Google Will Fix Pixel 3 Speaker Issues. Maybe.

A Google representative told a customer that the firm will fix one of the problems that caused me to return the Pixel 3 and 3 XL I had purchased: The off-balance stereo speakers sound tinny echoing effect that makes audio painful to listen to.

To be clear, Google is not fixing the off-balance stereo effect. That, stupidly, is by design, so Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL owners will be stuck with audio playback that is heavily and obviously biased to the right (bottom) speaker.

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But Google has finally acknowledged a “speaker distortion issue” with the handsets. And it has said that it will fix the problem. At least partially.

“We will be rolling out a software update in the coming weeks to address the audible buzzing in certain areas at lower volumes,” a Google customer service representative told a Pixel 3 owner via a support chat that was posted to Twitter.

That said, Google has not officially acknowledged this problem. As Android Police’s Unofficial Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL bug and issue tracker noted until this exchange, the firm had never issued a formal comment about the problem. And it still hasn’t.

Like its predecessor, the Pixel 3/3 XL has been dogged by reliability problems since its release. In late October, it promised to fix a photo saving bug. And in early November, it finally fixed a slow-charging issue.

But many, many problems remain. And some—like a clicking noise during phone calls, disappearing text messages, and a Pixel Stand issue—have never even been acknowledged by the search giant. And other issues—like the stereo speaker imbalance and poor audio quality in video recordings—are “by design,” Google says. Unbelievable.

Given all these problems, I’ll be sticking with my Pixel 2 XL for now.

 

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Conversation 16 comments

  • wolters

    Premium Member
    15 November, 2018 - 8:42 am

    <p>I truly hate to hear of these little issues that add to your frustrations Paul. The off balance by design and because of the notch is inexcusable. </p><p><br></p><p>That aside, I'm loving this phone more than the original and 2 XL Pixel phones. The camera is a marvel and while it may not seem much more advanced than the 2 XL's, it truly feels so much better. Beyond the memory management issue and the fact the Pixel Stand is hit and miss as far as it's ambient features, I've not encountered any additional issues. And I'm truly holding on to it for the Camera first and pure Android second. A part of me would like to embrace Samsung's hardware but the camera issues, that seem to go unreported, drive me crazy with the Note 9. </p>

    • RonH

      Premium Member
      15 November, 2018 - 9:26 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#367263">In reply to wolters:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have a Note 9. What issues are you having with the camera? </p>

      • wolters

        Premium Member
        15 November, 2018 - 9:33 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#367287">In reply to RonH:</a></em></blockquote><p>I love the phone and I'm not dogging it but the camera has been frustrating…A battle with blurry shots:</p><p><br></p><p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/zGymISh.jpg"></p><p><br></p><p>Constant Camera Errors (even after factory reset…also happens on wife's Note 9):</p><p><br></p><p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/QmIjVhW.jpg"><img src=""></p><p><br></p><p>Shutter button is hit and miss…sometimes won't snap the photo.</p><p><br></p><p>The viewfinder screen will often freeze for 2-5 seconds. </p>

        • ChristopherCollins

          Premium Member
          15 November, 2018 - 2:58 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#367293">In reply to wolters:</a></em></blockquote><p>That camera failed error is a hardware issue, if your wife would like to RMA.</p>

  • Illusive_Man

    15 November, 2018 - 8:50 am

    <p>I don't know how you deal with this terrible phone. </p>

    • HellcatM

      15 November, 2018 - 9:57 am

      <blockquote><a href="#367275"><em>In reply to Illusive_Man:</em></a><em> I haven't had any issues so I deal with this great phone very well.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

      • dontbe evil

        19 November, 2018 - 4:04 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#367300">In reply to HellcatM:</a></em></blockquote><p>you just don't make the stats</p>

  • burog25c

    15 November, 2018 - 9:31 am

    <p>Why in creation would you create a phone with unbalanced stereo speakers? </p>

  • bhatech

    15 November, 2018 - 10:11 am

    <p>Right who takes anything the clueless support people say seriously. Probably standard answer to have the customer get off their back.</p><p><br></p><p>And the 3 XL is so much better than 2 XL. Can’t go back to sub par device after been using the 3 XL from release day. Sure its personal preference but the superior screen alone is a big difference over the 2 XL which honestly was pretty bad. And there is no other android phone that I would consider given that there is no option that can give me guaranteed platform and security updates as soon as they are released.</p>

  • Snowsky419

    15 November, 2018 - 11:01 am

    <p>Google acknowledged the problem with text messages yesterday; they said that a fix would be coming soon.</p>

  • Craig Jackson

    15 November, 2018 - 12:43 pm

    <p>Having zero issues with my pixel 3 at all. Fantastic phone</p>

    • dontbe evil

      19 November, 2018 - 4:03 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#368250">In reply to Craig_Jackson:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>you just don't make the stats</p>

  • lezmaka

    Premium Member
    15 November, 2018 - 1:23 pm

    <p>Sounds like they're trying to be like Apple</p>

  • YouWereWarned

    15 November, 2018 - 3:49 pm

    <p>So I must ask how many people purchased the Alcatel Idol 4S Win 10 phones? Relevant here because they also have a speaker issue. During startup you get a loud one-second screech (sounds like invalid data is written over an audio control address) and your ear piece speaker (or amp) is blown…nasty distortion abounds. They "fixed" the problem in Sept under warranty, and it just happened again in Nov. Now it's a $29 fix.</p>

  • bertha leon

    17 November, 2018 - 8:19 am

    <p>Welcome to My Blog is your Ultimate Technology Destination for Reviews, Tech, Tips, and Tricks. And I have some more Guide and Topics On My Blog such as <em>TINDER , NETFLIX.</em></p>

  • dontbe evil

    19 November, 2018 - 4:03 am

    <p>google quality … ROTFL</p>

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