This is a great deal if you’re still thinking about a Google Pixel 3 or 3 XL and aren’t put off by their many reliability issues.
It’s hard to know where to start with the Pixel 3 family. So let’s just deal with the sale first: Google is currently offering the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL for $200 off from its online store, though it’s not clear how long the promotion will last. That means that the Pixel 3 now starts at $600, while the bigger (and notch-laden) Pixel 3 XL starts at $700.
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All other things being equal, these are the correct prices for these handsets. Google should not price its unreliable and poorly-selling handsets in the same range as Samsung and Apple’s far more reliable and better-configured flagships.
The issue, of course, is reliability. When I first purchased both of these handsets last Fall, I was taken aback by the numerous issues I had with both, and with the issues many others had reported. So as you may recall, I returned both and continued forward with the Pixel 2 XL, which has certainly suffered from its share of issues, too. The devil you know, I guess.
Whether you should even consider such a purchase is a personal decision, of course. I strongly advise you check out Android Police’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL Bug and Issue Tracker, where you can find a complete rundown of the problems with these handsets, which issues have been fixed, which will be fixed, and which—sadly—Google refuses to fix.
For me, personally, the remaining issues—stereo speaker imbalance (which will never be fixed), the speaker sound distortion, call quality issues, and more—are still too problematic for me to ever consider one of these phones. Plus, the hardware is out of date: Phones based on newer Qualcomm chipsets are already starting to ship as we move into a new smartphone season, and the Pixel 3 and 3 XL are both bogged down by having too little RAM.
Is there some price point at which I’d reconsider? Barring any form of insane pricing, no, not really. The Pixel 2 XL delivers 90-95 percent of the camera quality found in the Pixel 3s, and mine is all paid for. If something happens to it, and the Pixel 3 prices remain low, I could think about it at that point. Maybe.
Bats
<p>I have had this phone since Black Friday 2018, when I got it this about $400. Actually I got even less thanks to Ebates. </p><p><br></p><p>I have experienced NO Reliability issues with it whatsoever. LOL…..after reading all the things that the early adopters blogged about…….LOL…….I have experienced nothing. It's a great phone. To be honest, I don't feel that the technology and the experience of the Pixel 3 XL is worthy of a necessary upgrade. If there is an upgrade, then it's very slight. The only real upgrades that I truly notice are these:</p><p><br></p><ol><li>A more responsive Google Assistant</li><li>Google Pay is much faster to make payments</li><li>Noticeably much better battery life</li><li>The sound volume is much louder and clearer than before ( by alot )</li></ol><p><br></p><p>The 4th point, I know, is rather peculiar for some because I read and know about the problems. However, I have never experienced it. At full volume watching Youtube TV is superloud and clear. </p><p><br></p><p>It's just so funny. I remember watching all the Youtube videos of these "so-called" expert phone users with their silly little problems and it left me scratching my head. For example the memory management issue. I remember one blogger/vlogger was complaining that when he has 20 apps open at a time,….. when he re-opens the app……the app refreshes. LOL…..first of all, I'm like "Who the heck opens ups hundred apps like that?" Even if some non-tech person and experienced the same thing the vlogger experienced, he/she wouldn't care as long as the page loads. It's these stupid little things that made me decide that if I can get the phone, then I'll get the phone. </p><p><br></p><p>Why did I upgrade to this phone? Simple. My dad needed an upgrade from his Samsung Galaxy S6 and I was very happy assist (LOL). He is now a very happy owner of shiny and bright Google Pixel 2 XL. I have more good news for him too. There's a good chance that he's gonna get Google Pixel 3 XL this Black Friday 2019 (LOL). </p>