
Update: The Pixel 3XL as tested -- which was on early firmware provided by Google -- has some noticeable quirks around memory management. Specifically, if you load too many apps at once, it aggressively dials back or closes apps to keep its memory usage at optimal levels. The issue here is that it all too often closes background apps you might want, like keeping music playing in the background.
When I originally wrote the review, I noted the issue from time to time, but was unsure if it was just the early code. 4GB of RAM isn't much to play with, so it needs to manage its memory carefully, but dialling that management back could affect quite how smoothly Android Pie runs. Google's December 2018 update is said to address some memory management issues, but it's still early days to see how accurate it ultimately is.
Google's whole pitch for Pixel phones is that hardware is a commodity item. It's almost as if it's a software-centric company or something.
The Pixel 3XL runs on a moderate, almost low, set of specifications for a 2018 flagship phone, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 matched up with just 4GB of RAM. Given competitor flagships are running on 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 4GB feels a little tight, although you won't really notice that in day-to-day usage.
That 4GB of RAM does impact the Pixel 3 XL's benchmarks, which tend to lag behind the best we've seen. Apple's A12 Bionic is still the performance king, followed by the A11 Bionic, but even against other Snapdragon 845-based phones, the Pixel 3 XL only gives moderate results. Here's how it compares using Geekbench 4's CPU test:
However, benchmarks aren't the whole story, and the use of Android 9 ("Pie") provides a slick user experience that easily matches, and in many cases bests, those of competing handsets when it comes to responsiveness. Naturally, Google's own services run well and are integrated closely into every aspect of the Pixel 3 XL's software packages, but the reality here is that you'll rarely be left wanting.
It's much the same story for 3D performance, where again the Pixel 3XL doesn't wow with benchmark scores. Here's how it compares using 3DMark Slingshot Extreme:
Like its predecessor, the Google Pixel 3XL features an "active edge" squeezable side, something Google's adopted from HTC's own approach – and no doubt a consequence of Google's buyout of a whole host of HTC engineers and patents.
However, once again, Google limits its use to just invoking the Google Assistant and nothing else. Grab the HTC U12+ and you can use squeezing to manage your choice of activities, but Google's only interested in pushing its own services. It's not like you can't access Google Assistant easily on the Pixel 3 XL anyway.