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Google Pixel 3 XL Gets Extra Notch Thanks to Software Bug

Google needs to take it down a notch with this bug. For some reason, a number of Pixel 3 XL phones have been displaying an extra virtual notch on the smartphone's display. Fortunately, a fix is on the way.

 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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Want an extra smartphone notch?

Probably not. But a software bug on the Google Pixel 3 XL is placing an additional notch on the smartphone's display, whether you like it or not.

Owners of the smartphone have been tweeting out pictures of the hilarious bug for the past week. For some reason, the phone will display a virtual notch on the side of the phone, blacking out a portion of the display.

Extra Notch Pixel

Owners who've encountered the bug have said it appears randomly, with no apparent trigger. However, the error can be easily fixed, either with a restart or by rotating the phone.

Fortunately, the bug doesn't appear to be widespread. Google also told PCMag that a fix is on its way. But the company refrained from explaining what's causing the bug in the first place. Users are speculating the issue has something to do with the phone's auto-rotate function and the software erroneously displaying the virtual notch.

Whatever the case is, the internet has been full of jokes about the weird bug. "Introducing Pixel Ultra with 2 Notches," wrote one user on Reddit. "Get Pixel 3 now and we'll include extra notch for free," wrote another.

Extra Notch Pixel 2

Earlier this month, PCMag reviewed the Pixel 3 XL, which we gave an "Excellent" score. The handset received high marks for its speed, high-performing camera, and impressive OLED display.

However, the phone does sport a beefy notch, which contains the front-facing cameras, speaker and sensors. The good news is that you can hide the existing notch by blacking out the top portion of the display. You can do this by going into the phone's developer options for the Android OS.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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