A batch of Pixel 3 XL units went missing earlier this month and is the reason why the device has now started leaking all over the Internet, with all new sightings of the upcoming flagship originating from Russia, local news outlet Rozetked reports, according to a machine translation. While the circumstances surrounding the development are still unclear, the latest wave of leaks depicts a white variant of the larger Pixel 3 XL, confirms the handset features a thick display notch, and reiterates previous reports about the cutout housing what appears to be a dual-camera setup, though the second module is likely solely used for depth-sensing or is possibly an infrared sensor.
Android 9 Pie is also on board, with the leaked units seemingly not being prototypes; as evidenced by a number of leaks going back as far as the original Pixel line, Google’s engineering device samples usually don’t feature the company’s “G” logo and are instead marked with a symbol that’s more akin to an “I” splitting an “O.” One of the several Russian sources that have now leaked the device shared the images that can be seen in the gallery below, in addition to reiterating previous rumors about a 2,960 x 1,440 resolution and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 being part of the package. The 3.5mm headphone jack isn’t making a return with the Pixel 3 series and the device will be bundled with a pair of earphones that resemble the first-generation Pixel Buds but aren’t wireless, according to the same insider.
The Pixel 3 flagship family is rumored to be announced on October 4, with Google being expected to hold its annual hardware event on that date for the third year in a row. The company is also said to be using the happening as a launch vehicle for the second-generation Pixel Buds, Pixelbook 2, and a series of Pixel-branded smartwatches running Wear OS, formerly known as Android Wear. All products unveiled at the event should become available for purchase in the U.S. and select overseas markets by early November.
