The Google Pixel 3 XL will be equipped with an OLED panel manufactured by LG Display, one known industry insider from China said earlier today. The South Korean company already manufactured the screen module of last year’s Pixel 2 XL, whereas its sister firm LG Electronics made the device itself. The smaller Pixel 2 was produced by HTC and Google may opt for the same combo of manufacturers this year, as suggested by the new report and a recent leak depicting what are said to be tempered glass screen protectors for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. According to that particular image, both Android flagships will have a dual-camera setup on their front, with such a system recently being commercialized by HTC on the U12 Plus, the first high-end mobile offering with two front cameras that a major brand is retailing in the West.
Last year, HTC implemented its pressure-sensitive frame solution into the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, with Google only choosing to rebrand what was originally known as “Edge Sense” to “Active Edge.” The supposed screen protector belonging to the Pixel 3 XL that emerged online on Sunday is also indicative of a display notch being part of the package, with the overall look of the accessory suggesting the upcoming phablet will be visually similar to the recently released G7 ThinQ, though it’s still unclear whether it will have a dedicated Google Assistant button, especially if users will once again be able to launch the artificial intelligence helper by simply squeezing the phone, which is what the Pixel 2 lineup allows.
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are widely expected to be announced in early October as part of Google‘s annual consumer electronics event which is also rumored to see the debuts of the second-generation Pixel Buds and three Pixel-branded smartwatches running Wear OS, formerly known as Android Wear. Both the original Pixel series and the Pixel 2 family were announced on October 4.