Google Pixel 3 XL

Google today rolled out the final update for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. This update was targeted for the first quarter of 2022 back in November.

Today is the last day that owners of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL can get unlimited backups in Google Photos at “Original quality.” It was quite a unique perk for Google’s first three phones that could have been a tremendous differentiator – economic realities aside – if continued.

Android phones don’t get updates long enough, that’s something we can all agree on. As beloved phones such as Google’s Pixel 3 and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 have been abandoned in recent months, there’s an important distinction to be made. Android’s problem with updates is failing phones when it comes to security, not features.

Android smartphones, unfortunately, usually don’t get the support they are really capable of. Even the best and biggest names in Android only support devices for 3-5 years at best. This month, the door is closing on updates for 2018’s Pixel 3 series, and Google’s response to that ending is that 3 years of updates is still a “great experience” for customers.

Really?

With the launch of the November security patch yesterday, Google did not release factory or OTA images for the Pixel 3. The 2018 flagships officially hit the guaranteed update period in October with Android 12, but Google told us today that one more update is coming.

Last week and ahead of the Pixel 6 series set to come (hopefully) very soon, we asked you just what you think the “best” Google Pixel device has been so far. Well, the results were not too unsurprising overall but interesting nonetheless.

The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro could very well be the best Pixel devices to date, but we’re still waiting to see them unveiled — and then get our greasy mitts on the duo when they launch (hopefully) soon.

According to reports online, a growing number of Pixel 3 and 3 XL owners appear to be having their devices bricked as a result of sporadic and random shutdowns into EDL mode that render their devices effectively useless.

For those holding on to the Pixel 3 or 3 XL, you now have the ability to sideload the Android 11-based LineageOS 18.1 third-party ROM.

One of the Google Pixel 5 features that got a lot of acclaim in early reviews was Portrait Light, the ability to adjust the light source of a photo after it’s been taken. Now, before that phone is even released in the United States, the feature is already rolling out to older Pixel phones.

After the Pixel 4 series experienced a similar problem, it looks as though some Pixel 3 owners are reporting swollen battery issues which result in potential rear panel damage.

In this week’s top stories: Google may soon be facing a class action lawsuit from Pixel 3 owners, Xiaomi’s Mi TV Stick retail listings leak series of Android TV dongles, Google’s own Android TV dongle gets leaked once again, and more.

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The Pixel 3 and 3 XL haven’t had the best of times, with a number of issues and problems frustrating owners and fans alike even since the original 2018 launch.

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A fresh class-action lawsuit could be filed against Google for Pixel 3 issues that some have faced since the launch of 2018’s Made by Google smartphones.

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Google’s Pixel smartphones are getting a new camera update today with Google Camera 7.4. The update doesn’t change a whole lot on the surface, though, outside of a tweak to video recording.

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With the launch of every flagship Pixel, Google heavily discounts the previous model to sell remaining inventory. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is now officially out of the stock at the Google Store.

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Thanks to the Android 11 DP1 and the recent Google Pixel Feature Drop, there was room for an automatic dark theme for Pixel owners. While it has been welcomed, it appears that this automatic dark theme doesn’t play nicely with every app.

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