Pixel 3 XL caught on camera with a massive notch

We’ve seen various renders and other images of the upcoming Pixel 3 XL, and now we've seen on more photo of it in the flesh – and it doesn’t make the best first impression.

Shared by a reader of MobileSyrup, the photo was apparently taken on a streetcar in Toronto, and it shows a phone with an enormous notch, by which we don’t just mean a wide notch, but one which sticks out into the screen more than we’ve been used to seeing.

This doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as the notch looks similarly large in renders we've seen, but it’s a lot more noticeable in this real-world shot. A notch this size also means that if you choose to hide it (by blacking out the screen to either side) the Pixel 3 XL will effectively have a massive bezel.

There’s not much else to take from the image, but you’ll note that there’s also a bezel below the screen, housing a speaker.

This could be our first real look at the Pixel 3 XL. Credit: MobileSyrup

This could be our first real look at the Pixel 3 XL. Credit: MobileSyrup

Looks legit

While we can’t be certain that this is the Pixel 3 XL (especially since much of it is obscured by a case) it does seem to match up with leaked renders, and you can just about make out Android Pie’s gesture navigation at the bottom of the screen, which the Pixel 3 XL is sure to feature.

However, we’d still take this with a pinch of salt, especially since – as 9to5Google notes – the battery icon doesn’t appear to be in its normal Android position.

It’s also worth noting that, of the two main rumored Pixel 3 XL screen sizes, we’re probably looking at a 6.2-inch version rather than a 6.7-inch one, given the phone’s size relative to its user’s hands. That makes sense, as 6.7 inches always sounded a bit big to be true.

We should know everything for certain soon though, as the Pixel 3 XL will probably land in early October, alongside the standard Pixel 3.

  • The Pixel 2 XL will have to compete with the iPhone 11

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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