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Some Pixel owners are experiencing network issues after Google's March 2024 update
Calls and texts aren't coming through for extended periods on Pixel 7 and 8 series devices
Google's been on a hot streak for the past couple of years, producing some of the best Android phones you can buy. The Pixel series goes unmatched if you're looking for a phone that offers impressive imaging capabilities and excellent software support. And while it's great to get consistent software updates that improve the experience, there's also a dark side to Google's process that sometimes leaves some of its phones with serious problems.
How to check for software updates on your Google Pixel phone
It's not just you, even I can't wait to get the latest update
Google recently introduced the Google Pixel 8 alongside the Google Pixel Watch 2. The Pixel 7 series proved popular in 2022, and it seems that the Pixel 8 series won't let us down either. The new Pixel phone features significant design changes, has a new processor, and runs Android 14 out of the box. The latest version of the Android operating system is also rolling out to the Pixel 4a 5G and its successors.
Pixels get July's updates a few days late and a few changes light
Blame the holiday for the delay, but some networks are picking up Pixel VoLTE support
July's updates for Google's Pixels are now rolling out, and functional patch notes for this (holiday-delayed) release are very light. In addition to the regular security patches, Pixel owners can look forward to precisely two extra changes: added VoLTE support for "certain" unspecified networks and a fix for "continued device reboots under certain conditions."
Second Pixel Feature Drop may land as soon as next week
Features spotted in a teardown include dark mode scheduling, new power key wallet, and the new pause Motion Sense gesture
The folks at 9to5Google have spotted some details hidden in an APK teardown that imply we'll be getting our second Pixel Feature Drop in March. Other information found hidden inside the examined app reveals a handful of features we might see land as part of the update, including scheduling for dark mode, a new "Cards & Passes" power key menu, the play/pause Motion Sense gesture, and a rollout of car crash detection to older Pixels. And given Google's usual first Monday of the month release cadence, that means we could be seeing the next Pixel Feature Drop update as soon as next week.
In keeping with tradition, monthly security patches for Android are being released for Pixel phones starting today, with one twist: this is the first time we've gotten a monthly update since Android 10 landed. (The "C3" presumably bugfix release last month doesn't count.) That means a whole pile of functional patches is also included, fixing everything from sensor calibration to potential bootloops, memory drains, and missing notifications.