Last week, Google finally put an end to the stream of leaks of the Pixel 3 by announcing the two devices. Despite the many leaks, there were a few details that were waiting to be discovered. Our initial review of the device was positive: Google continues to excel in computational photography, and the Pixel 3 is proof of their success. While the average consumer focuses on the Pixel 3's camera performance, many Android enthusiasts love the Pixel for its clean, near-stock build of Android. We've already seen the live wallpapers get ported and developers are already attempting to port Night Sight and Google Lens Suggestions to other devices. Now that the factory images and kernel source code have been released, developers will be able to start doing a lot more tinkering with the Pixel 3's software.

Factory Images

With the release of the factory images, it's now safe for developers to attempt rooting the device and flashing TWRP. I've personally been waiting for these because, without a boot image backup, there would be no way to recover from a botched Magisk installation. But for those developers who have been waiting for the Pixel 3's apps and other system files, the factory image gives you access to everything on the device. Expect to see Magisk modules that'll add a bunch of Pixel 3 features to your device in a few days or weeks.

Kernel Source Code and DTS

The kernel source code and device tree source have been uploaded, so developers can soon start building TWRP and custom kernels for the device. I know that XDA Recognized Developer Dees_Troy will be receiving his device soon, so we'll get a properly working official TWRP build from the lead developer of the project. For other kernel developers, the Pixel 3's kernel source code is a great way to study what Google has done to make the new Pixel so performant. We'll be testing the Pixel 3 XL's performance in part 2 of our review, so stay tuned!

The device tree source and kernel source code can be found at the below links.

View the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL's Device Tree Source

View the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL's Kernel Source

Lastly, to stay up to date with the latest developments for the two devices, be sure to check out the device forums below.

Visit the Google Pixel 3 Forums

Visit the Google Pixel 3 XL Forums

This article was updated at 5:39PM CT to reflect that the DTS and kernel source code have been fully uploaded.