Google Pixel 3 phones are bricking out of nowhere, the list is growing

06 September 2021
The issue has been going on for months now.

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Apple fan will post, "I'm going back to iPhone! Five year updates!"

Go do that. The iPhone has looked the same since 2017 and iOS has looked the same since 2013. I tried enjoying iPhone again earlier this year, and like usual, I ended up selling some of my Apple products and hating it. Just updating from iOS 14.2.1 to 14.7.1 ruined my battery. And sometimes after you update, the camera quality gets ruined. You are forced to get the new one.

I just don't update. Not even most of my apps. If I do, perhaps every 2 years or so. These companies will ruin your phone the more you update them. If i see lag, I'll get an old apk to get the same smoothness back. If your battery is ruined, then more cost for you to either replace it or upgrade to another phone. Same endless cycle all over again. It never really ends. They want your money every few years. It's still a business for them.

Honestly, the only time I update is when apps or browsing becomes a problem. Browsers needs security updates Then I'll update the app or firmware. So at the very end when the device reaches its EOL is when I might update. I guess Google wants to EOL the Pixel 3 even earlier before it gets its final update with 12. Force us to get the Pixel 6.

    khellandros66, 06 Sep 2021https://www.thecustomdroid.com/qualcomm-edl-mode-guide/Do you know if this is fixing these Pixel 3s? I had to EDL flash my mom's Mi A2 after an update bootlooped it. Good stuff. I just prep the bootloader to be unlocked on all my phones now just in case there is an issue.

      AnonD-994853, 06 Sep 2021If there isn't any hardware issues, it is not a Pixel.... moreMy Pixels have been fine on hardware. I haven't had software bugs with Xiaomi per se. It's just MIUI is it's own beast. I'm not a fan.

        Anonymous, 06 Sep 2021Planned obsolescence It certainly looks that way... Right before the Pixel 6 launch lol. But I think if this happened to your Pixel 3 you probably won't buy a Pixel 6.

          • J
          • J
          • d@v
          • 06 Sep 2021

          Macaulay Culkin, 06 Sep 2021I just follow these habits - 1. Don't update the fi... moreNice voodoo

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            • AnonD-836132
            • g3t
            • 06 Sep 2021

            I will never ever trust smartphone hardware again that comes out from Google. Every phone that came out since the Nexus 4 to the Pixel 4 has some or the other hardware issues. My Nexus 4 camera sensor literally used to vibrate whenever the camera app was launched. At some point it used to feel like the sensor is going to pop out.

            What's the problem Google why are you plagued with severe hardware issues with every smartphone you come out with? Is it your excellent software that causes these hardware issues? One will wonder.

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              • Dogspurt
              • 39x
              • 06 Sep 2021

              DON'T buy Google hardware; the company will only let you down. They bricked my Nexus 7 (2012) in 2015 and I have never forgiven them.

                What I absolutely don't understand about Google is how they can still mess up their very own-made Android OS while other Android manufacturers who are modifying the same Android OS can easily optimize it to very stable and reliable levels.

                Also, Google should've just acquired LG as their manufacturer of Pixel phones instead. I would love to see a Pixel phone that has a Hi-Fi Qud DAC and a very comprehensive manual camera app with great microphones as well.
                But nevermind, they don't like those stuff anyway.

                  Anonymous, 06 Sep 2021You still can though. Custom ROM installation doesn't ... moreYou need to unlock the bootloader to flash TWRP I think.
                  These bricked Pixel 3 phones can't even access the bootloader.

                    I just follow these habits -

                    1. Don't update the firmware.
                    2. Rarely update the apps.
                    3. Do the 80/40 rule with battery.
                    4. Clear cache monthly.
                    5. Turn off the phone weekly.
                    6. Keep it no higher than 70%-80% storage capacity.

                    The 80/40 rule is very easy for me to do since I have two power banks in my car. Shallow charges are best. So even if it reaches 60%, I'll charge it to 80%. The best range for a battery is really between 50%-65%. The last rule of keeping it below 70% storage capacity was a habit I just started doing a month ago. Memory cells do die out. I noticed a boost in performance if only at 50%-60%. I also don't wanted to keep adding and subtracting media files. Memory cells will wear out faster that way.

                    Soft resetting the phone weekly is mandatory on my Essential because the touchscreen will still acting wonky after a week not being turned off. Updating apps will cause lag as the app is more bloated. You think it's your phone getting slower when it's really the app. I still use apps when the update was from 2015. There are exceptions like my Chase and Dasher app that forces us to update.

                    I use All In One Toolbox to clear cache and also turn off apps I don't want turning on by itself after a soft reset. The best firmware is the one it came with. That's when the company is trying to impress you the most. When you first get it. They want you to love it at first. Battery life will be stellar early. As years go by, the updates will slow down your phone. Will destroy your battery life. Will feel bloated giving you features you don't really need. Useless aesthetic changes like Material You on Android 12.

                    I'll deal with the pop-up notification telling me my software is too old. I just press back (still on 9) and it's gone. Something I see weekly but is gone within a second. It's annoying but I would rather deal with that one second annoyance than an update that destroyed my phone.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • KZK
                      • 06 Sep 2021

                      Anonymous, 06 Sep 2021Can't install anything if the phone doesn't boot mate.You still can though. Custom ROM installation doesn't require you to have the phone turned on. You can easily flash a custom ROM using TWRP.

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                        • Anonymous
                        • StU
                        • 06 Sep 2021

                        Planned obsolescence

                          Sometimes I do think these issues are manufactured by fanboys of other brands. Perfect timing too. Right before Pixel 6 is released. We'll read the problem and some random shill will say, "I'm moving back to iPhone! I'm moving back to Samsung!" It's only a small problem that affects how many users? 1%? Maybe 5%? But threads will make it seem it affects 99% of owners out there.

                          I love my Pixel 3. Takes better photos than my 12 mini and Flip 3. Perhaps the problem will eventually happen to me. For now, I love it. The Pixel 3 and Essential Phone are the only two phones I have owned beyond 2 years that rarely gave me issues. Battery life hasn't degraded much on either if at all. Both have maintained their Day 1 smooth performance. I do clear cache at least monthly.

                          Micro-lag might happen rarely but a lot of it is coming from the app. It seems older apks run better on them. Smoother animation. Lighter. Black crush is no issue to me. Overblown issue. Don't video record so the tinny Pixel 3 audio quality doesn't bother me. Overall, Pixel 3 and Essential Phone are far and away my two favorite phones ever even over my 12 mini I once had and my Flip 3. Just something about that stock Android experience that beats everyone.

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                            • Anonymous
                            • Dkx
                            • 06 Sep 2021

                            Anonymous, 06 Sep 2021When gsmarena gonna report motherboard failure faced in 961... moreFonearena is full of wrong infos...

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                              • Anonymous
                              • Dkx
                              • 06 Sep 2021

                              Anonymous, 06 Sep 2021Also, it‘s probably less buggy than every Redmi and less la... moreLol apple fanboy trigerred...u wont even have a battery to begin with...it will be dead already

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                                • Anonymous
                                • 043
                                • 06 Sep 2021

                                AnonF-1013367, 06 Sep 2021I can only imagine how slow and buggy ur iPhone 5s is, plea... moreAlso, it‘s probably less buggy than every Redmi and less laggy than a Samsung with Exynos 9611 at a price of 150€. All at a price of about 20€ used. And if it’s still too slow, iPhone SE 2016 still flies through iOS 14 and will do so with iOS 15. But of course, you don‘t know that a phone can last more than two years because you only used android.

                                  Maybe I'm just lucky, but I don't have these problems. My battery hadn't degraded at all after 2 years and 4 months. I always did the 90/40 rule. Now it's 80/40. I have an app that notifies me if it reaches 80% or 40%. Doesn't always work but my Pixel 3 was rarely charged beyond 90%. I still get the fairly mediocre 6 hour SOT that I got 2 years ago.

                                  I also don't update my software any more. After 10 ruined my battery life and Oreo ruined my first gen Pixel, I learned to never update it even if it's the monthly security patch because an update always screws things up. I know I'm more vulnerable to hacks but only thing I worry about is people hacking into my bank account. I check my balance daily.

                                  Knock on wood. Perhaps my Pixel 3 will never experience any of this. No battery swelling since no degradation. No ESL issue since I don't update it. Kept it at the software it came with (9) and it's fast and smooth as the day I got it. For my iPhone SE 1 that I barely got last January and was brand new, it's a different story. Battery life is horrendous. It's starting to lag going through OfferUp.

                                  It's funny. We all say we love this phone or that phone. But it only takes less than a day to start hating it if it no longer works properly. They're just gadgets. They all eventually break down like people and pets do.

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                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 043
                                    • 06 Sep 2021

                                    AnonF-1013367, 06 Sep 2021I can only imagine how slow and buggy ur iPhone 5s is, plea... moreThere is a difference between believing and doing

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 043
                                      • 06 Sep 2021

                                      Robbie, 06 Sep 2021I only stopped using a 4s as a work phone about 12 months a... moreThe 4s was bad but the 5 and newer are better

                                        As one commenter said, it's timed obsolescence. Not just planned obsolescence. Google has a kill switch on these things like Sony does.

                                        What's crazy is I just bought a new Spigen case for my Pixel 3. The older one had a loose lip on the right side by taking it off a few times. Then I cleaned my Pixel 3 and stored it next to my Essential Phone and LG G5 back on September 1. Plan was to not turn it on again until January 1, 2022. Watch me turn it on later today and it won't turn on.

                                        Remember, Pixel has a history of issues. The Pixel 1 had the mic and motherboard issue. Had a class action lawsuit. Pixel 2 XL had the display issue. Pixel 3 has this issue and battery swelling. Pixel 4 just sucked with battery life and people hated Soli. Pixel 5 isn't old enough to show its EOL issues yet. Be worried of the Pixel 6 / 6 Pro then.

                                        If Pixel problems continues to persist, I might as well move to Samsung. And Samsung have their own issues. Remember the emmc issue with the Note 4? I personally don't like look of the One UI and their bloat. Samsung also forces us to update. There really is no where to go to if you love the Pixel software experience like I do.

                                        Open up more retail stores, Google and Samsung.

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