There’s an uptick in bricked Pixel 3 devices this past week, with many owners heading to Google’s own Issue Tracker website to report their phones inoperable. Mind you, these reports appear to date back to June, but I know from first-hand experience that the problem is older than that. My wife’s own Pixel 3 bricked itself for no apparent reason last year, but luckily for her, she’s married to me who was able to get her on something else.
According to users, once the phone goes black screen, there’s no getting it back. The only thing the phone will display is a specific EDL message, which is short for Emergency Download mode. It’s a Qualcomm-developed recovery mode, but even that won’t save your Pixel 3. Naturally, Google support isn’t much help, with the main suggestion being that users collecting and send in a bug report. Pardon the laughter, but a bug report is tough to generate when your phone is a brick.
What’s likely to happen?
If you’re looking to us for answers, you probably won’t like what we have to say. As you may or may not know, class action lawsuits have yielded positive results for many consumers, but they take a long, long time to manifest. Not only that, but most people only get sums of about $12. That doesn’t seem worth the trouble to me. We’ll keep you posted if Google responds to these reports, as more media sites continue to pick up the story.
From our viewpoint, it’s sometimes difficult to see when there’s a real problem, as we’re linked to many reports of similar issues for all types of phones. Everyone wants their particular problem looked at, but in the case of the Pixel 3, it appears that something is very much wrong. The Pixel 3 lineup was released nearly 3 years ago. By now, all warranties for the hardware have gone away, so I’m not entirely sure how Google intends to handle the issue. Pixel 3 sales, as far as we know, weren’t very high. We can all take comfort in knowing that there aren’t millions of people running into this issue, though, we’re disappointed even this group of users are having a bad time.
Has your Pixel 3 been affected by this issue? Let us know.
Comments
70 responses to “Is Your Pixel 3 Bricked Yet?”
Wife’s Pixel just just bricked this morning, same pattern as the others. Stock phone, working fine, woke up in the morning and it’s totally unresponsive. It does show the EDL message plugged into a computer but that’s all we can get. Google support has been utterly trash in 2 attempts.
Just came back to mention that my 3XL bricked last night.
Only “funky” thing was battery was dying crazy fast (7% => 1% in less than a minute) right before I went to bed & plugged it in (for the last time).
Android version?
Was running Android 12 beta 3? (whatever the latest beta release was)
My Pixel 3XL is still going and after three years my battery life is still stellar.
Pro tip: Try to avoid charging your battery past 80% and your battery will live a very long life. This is true of any lithium battery.
That’s just it, it’s not a battery issue. The phone’s bootloader is getting trashed. If you plug it into a PC, it shows up as a QUALCOMM device in EDL mode. It sucks.
I know it’s not a battery issue. I was just throwing that in to explain why I’m still loving my phone so much after having it for 3 years.
I still use a Pixel 3 as my daily driver. Nothing that’s come past has wowed me enough to make the change. I HATED that they removed the fingerprint scanner on the 4, and was pissed off that they didn’t keep the telephoto camera on the 5. I’m expecting to upgrade to the Pixel 6 Pro when it’s released later this year. So far I’ve not had any issues with my 3. I’ve already updated to the September patch with no issues. I can say I will miss the ultra-wide selfie cam if it’s not the standard selfie that comes on the 6 Pro (I rarely take selfies, but when I do, it’s so I can be in a family picture when I don’t have anyone else to take the shot for me, so with a family of 4 and standard length arms it’s much easier to compose a nice family shot with the ultra-wide selfie camera).
Thank heck i have a 3a XL. Bought it used, even!
I have a pixel 2xl and I feel it could brick any day. I been having so many issues lately
If mine happens before black Friday that will likely be the thing that crosses me to the iphone. Im not buying the current pixels and google Fi is the only thing keeping me hanging on until the Pixel 6 or whatever.
My 3XL is fine but every other update seems to disable wireless charging. It will work perfectly for a month then mysteriously stop after an update then work again the next…
Still rocking an older version of Android 10 on my PIXEL 3XL for this exact reason. I would suspect it’s something in the later Android 11 that is causing this.
Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Google EOL’ed a good number of these devices via some planned obsolescence software.
Tried to post yesterday but Disqus wouldn’t cooperate. My Pixel 3 is still going strong. I had a day about a year ago where it kept constantly rebooting for about an hour then finally stabilized and stayed on. My USB-C port stopped connecting about 18 months in so I switched to a magnetic tip charging plug. I use that or wireless charging. Sometimes it refuses to charge above 80 percent but a simple reboot fixes that. I plan on getting the Pixel 6 but I’m afraid it might be a little out of my price range, if so I’ll get the 5a instead.
Hmm, that’s concerning. My pixel 3 is fine as of writing but it has been acting strange the past week or so. Weird freezing and not responding to input at times. Was planning on buying the pixel 6 but maybe not anymore.
Bullcrap rumors. I have better things to do than cheerlead for the “team “. I have better things to do than tear down the “other”. Thanks for making it clear that “droid-life” is a rag with no credibility.
Blocking from news feed.
What on earth are you talking about?
I’m only talking about the best way to evaluate complex technology. Expert opinion? No. no. Reasoned circumspection? um. Education and logic? get out.
Emotions, of course! Let’s pick a device that “feels right”, then hook our nervous systems into and make it essential to daily functioning!
I suppose if a person has no idea how these machines work, then one has no other guide than one’s gut. And when decisions are made emotionally, disagreements cannot be dispassionate. There must be a we (always the good guys, and the winners) and a they (always the bad guys, and the losers). Meanwhile the machine sinks it’s tendrils deeper inside the human host.
My Pixel 3xl bricked about a month ago. Was going to upgrade to the 6 but definitely reconsidering.
Typing this on my Pixel 3 right now. I had no idea about this until now. My wife and I both have them. Our plan was to wait until Black Friday for new phones, but we may move up that time line.
My Pixel 3 XL bricked last month.
The Pixel 3 XL I bought directly from the Google store and sold to a friend bricked last month too. She bought the 5a right after, and I hope she at least has a good experience with that. I only sold it because I got the 4 XL for free from my work. I’m interested in a 5a as a secondary phone but I see no sign that the overheating when using the camera has been addressed.
I already had one replacement Pixel 3 XL through Google. I also have a Pixel 4 XL that also has been replaced. I haven’t had a Google phone that didn’t need to replace. My Pixel 4 is still my primary device. We’ll see if I replace with new Pixel 6 or iPhone.
My daughter’s Pixel 3 bricked about a year ago. She’s been using my old Pixel XL (1) since then. She of course wants an iPhone now, like seemingly all other teenagers.
Not bricked yet but the camera hardware died a while back and has somehow taken the front facing camera and flashlight with it. All it does is constantly click(camera attempting to focus?) when the screen is on. Apparently mounting a phone to bicycle handle bars might cause this issue over time. I’m waiting for the Pixel 6 to pull the trigger and shelf this Pixel 3. I haven’t been able to take pictures/vids for months and before that I was only able to take selfie pics haha.
My Pixel 3XL seems to be humming right along. Biggest problem for me is deteriorating battery life. Time between charges is becoming ever more frequent. But I still love this phone. Last year’s phone didn’t include the things I love about my 3XL, so I held out for the 6 XL Pro. Hope my 3XL makes it a few more months.
Had mine since black Friday 2018, just got the OTA update and installed it today with no problem. Was on the 12 beta but switched back, wasn’t a fan. Hoping to get a deal on BF for the 6, but not holding my breath, but I am glad I didn’t cave and get the 5a with the overheating issues
No issue with my Pixel 3 on Beta 12. Just ready for the 6 please
I have pixel 3xl love the pixel phones waiting for the pixel 6. Yeah
Mine is fine no problem
Happened to my wife’s phone last weekend. No warning, she came downstairs one morning, picked the phone up out of the charger, and it was dead. We have Fi as our provider and they were either clueless or clueless and indifferent the two times I called. I bought both my and her phones at launch and mine is still going strong. I was absolutely disgusted by the Fi reps’ responses, basically to suck it up and buy a new phone. How can a company push out an update that bricks a phone and then say, “Too bad, so sad”? If Tesla did that to my car I wouldn’t shrug and go buy another vehicle.
You aren’t alone, I got the same treatment. The phone is in EDL mode and only needs to be reflashed, Google either hires people with a base understanding of technology or they know what needs to be done and refuse to make amends or do any actual work because the liability is greater than the cost of a class action lawsuit which many people won’t be able to take part in due to the stupid opt out arbitration agreement in their TOS which requires you to opt out of arbitration 30 days from purchase.
My wife’s Pixel 3 has been stuck on 30% battery for about 6 months but it’s running fine. My P3 XL is perfectly fine. We use these to backup our pics to G Pics.
I find it amusing that there are multiple comments about people experiencing issues with their Pixel Phones and how they hope they hold out for the release of the newest Pixel to replace the glitchy Pixel they currently have.
Why, exactly, would you purchase a new phone from the manufacturer of your problematic current phone?
Sadly, my Pixel 3 bricked almost a year ago. I was using it as I normally do, hit the power button to put it to sleep, put it in my pocket, tried using it again a few minutes later…and nothing. It wouldn’t wake up, wouldn’t respond to any type of reset and wouldn’t even charge. Has been like this ever since. 🙁
Mine did this twice when i would restart. Took it to Verzion they fixed it no problems has something to do in settings
Just like the out of nowhere camera not working issue. Google will just ignore and expect people to continue to buy pixels in the future.
Bricked 3XL about a month ago.
What version of android were you running? Were you on a specific beta version?
The pixel 3 line is the one that was messed up the most for me, went through 3 of them: 2 regular pixel 3(cameras stopped working) and one 3XL. Kept the 3XL even though it had some screen coating issues that would make the screen so bad you’d think it’s an old phone.
My Pixel 3 bricked about a year+ ago (before pandemic) but thankfully it was still under warranty and Google replaced it with another Pixel 3.
Btw, same thing happened with My Pixel 2 that I had before it but I wasn’t under warranty anymore. And that was the only reason why I switched to Pixel 3, otherwise I would still be rocking my “Panda” (best version of the Pixel in my opinion)
My Pixel 3 is running fine… but I have noticed the recent development of it burning through its battery much quicker than it had been, despite no change in my usage profile or adding any funny apps. Hmmm, but this article gives me pause because just today I hit a black screen where all I could see was a “gear” icon in the upper right hand side of the screen. The phone wouldn’t respond beyond hitting the power button to go to the lock screen. When I woke it with my finger print on the reader, everything seemed fine. But this was worrisome and now more so. I was going to go with this phone until it died before jumping into a new Pixel… now the 6 may be more of a priority than I had hoped.
I’ve been an android user since the Droid Charge. My pixel 1 bricked itself for no reason. if my pixel 3 also bricks itself, i’m buying an iphone. apple may slow their devices down to make you buy a new one, but at least they still work
My 3XL was purchased on launch day and still going, thankfully
Yesterday my Pixel 3 went into a crazy cycle of turning on the camera, rebooting, trying to contact SOS services, and then just doing that over and over for nearly 20 minutes. Pressing any buttons just reset the whole process. I thought it was toast but then it stopped and is now working like normal. I am very skeptical now of this thing bricking at any moment. Pretty sad to see the support by Google for it’s own products barely 3 years in.
Not bricked…yet. But, my wife’s 3xl is having problems with phone calls losing audio for small stretches, on one or both ends, and maps is having issues, at least some due to GPS shutting down. I also have random loss of GPS on my 3xl.
At this point, hoping we can get 6s before these 3s konk out.
Hasn’t bricked yet *crosses fingers*. I wonder if I should hold off on upgrading to see if google announces some kind of compensation (like a trade in discount) for Pixel 3 owners.
It hasn’t bricked (yet) but for months now it freezes here and there. Can’t wait for the Pixel 6 Pro.
My hope is that Google gets ahead of this and does “something” for the affected users. Otherwise, a lot of those users might not want to buy another Pixel in the future. Not a good look when there is a widespread issue with a 3-year old phone and Google just kinda shrugs it’s shoulders and asks us to pony up for a new, even more expensive phone.
The worst part is the Pixel 6 isn’t out yet. So people are stuck needing a new phone when the flagship is still unavailable for a couple months.
Thats me, Im not getting a stopgap phone, if it came to that Id just get the iphone mini
Is this 3/3XL only or does it also include the 3a?
It’s the 3/3 XL only. The models launched at the same time are gonna have much more similar software, since their hardware is almost the same.
Mine has been fine. I’m on the latest Android 12 beta.
We have a pair of 3XL’s in the household, working fine. Hopefully stays that way until the 6 is released…
Our Pixel 3 has been running strong since we got it. I upgraded my wife to the Pixel 5 and gave the 3 to our daughter. No problems at all.
And yes, I am definitely excited for the Google designed silicon. This it the Pixel 6. I’ve enjoyed every iteration (except maybe the 4) of the Pixel, so a few complaints here and there aren’t going to deter me. Every manufacturer has issues.
Nexus 6p, Pixel 3XL… failure to own up to issues without being legally required to is a big f you to your loyal customers. Mine bricked on the 26th of august, I’m using a 2013 HTC One M7 flashed with android 10 which is funny because it works flawlessly.
And people are excited for Google designed silicon….why? ????
well for starters, they won’t brick into a Qualcomm recovery mode if Qualcomm isn’t in the picture anymore.
It’ll just brick into Google Recovery Mode instead?
Google has a horrible track record with both hardware and software. A smart person will skip the 6 and let other people beta test Google chip sets because there will absolutely be some rough edges. It’s not going to launch fully mature.
Qualcomm isn’t the problem here anyways. No other phones using this chip set are having this issue.
Qualcomm being a third party middleman that most likely has 0 motivation to work with Google to investigate this issue is absolutely a problem.
I will gladly take a Pixel 6 with this new chip over one with a “fully mature” Qualcomm chip any day
Okay, but you have to realize you are a fanboy. Qualcomm releases some really stable hardware and solid drivers. Pixel phones almost always all have issues. Pixels will never catch on and become popular in part due to this. Every Pixel we have owned has had issues, some Google was sued over, some we have no recourse over like the Pixel 2 destroying its own camera.
It’ll be entertaining to watch the fanboy trolls defend Google when the Pixel 6 chipsets have major problems. You guys will always find someone else to be blaming. In this case I am sure you will have to blame the user since Qualcomm won’t be there for you to ignorantly talk shit on.
Right. It’ll just brick into a Google recovery mode. Much awesome! ????
More control over internal components is a good thing for Google, not a bad thing.
Because of this, since it was not google designed.