Let's not sugar-coat it: The phone that was released back in the year is a pretty old one. If you need a device to tide you over the next year or so, it's a better buy at just under $200 in late 2021.
B&H has the Pixel 3 XL for $199 with free expedited shipping on Cyber Monday. The unlocked model of the phone can be used with other carriers, even though the deal is marked as being the "T-Mobile variant" of the phone. The software experience you get should be the same as other unlocked Pixels.
Andrew Martonik is from the Android Central.
The final security and bug fix update for the Pixel 3 will be in early 2022. The Pixel still stands up well next to budget phones in terms of security and polish, even though there are no more platform-level updates coming after that.
Compare that to the recent budget phones from the likes of OnePlus, whose N10 and N 100 have already received their first and only update to the platform.
An older flagship.
The three-year-old flagship has an excellent camera, including a wide-angle selfie shooter. You'll also enjoy the same interface as newer phones like the Pixel 6 series.
B&H has a price of $199.
At this heavily discounted price, the Pixel 3 XL still holds its own with up-to-date software. The same photographic punch as the 4a, 5 and 5a can be found in the Pixel's camera setup, which features a 12-megapixel rear shooter. You'll benefit from the ultrawide selfie shooter housed within, even though you'll have that double-width notch to contend with.
Being a premium Pixel, the 3 XL has extra niceties like water resistance, wireless charging, and a dual-tone glass-backed chassis. Budget phones from lesser-known brands can lose trade-in value. $50 credit is still offered by SAMSUNG for the 3 XL, which is a year older than the 2 XL.
Existing security protections built into the operating system should still provide a decent level of security after the new phone is released. If you only plan on using this phone for a year or so, it's a good trade-off.
To upgrade to the latest budget device, you must do so.
The new mid-priced Pixel is more expensive than the 3 XL, but you will get a longer software update lifespan, better battery life, and a dual-camera setup.
Save $50 at the store.
If you don't mind spending a bit more, the Google Store is offering $50 off the 4a and 5a, which will be supported for longer than the 3 XL, though with other trade-offs around performance and feature set. The 4a isn't water resistant, and the A-series lacks wireless charging.
The cheapest price yet for the new Pixel 6 phones is one of the highlights of our list of the best Cyber Monday phone deals.
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