Google Finally Fixes a Major Pixel 3 Problem

It took several weeks, but Google this week has finally issued a fix for the rampant memory issues that impact its Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets.

The fix comes as part of Google’s monthly security patch release, which arrived today. It addresses two related problems with the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will suddenly close audio streaming apps when the user switches to another app and a camera bug where photos aren’t always saved correctly.

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“These updates are included for affected Pixel devices to address functionality issues not related to the security of Pixel devices,” a Google support note explains.

This fix “keeps background apps from being prematurely closed,” “improves memory performance in certain circumstances,” and “improves camera capture performance.”

Interestingly, this fix also applies to the Pixel 2 lineup as well, though I don’t recall anyone ever complaining about memory issues on last year’s devices. This sounds like a smokescreen to me: I experienced memory problems immediately on both Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL but never saw such a thing with the previous devices.

Anyway, at least the fix is here.

 

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Conversation 11 comments

  • dcdevito

    03 December, 2018 - 4:44 pm

    <p>I think it just means the 2XL shares some sort of codebase with the P3 phones so they received the fix as well. </p><p>The only fix I want is for a new share menu. That's all I want from Google for Christmas. </p>

  • wolters

    Premium Member
    03 December, 2018 - 5:15 pm

    <p>I applied this patch, went into a music app and snapped about 10 photos. Music continued to play. </p><p><br></p><p>One the the most annoying problems I have (and close to the only one) is that the Pixel Stand rarely works as advertised. It never kicks off the Photo Frame (Slideshow), no matter how much troubleshooting I perform. Google is stumped as well. Very frustrating. </p>

  • Bats

    03 December, 2018 - 5:22 pm

    <p>You know what's funny? I never had any of these problems. Thanks to a Thurrott.com user (sorry I forget your name), I got the Pixel 3XL for about $380. That includes the Verizon Black Friday sale, Ebates, and Amex Offer. I have to say, and I am being honest here, ……. This is the best Pixel Phone Yet!!! LOL… I knew they were going to go on sale, because I saw it last year. </p><p><br></p><p>Anyway, I am what Mary Jo Foley calls a "normal" user. Unlike the tech bloggers, I don't have 10 apps running at the same time. Lol…I don't even understand what that camera thing is about, because all my photos were saved. Lol…. And this is before the security update. </p><p><br></p><p>In addition, my firm forced issued me an iPhone. Lol…. Totally overrated phone. This Pixel 3 XL blows it out if the water soooooooo bad. It's not even funny. Well anyway. Glad I waited a month, as opposed to preordering. </p>

    • jdmp10

      03 December, 2018 - 5:54 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#377460">In reply to Bats:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Not trying to be smart because I'm genuinely curious also I am not even remotely close to being an Apple fan but in what way does the P3XL blow the iPhone out of the water soooooo bad like you described?</p><p><br></p><p>You're stating you're mostly a "normal" user and you don't seem to know the ins-and-outs of the Pixel 3 XL yet so not sure how you can fairly assess that it is superior to the iPhone. Again, I am genuinely curious.</p>

    • FalseAgent

      04 December, 2018 - 2:39 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#377460">In reply to Bats:</a></em></blockquote><p>(X) Doubt</p>

  • ReformedCtrlZ

    Premium Member
    03 December, 2018 - 5:47 pm

    <p>I think the issue was more tied to Pie than the device – I was having similar problems on my Essential PH-1 on Pie that I never had before. So probably just holdover from that. Especially because Google and Essential are very close code-wise. That being said, I'm really happy to see the issue fixed! Although I did notice that the issue was mitigated significantly after I first noticed it.</p>

  • siv

    04 December, 2018 - 5:09 am

    <p>Think I might order a Pixel 3 now, as I wanted it as soon as I read the specs and watched the Google demos and then Paul's comments put me off it as the memory issue and the possibility of losing images was a non-starter for me.</p>

    • ivarh

      Premium Member
      04 December, 2018 - 6:03 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#377631">In reply to Siv:</a></em></blockquote><p>Up until now I have been a 2 phone person using iphone for my personal sim and a nexus/pixel for my work number. After the Pixel 2 XL I swapped my android device for a note 9. The crappy thing about the note is the very irregular release of the monthly security patches but I am more happy with this phone than I was with my pixel 2 XL. Google needs to take their phone business more seriously before I will get another pixel. </p>

  • wosully

    Premium Member
    04 December, 2018 - 8:47 am

    <p>I have been using the Pixel 3 XL with no issues thus far. I suppose I have been fortunate, but I enjoyed the Pixel XL and Pixel 2 XL, and the 3 XL is a nice addition, but I understand some people have had problems. </p>

    • wolters

      Premium Member
      04 December, 2018 - 3:36 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#377689">In reply to wosully:</a></em></blockquote><p>I've not had the issues either with the Pixel 3 XL. I duplicated the memory issue of taking photos while media was playing but it has been fixed in the December Update. </p><p><br></p><p>The camera has made all the difference and it is the main reason I've not gone back to my Note 9. I use a Galaxy Watch with it and it works great, if not better than a WearOS watch. </p>

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