If you're looking for a great phone that won't break the bank, why not consider the one we awarded phone of the year for 2019? The Pixel 3a and 3a XL pack everything you need, and they're currently down to $299 and $379, respectively, which is $100 less than their usual price.
Read MorePixel 4 will support enhanced dual-band GPS on Android 11 (Updated)
Dual-band GPS — or, technically, dual-frequency GNSS — should be able to provide a better navigation experience by pulling additional data from navigation satellites. A number of Android devices have the hardware required to use this method, including the newly-announced Pixel 4. And according to Google, the feature is "coming soon."
Read MoreWhy I left Pixels behind and found a new home with Samsung
For several years I was a hardcore Google fan, turning my nose up at anything other than Nexus or Pixel devices. Last year, I traded in my Pixel 3XL for a Galaxy S10+, and I could not be happier. I switched because, after years of constant issues, I wanted to try something new. Now that I've made the jump and had time to reflect on it, I'd like to discuss what is keeping me with Samsung for the foreseeable future, as well as what I miss from the pure experience Pixels have to offer.
Read MoreSimple Gallery Pro is a local gallery app that properly handles Pixels' messy portrait folder structure
If you only use Google Photos to view all the pics and videos you've taken, you likely never came across the messy way that media, especially portrait photos, is organized in the background. Pixels, for example, create a separate folder for each pair of portrait pics. When you browse your local storage, you can find these folders under DCIM/camera/IMG_date_time, where the date and time are specific to each pair of snaps. Besides Google Photos, local gallery apps don't usually handle these hundreds or thousands of folders properly, but now Simple Gallery Pro does.
Read MorePopular
Get Google's Pixel 3a fabric case for $20 (half off), plus a free premium screen protector
Google's first-party accessories have improved a lot over the last few years, especially when it comes to the fabric cases available to Pixels. When fabric cases debuted alongside the Pixel 2, they quickly became a favorite among owners, and they've become a staple of subsequent Pixel launches. The only real issue with these cases is the price: usually $40, which is a lot for a phone case, and all the more so if you're buying one for a Pixel 3a. But if you act before April 5th, you can grab one for $20 and get a free screen protector thrown in.
Read MoreGoogle Pixel's new automatic dark mode not working in some apps
The most recent monthly security update for Pixels was more than just security fixes. It was Google's second 'Pixel Drop,' with several new features and fixes, including a new option to enable the system-wide dark theme automatically at a specific time each day. However, the automatic mode doesn't seem to work with all apps.
Read MoreMany still affected by long-standing Android 10 update issue that breaks Pixel sensors
Last year, after the Android 10 update first started rolling out for Pixel owners, there were a handful of reports that device sensors — things like the ambient light sensor for screen brightness, orientation sensor for auto-rotation, and Active Edge sensor — stopped working. A workaround was found for those with unlocked bootloaders, and many of those affected were part of the root and ROM crowd, but almost six months later, many phones are still affected, and those with Verizon-branded, locked devices are still simply out of luck.
Read MoreVerizon may sell the Pixel 4a and 5 after all (Update and retraction)
Late last night, I posted a story claiming Verizon was closing up shop on its relationship with Google and the Pixel. As of this morning, I'm retracting that claim, because the previously reliable source from which I received it—a source that I know and trust, and provided information from a variety of contexts and sources—was incorrect. While I'm unable to share more specific information, I have extremely good reason to believe that source was working with inaccurate, unreliable, or outdated information (or all three), which led to a conclusion which is not supported in reality.
At this time, it is our belief that Verizon's statement, repeated below for the sake of convenience, is the best possible guidance on the carrier's plans as regard the Pixel phones in 2020.
Read MoreAndroid 11's hidden Battery Share menu hints at Pixel 5 reverse charging support
Android beta releases are designed to give us an idea of what future OS updates will bring, but sometimes they also give hints for upcoming Pixel phones. The first Android 11 developer preview is no exception, as it includes a hidden Google settings menu for reverse Qi charging — something that no Google-made phone can currently do.
Read MoreFirst-gen Pixel and Pixel XL will predictably not get Android 11
We're officially on the road to Android 11, which means a whole round of developer preview builds are on the way to Pixel phones — as well as other non-Google phones likely to be announced at I/O in May that will go through their own beta stack. Unfortunately, for O.G. Pixel and Pixel XL owners, they won't be joining for the ride.
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