict

  If you're a big Google fan, and you use lots of Google services, especially Google Assistant, the Google Pixel 3 XL should match your needs nicely. Google's insistence on AI-led camera features makes for an interesting comparison point because while it's claiming it can take better photos through machine learning, the insistence on a single-camera array may give it less flexibility for pro users.

  Google is pricing the Pixel 3 XL relatively competitively against the premium pack, keeping all variants under $1,499 outright.

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Pricing and availability

Google Pixel 3 XL

Google's newest big flagship

The Google Pixel 3 XL combines a clean Android interface with the smarts of Google in a handset clearly designed for Android lovers.

• The Google Pixel 3 XL is available outright through Google starting at $1,349
• You can also purchase the Pixel 3 XL on contract through Telstra, Vodafone or Optus.

The Google Pixel 3 XL will be available in Australia from 1 November, with pricing at $1349 for a 64GB model and $1499 with 128GB of storage.

You'll also be able to purchase the Google Pixel 3 XL on contract through Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.