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What is Google's Pixel Super Actua Display?
We dive into the details of Google's Pixel Super Actua Display to explore how the Pixel 8 Pro's screen stacks up against other flagship phones
Google introduced an advanced screen technology called the Pixel Super Actua Display in 2023. It's only available on the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Sometimes, a fancy name is marketing hype, but the Pixel Super Actua Display is an exciting development for Google Pixel fans. Let's delve into how this display technology works and how it compares to the screens on flagship Android phones and the latest iPhone.
How to pair your Galaxy Watch with your Pixel phone
Your Android smartphone and Wear OS watch don't need to be from the same manufacturer
Smartwatches and smartphones are a great pairing when they're well integrated. The best example is the iPhone and Apple Watch, which have tight integration for notifications, fitness tracking, and more. Many Android manufacturers have tried to replicate this integration since the release of Wear OS. There are many great Wear OS smartwatches, such as the Google Pixel Watch line and Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Google's status bar icons could look a lot more like Samsung's in Android 15
Your Pixel phone might get segmented status bar icons again
Google’s last big Android redesign took place when it switched to its wallpaper-based Material You color scheme with Android 12. While Android 15 doesn’t seem to have an equally big update in store for us, it could be one of the biggest design changes to Android on Pixel phones we’ve seen in a while. According to evidence found in Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Google could significantly redesign its status bar icons, making them look more like the ones Samsung has been using for a long time.
Best Google Pixel deals: Sweet savings on stellar smartphones, watches, and earbuds
Don't miss out on these spectacular savings on the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, and other devices
Google makes some of the best smartphones that you can buy in 2024, with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro taking two top spots on our list, making them some of the most compelling devices if you're shopping for a new phone. In addition to flagship devices, the brand also has a fantastic budget handset with the Pixel 7a, along with an alluring smartwatch lineup.
Pixel Fold owners deserve better from Google
Without Gemini Nano, it should get a discount or be discontinued
It’s been an interesting few weeks for Pixel phone owners, as Google has made several announcements regarding AI features coming (or not coming) to existing devices. While the company did an excellent job of exciting everyone about the future of smartphone AI, the reality is more limited than expected, with features like Video Boost continuing to be exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Google just marked the Pixel ‘scrolling stutter’ as fixed
The System UI should soon be less janky on your Pixel with Android 15
Google’s Pixel phones are excellent devices, but like any other product in existence, they have their share of problems. Apart from worse-than-average connectivity and battery life, they also suffer from software quirks like scrolling stutter, which has been a problem on Pixel Pro phones more than any other. The same was true with Android 14, with many people reporting problems with jittery scrolling during the beta program. One year later, we can expect a fix.
5 things Google got wrong with the Pixel 8 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro is impressive, but these key areas need to be improved
I have loved the Nexus and Pixel experience for years and have probably used almost every major flagship Google phone launched in the last decade. But with every Pixel, my experience has only worsened after a few months of use. Sadly, it's the same story with the Pixel 8.
Best Google Fi phones in 2024
Google Fi supports a range of phones, with full feature support for Pixels as well as some Samsung and Motorola models
Google Fi is a unique carrier with a lot of appeal for those looking for reliable coverage with an easy app and straightforward pricing. Google Fi not only offers coverage on the T-Mobile network but has partnered with Wi-Fi providers to improve coverage in some dense areas, which the phone can automatically switch to. Google Fi also offers free international roaming on two of its plans so if you're leaving the country, you don't need to worry about finding a SIM or paying overages.
5 things that have us most excited for Pixel 8a
There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to the Pixel 8a, even with the higher price
Let’s be honest: it can be hard to get excited about budget phones. With flagship devices adding brand-new features and top-tier specs on a yearly basis, the idea of holding your breath to see what features make the cut for a value phone doesn’t feel nearly as exciting for the average buyer. However, with the Pixel A series, Google has shown that it’s willing to provide some of those flagship features and specs to sway customers towards the more expensive end of the budget spectrum.
Google Pixel devices have changed over the years, with the company trying multiple designs and price points with varying degrees of success. However, Google has maintained the current design since the Pixel 6, with the Pixel 8 Pro resulting from years of refinement. It’s a unique-looking device with a raised camera visor on the rear, and if you’re a fan of Pixels, you’ve grown to love it.
How to give any Android phone the Google Pixel Experience
How to make any Android phone smoother, faster, and more customizable
Google offers one of the best Android smartphone experiences, mainly because of its software features. Pixel owners get the best of the best in terms of user experience, thanks to the Google Pixel launcher and regular feature drops. But there's good news for the non-Pixel owners among us: whether you own a gorgeous flagship or just a solid Android budget phone, you can get a similar experience with a few tweaks. This guide will walk you through the steps to make your phone nearly Pixel perfect.
Pixel Call Assist: Everything you need to know
Google's suite of calling features can make your life a whole lot easier
The Phone app by Google is preinstalled on millions of Android phones. The Phone app on Pixel devices offers Pixel Call Assist, which has calling features to filter out spammers, navigate automated menus, and more. While most of these features are exclusive to the latest Pixel phones like the Google Pixel 8, some can be used on other phones, including the best cheap Android phones.
Every new feature in Google's March 2024 Pixel Feature Drop
An ongoing changelog of Google's quarterly updates for its devices
Google's quarterly Pixel Feature Drops add new features for Pixel devices, including wearables like the Google Pixel Watch 2. These features are initially exclusive to Pixel devices but occasionally reach other Android devices.
Your Pixel makes moving from voice to video call a one-tap action
The Google phone app now puts a seamless switch to Meet front and center
Sometimes, it’s much nicer to actually see who you’re talking to when you’re on the phone with someone. You may also just want to show the other party something that you see right now. That’s where a new chip in the Google Phone app comes in, which lets you seamlessly switch to a Google Meet call — if the other party has Meet, that is.
Google's March Feature Drop is here, but not for you
The new release will roll out March 11 in the US, while everyone else will get it starting today
It’s the first Monday of March, and you know what this means. Google is back with a new round of updates for its Pixels as part of its Pixel Feature Drop initiative, adding a bunch of capabilities to its devices every three months. Many of the additions were already in testing in Android 14 QPR2, and they’re now finally coming to everyone with a recent Google device. If you’re in the US, you’ll have to wait just a little longer, though. While the Feature Drop rolls out internationally today, Google says you’ll have to wait until March 11.
Satellite SOS may come to Pixel phones sooner than you think
A new ‘Satellite SOS’ page was spotted in Google's Safety & Emergency settings
Satellite messaging and phone calls may not be a brand-new thing, but Apple arguably popularized it with its “Emergency SOS” feature that it introduced with the iPhone 14 in 2022. Two years later, Google seems to be getting ready to launch a similar feature on its Pixel phones, though it’s unclear which exactly will be supported. A settings page reveals a new “Satellite SOS” feature that doesn’t work just yet.
Google Pixel shipments reached a new high in 2023
Google shipped out a whopping 10 million Pixel phones last year
Google's Pixel phones are known for their stellar cameras and software design, but they've had their quirks and never quite made a big splash in the industry due to lower shipment volumes. This dilemma has persisted since the original Pixel phone. Despite continuous refinements, the question remains: why aren't more people using Google's excellent Android phones? Things seemed to have taken a positive turn for the Mountain View-based tech giant last year when the Pixel phones hit a new milestone.
How long will my Google Pixel get updates?
Google's Pixel phones are some of the longest-supported Android phones
While there are many reasons to buy a Google Pixel phone, software support determines how long it will be secure. After security support expires, your Pixel phone becomes vulnerable to malicious actors. This affects every Pixel phone, from the flagship Pixel 8 Pro to the budget Pixel 7a, the best value Android phone.
Today, voice communication is practically an afterthought when deciding on the right flagship device for you. In its place, camera quality has risen to become of the biggest factors in buying a phone. Manufacturers go to great lengths to stuff advanced sensors into seemingly impossibly-sized handsets, and back them up with not just competent, but novel and even cutting-edge imaging algorithms and software features.
Android 15 leaves Snapdragon Pixels behind, and I'm sad
The era of Tensor-powered Pixel phones is officially in full swing
Android 15 doesn’t seem like a release that will fundamentally change the way Android works and looks like Android 12 and 5 before it. In one way, Android 15 is still the beginning of a new era, though. Now that Google has announced the first Android 15 developer preview, DP1, we know which of its Pixels will be officially compatible with. For the first time since the launch of the Pixel 6, Google’s lineup is all in on the custom Tensor chip, leaving behind the Pixel Snapdragon era.