With the Pixel 2 XL, Google had to limit HDR playback to 1080p 60fps because of performance issues. It seems the new flagship doesn’t have the same issue as the Pixel 3 XL supports 1440p 60fps HDR playback. Spotted by a Reddit user, this news comes on the heels of Google bringing 1440p60 HDR support for Samsung flagships like Note 9 and Galaxy S9 and S9+. This doesn’t seem to work retroactively with the Pixel 2 XL at the moment, but who’s to say if Google decides to change that in the future? Google Pixel supports HDR playback on YouTube so this change might be welcome for those who want to get a higher resolution experience on their new phones. Don’t expect this to come to the Pixel 3, though, as that model only supports 1080p playback.
Source: Android Authority