Pixel 3 xl from China

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Jul 16th, 2021 9:15 am

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Jul 13th, 2021 9:32 pm

windowsmile_99 [OP]: Member; May 13, 2012; 265 posts; 53 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 13th, 2021 9:32 pm

Pixel 3 xl from China

I recently purchased a used Pixel 3 XL on amazon.ca from a 3rd party seller. I thought the phone was located in the U.S. but it was actually shipped from China (perhaps I misread the listing).
I just got the phone today and it is mint condition.

My questions are, is there anything I should be concerned about? Are there Chinese variations of the Pixel 3 xl (I couldn't find anything online). I checked the imei and it looks clean. Any thing else that I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

7 replies

Jul 13th, 2021 9:34 pm

kr0zet: Deal Fanatic; Jan 16, 2011; 7205 posts; 9218 upvotes; The NORTH

Jul 13th, 2021 9:34 pm

CCCP jokes aside, I would be concerned about it being authentic. Use it for a couple weeks to see how it works before doing anything to secure?

+2

Jul 14th, 2021 9:09 am

wearysky: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2013; 21095 posts; 10651 upvotes; Oakville

Jul 14th, 2021 9:09 am

One nice thing about the Pixel phones is you can do a full from-scratch Android ROM install using tools provided by Google directly. So if you've got any malware concerns you can do that.

+1

Jul 14th, 2021 11:03 am

windowsmile_99 [OP]: Member; May 13, 2012; 265 posts; 53 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 14th, 2021 11:03 am

Thanks for the replies! Good suggestion about installing OS from scratch. I'm assuming you're referring to developer.android.com? I haven't done that before but might be worth it.

If there are any other tips or advice, please let me know!

Jul 14th, 2021 11:36 am

wearysky: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2013; 21095 posts; 10651 upvotes; Oakville

Jul 14th, 2021 11:36 am

windowsmile_99 wrote: ↑ Thanks for the replies! Good suggestion about installing OS from scratch. I'm assuming you're referring to developer.android.com? I haven't done that before but might be worth it.

If there are any other tips or advice, please let me know!

I think you can even do it directly from a web browser now, if memory serves. Here's the link for the P3XL: https://developers.google.com/android/images#crosshatch

+1

Jul 14th, 2021 4:41 pm

jm1: Deal Addict; Jan 5, 2003; 4940 posts; 4802 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 14th, 2021 4:41 pm

re: authenticity, sideload "Test My Android" app: LINK (don't login to your Google account and install it from the Play Store yet).

Run through the tests to make sure it's working okay, but it will also display hardware info. You can check the model of CPU, GPU, etc. against the official Pixel tech specs to make sure it's real (and not using different components). I think it's mostly Samsung and iPhones that are faked, but I once met someone who was sold a fake LG, so I guess any popular phone is fair game.

+1

Jul 15th, 2021 1:19 pm

windowsmile_99 [OP]: Member; May 13, 2012; 265 posts; 53 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 15th, 2021 1:19 pm

Cool thanks for the tips! Will need to do a little googling on how sideload without WiFi.....
Cheers!

Jul 16th, 2021 9:15 am

wearysky: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2013; 21095 posts; 10651 upvotes; Oakville

Jul 16th, 2021 9:15 am

windowsmile_99 wrote: ↑ Cool thanks for the tips! Will need to do a little googling on how sideload without WiFi.....
Cheers!

If you're concerned about connecting it to your wifi network, you could always go with free wifi somewhere out in the world. Or, if your router supports it, set up an isolated guest wifi network.

+1

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