Google Pixel 3 XL teardown reveals Samsung screen, tons of glue

Google's Pixel 3 XL has a Samsung-made AMOLED screen.
 By 
Stan Schroeder
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Now that the Pixel 3 XL is out in the open, it was just a matter of time until someone disassembled it.

The first to do so is the trusty iFixit, and while digging through the Pixel 3 XL's innards didn't result in any groundbreaking discoveries, there are still a few interesting changes compared to the last generation of Pixel phones.

First of those is the fact that Google has used a Samsung-made AMOLED screen in the new Pixel 3 XL. The company used LG-made screens in previous Pixels, and while both companies produce fine OLED screens, Samsung screens do tend to be a little better. Note that it's quite possible that Google is sourcing OLED screens from both companies.

Another interesting detail is that Google has been using a lot of glue in the Pixel 3 XL, which probably makes it more waterproof -- the phone is rated at IP68, which is top of the class right now. But on the other hand, this makes it much harder to open.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The all-glass back of the phone can be cracked quite easily, too, earning the Pixel 3 XL a pretty low repairability score of 4/10.

What else? Well, the battery's just a smidgen smaller than the one in the Pixel 2 XL, and the battery is replaceable -- if you're really, really careful.

Check out the full teardown here.

Stan Schroeder
Stan Schroeder
Senior Editor

Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.

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