All articles tagged with #pixel
The article argues Google’s Pixel 11 sticks to a software-first approach with only modest hardware upgrades: similar battery capacity (roughly 4.8–5.0 Ah), uncertainly faster charging, Tensor G6 still lagging behind rivals in CPU/GPU performance, incremental camera improvements, and potential RAM cuts. Taken together, this risks leaving Pixel fans with premium pricing but hardware that doesn’t keep pace with competitors.
Google's Pixel Watch 5 pricing appears to rise in the US: Wi‑Fi models (41mm) jump from $349 to $399 (+$50) and (45mm) from $399 to $429 (+$30); LTE versions climb from $449 to $499 (+$50) and $499 to $529 (+$30), signaling broader price increases ahead of the Made by Google event.
Google will unveil the Pixel 11 lineup on August 12 at 6 p.m. ET in New York City, with rumors pointing to four devices (Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold) and a Pixel Watch 5; the timing places the event ahead of Apple's fall iPhone reveal as Samsung gears up for new foldables.
Google will unveil the next Pixel lineup at an August 12 evening launch (6 PM ET); rumors suggest base storage starting at 256GB with potential price increases, uncertain RAM changes, and modest Tensor processor updates, with official details due on event day.
Google has a Made By Google event planned for August 12 in NYC to unveil the Pixel 11 lineup, with rumors of higher starting prices, a new Pixel Glow rear light, a shift to 256GB base storage, and a possible Pixel Watch 5.
Google released the July 2026 Pixel update—the first monthly patch since Android 17 stability—packing fixes across apps, framework, system, and UI, with a notable boot-loop fix; the update covers Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 series (including 10a) and will roll out OTA, with factory images and OTA files available for manual flashing.
Android is increasingly offering long software support, with several new phones promising seven years of OS updates and seven years of security updates. The lineup highlighted includes the Fairphone Gen 6 (seven Android updates, eight security updates), Motorola Signature (seven years updates and security), Galaxy S26 Ultra (seven years), Pixel 10a (seven years), and Honor Magic V6 (seven years). Availability and price vary by region, and buyers should weigh long‑term updates against performance, repairability, and total cost when choosing.
Android Authority notes that smartphones now last longer than ever, but by 2026 upgrades still pay off for better battery life, displays, cameras and longer software lifecycles. Their guide covers upgrading from Google Pixel 7 Pro to Pixel 10 Pro/10 Pro XL, from Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to Galaxy S26 Ultra (with seven years of updates), from Razr Plus (2023) or Razr Ultra (2026) to newer Razr models, from Pixel 7a to Pixel 10a, from Galaxy A54 to Galaxy A57 5G, and from Moto G Power (2024)—though the editor says the 2026 model isn’t compelling enough yet. The piece emphasizes longer update cycles and stronger hardware make upgrades personal and often price-dependent.
Google appears to be testing an iPhone-like Photo Shuffle wallpaper feature for Pixel devices in the Android 17 QPR1 beta 5. The feature would let users assemble an album of images (friends, pets, etc.) and have the wallpaper automatically shuffle at set intervals—hourly, daily, at sunrise/sunset—or on tap, bringing more control than the current Pixel shuffle options and potentially reducing reliance on third‑party apps.
Beta 5 of Android 17 QPR1 is out for Pixel devices (including Pixel 6 and later) two weeks after Beta 4, focusing on bug fixes across features like Game Dashboard, camera idle state, Always-On Display, Download Manager with VPN, charging estimates, Private Space, archived-app bubbles, and a WebView regression. It also adds a new “don’t ask me again” toggle for mobile data; testers can join Google’s Android Beta Program to try it, and if you’re on the Android 17 Beta and want to move to stable, opt out rather than installing Beta 5.
Android 17 quietly adds LHDC v5 support to Pixel phones, enabling higher-bitrate wireless audio with LHDC-capable earbuds (e.g., Nothing and OnePlus). Users may need to enable LHDC v5 in Settings > System > Developer Options > Bluetooth Audio Codec and possibly turn on Hi‑Res Audio in the companion earbuds app. Google’s update broadens codec options beyond AAC/LDAC and, with Auracast support, improves wireless audio options for Pixel devices.
Android 17 adds a hidden home-screen option on Pixel devices to hide app names for a cleaner, minimal look. To enable it, long-press the home screen, choose Wallpaper & style, go to Icons, then Names, and toggle Show app names off (names still appear in the app drawer).
Android 17 rollout is causing significant touchscreen issues on Pixel devices (Pixel 10, 9, 8, and 7 series), including taps being ignored, dead zones, and reversed scrolling. Google is aware of the problem, but the initial fix isn’t effective for everyone; reported workarounds like clearing the Pixel Launcher cache have mixed results, and some users see improvement by toggling Smooth Display. There’s no firm timeline for a permanent patch, so potential upgraders may want to wait for official fixes.
Android 17's stable rollout is causing 5G dropouts on multiple Pixel models (including the Pixel 9 Pro/XL, 8 Pro, 8a, and 6a), with some users also reporting missing eSIMs and Wi‑Fi reconnect issues; Google is expected to fix the modem in the next monthly security patch, and quick workarounds like Reset Mobile Network Settings or Repair Mode can restore speeds in the meantime.
Pixel owners are divided on Android 17 and the June Pixel Feature Drop: some report longer battery life and smoother performance, while many say they notice little to no difference across devices.