A teardown of the Pixel 3 XL has revealed why Samsung remains the display king of the mobile world. Google chose the Korean manufacturer as its supplier for the displays of its latest device, according to iFixit.
Google has not publicly confirmed that Samsung supplied the Pixel 3 XL displays. However, the collaboration seems obvious after the tech giant faced major criticisms in 2017 about the quality of the LG supplied P-OLED displays on the Pixel 2 XL.
The Pixel 3 XL display has already been praised by several outlets before its Thursday launch to consumers. The device’s 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED display has also gotten an A+ rating from Display Mate. Such ratings are typically reserved for Samsung’s own devices.
The Pixel 3 XL display has a 1440 × 2960 523 ppi resolution and a Gorilla Glass 5 covering; however, iFixit has given the device a 4 out of 10 repairability score, so users will want to make sure that high-quality screen has further protection.
Many device makers have tried to shy away from using Samsung displays in their smartphones, but have yet to make a full transition. Apple similarly selected LG as the primary display supplier for its 2018 iPhone line but also signed a deal with Samsung when LG wasn’t able to meet the full demand. Samsung’s most recent earnings report revealed that such supply collaborations have helped the company continue to see profits.
While many competitors aim to move away from having Samsung as a display supplier, their relationships remain symbiotic. The use of Samsung’s OLED displays on the original iPhone X was part of the reason the device had a starting price of $999. The use of larger high-quality OLED displays is one of the primary reasons certain devices are now seeing price spikes.
The Pixel line is not a volume seller and is Google’s self-proclaimed hardware showcase for the ideal use of Android software in its most basic, stock form. However, Google has been sensitive about the public reception of its devices since the Nexus days.
Despite having one of the larger displays on the market, Google has kept the Pixel 3 XL at the lower end of the premium price spectrum, starting at $899.
