Google's iPhone-challenging Pixel 3a XL spotted in the wild with 6-inch display

One of Google's anticipated mid-range Pixel phones, the Pixel 3a XL, has reportedly already been spotted at a Best Buy in Springfield, Ohio, setting the stage for Apple's next wave of competition.

"Purple-ish" and "Just Black" models were seen in a cabinet, also apparently confirming the phone's 6-inch display, Android Police said. Design largely resembles the Pixel 3, including a rear-facing fingerprint sensor and single-lens camera.

Prices weren't yet applied to the boxes, but recent leaks have indicated that a 64-gigabyte 3a XL will cost $479 versus the 5.6-inch 3a's $399. Google is expected to announce both phones at its I/O developer keynote on May 7.

The company is still relatively new to the world of self-designed smartphones, its older "Nexus" line having been developed in collaboration with partners like HTC. The Pixel's marketshare remains in the minority, but has already grown to become the third-most popular "premium" brand in North America behind Apple and Samsung, according to Counterpoint Research.

The Pixel line is distinct from other Android phones mainly for using a relatively "vanilla" version of the OS, whereas others often have skins, extra apps, and/or interface changes. Partly because of this Pixel phones are usually the first to get the latest versions of Android.

Google has however placed a special emphasis on photography, making the Pixel 3 one of the best-rated phones in that area. This includes technologies like "Night Sight," which brings out more details in dark images, and software-based portrait bokeh — something the Pixel 3 had before Apple launched it with the iPhone XR.

The 3a and 3a XL could pose a challenge to Apple as without a follow-up to the iPhone SE, the company lacks any new phones below the XR's $749. The closest equivalent is 2016's iPhone 7, which still starts at $449.

Other things predicted for Google I/O include more details on Android Q and Stadia, its multi-platform cloud gaming service.

38 Comments

1STnTENDERBITS 460 comments · 8 Years

About 5 years ago

Really want to like Pixels but their performance drop off over time is pretty terrible. Great cameras can't overcome that issue. There's just no excuse since other Android OEM's don't suffer performance drops as severely as Pixels... and they're running skins.

foregoneconclusion 2836 comments · 12 Years

Google still makes phones?

gatorguy 24609 comments · 13 Years

1STnTENDERBITS said:

Really want to like Pixels but their performance drop off over time is pretty terrible. Great cameras can't overcome that issue. There's just no excuse since other Android OEM's don't suffer performance drops as severely as Pixels... and they're running skins.

I'm not seeing much performance drop-off on my OG Pixel, but I don't use it for intensive tasks best done with another device anyway. But yeah I get for some folks that might be their only computing device so different needs. I don't see the new mid-rangers as iPhone threats anyway. They're intended for a different market segment than Apple generally plays in.

In my case I've personally chosen to stick with a second hand Pixel for the updates, feature enhancements unique to the Pixel line, and security. For those things it's great. The sub-$200 pricing was a bonus. I could certainly afford a brand new premium priced smartphone, but it would not serve any particular purpose to do so. They wouldn't fill any need this older model doesn't already.

bigtds 167 comments · 10 Years

At least their pricing has become more reasonable.

gatorguy said:

1STnTENDERBITS said:

Really want to like Pixels but their performance drop off over time is pretty terrible. Great cameras can't overcome that issue. There's just no excuse since other Android OEM's don't suffer performance drops as severely as Pixels... and they're running skins.

I'm not seeing much performance drop-off on my OG Pixel, but I don't use it for intensive tasks best done with another device anyway. But yeah I get for some folks that might be their only computing device so different needs.

In my case I've chosen to stick with a second hand Pixel for the updates (now running the 4th version of the OS it shipped with), feature enhancements unique to the Pixel line, and security. For those things it's great. The sub-$200 pricing was a bonus.

I know anecdotes and all, but my sisters 2 visibly stutters and lags. My old S7 is more fluid. The interwebs are littered with diehard Pixel lovers lamenting the performance drop off. Hopefully whatever issues that seemed to plague the 2 have been sorted and won't affect the 3. I want to give 'em a try but not if it's going to degrade by my month 6.