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Android Authority
5 hours ago
- Android Authority
8 things I want to see on the Pixel 10 series
Joe Maring / Android Authority Given the rumored earlier launch date of August this year, the Pixel 10 series is right around the corner. As is customary with every Google product, the leaks are really starting to ramp up as we get closer to the release. Up to now, all the tidbits of info we've seen are pointing to an iterative update with no meaningful changes to the design, except perhaps a slightly bigger camera bar on the back. While they might not look that different from their predecessors, we expect the new devices to improve upon the Pixel 9 lineup in a few key areas. Let's take a look at some of the likely (and perhaps some more hopeful) upgrades we might see when Google takes the wraps off the Pixel 10. Tensor G5 improvements Google Much has been made of the switch from Samsung to TSMC for the fabrication of the SoC that will power the Pixel 10 series. The Taiwanese chip maker is the best in the business, so it's not unreasonable to assume that the partnership will push Google's custom silicon to the next level. Said to be manufactured on TSMC's 3nm process, the Tensor G5 is expected to bring a decent boost to performance and graphics, plus a modestly faster TPU for improved AI functionality. Just like previous generations, the Tensor G5 will include a mixture of Google-designed and off-the-shelf IP. The hope is that by using TSMC to build the chips, the end result will be a Pixel 10 series with faster baseline performance that requires less throttling to keep things cool. Better efficiency and longer battery life could be another advantage — let's keep our fingers crossed for this one. Proper Face ID Rita El Khoury / Android Authority I've used pretty much every Pixel Google has released, and one of the most frustrating aspects of this product line, at least in recent years, has been the biometrics. Pixels 1 through 5 had fast and convenient rear-mounted fingerprint sensors, with the notable exception of the Pixel 4 (more on that in a moment). Since the big redesign that came with the Pixel 6, Google has gone all in with under-display fingerprint scanners (with mixed results) and, more recently, face unlocking. Unlike the Pixel 4, which had a full 3D face unlocking system, recent Pixels determine your identity using a single, 2D selfie camera. While this is now deemed secure enough for phone unlocking and even banking apps, it's still not a patch on the iPhone's Face ID and is useless in low-light situations. The Pixel 4 is the only Google phone that has come close to the speed and convenience of Apple's solution, and it was arguably even better at the time, since it also used the Soli radar chip to proactively fire up face unlocking for a rapid response. The Pixel 4 is the only Google phone that has come close to the speed and convenience of Apple's Face ID. I've longed for a return of proper IR face unlocking in a Pixel phone ever since. The good news is that this does seem to be in Google's plans. The bad news is that it might not be ready until the Pixel 11, which is rumored to feature an under-display IR camera system. Better late than never, I suppose. Slimmer bezels Paul Jones / Android Authority It took until last year's Pixel 9 series for Google to finally give us symmetrical bezels on all four sides of the display, but the borders are still rather chunky compared to other flagship phones. This is especially apparent when viewed next to an iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max (image above), as Apple slimmed the bezels down to an incredible 1.3-1.4mm (depending on the model). The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has similarly minute screen borders. By comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro looks dated and just that little bit less premium than its competitors. Unfortunately, judging by the recently leaked prototype of the Pixel 10 Pro, we might not be getting any noticeable improvement in this area. Assuming it's pretty close to the final design that Google will unveil in August, it looks like the bezels will remain unchanged. If that's the case, we'll have to hope that a more substantial redesign arrives with the Pixel 11 series. Longer battery life Robert Triggs / Android Authority One of the most common complaints about Pixel phones in recent years has been about the substandard battery life. And it seems that Google is well aware that longevity has been a core concern since it introduced custom Tensor processors. We're hopeful that the TSMC-made Tensor G5 will improve battery life at least a little bit, but Google shouldn't put all of its eggs in that basket. With any luck, the company is also working on software optimizations that will help to eke a bit more longevity from the Pixel 10's cell. Google's most recent release, the midrange Pixel 9a, outperformed the Pixel 9 in certain battery life tests. You would hope so, since it features the same processor along with a bigger battery and a generally less demanding spec sheet. The gains weren't as significant as you might expect, though, so it's clear Google still has plenty of work to do if it's to deliver truly impressive battery life across the Pixel 10 series. Qi2 magnetic wireless charging and accessories Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority Another sore point among Pixel 9 owners is the lack of magnetic wireless charging. MagSafe tech makes charging an iPhone incredibly convenient, and this has been standardised by the Wireless Power Consortium and made available to more manufacturers. Apple users have been able to enjoy it since 2020's iPhone 12, but Android phone makers have been slow to jump on board after Qi2 incorporated the same magnetic charging tech in 2023. Samsung described its Galaxy S25 series as 'Qi2 ready', meaning you get the minimum 15W charging speeds but without the secure attachment. The situation with the Pixel 9 lineup is even worse, since it doesn't support Qi2 at all. Outside of magnetic charging, Qi2 adds support for a wide range of magnetic accessories such as grips, stands, tripods, wallets, docks, and bike mounts. Google needs to step it up and offer the full magnetic Qi2 wireless charging experience for the Pixel 10. There is a workaround for the magnets on the Pixel 9 — you just have to buy a case that includes them — but Google really needs to step it up and offer the full magnetic Qi2 wireless charging experience for the Pixel 10 series out of the box. Thankfully, it sounds like this might be exactly what we're getting. A recent rumor points to a 'Pixelsnap' ecosystem of magnetic Qi2.2 accessories arriving alongside the Pixel 10, including a charger, ring stand, and a charging stand. The iPhone 17 is rumored to support up to 45W charging with a new Qi2.2 MagSafe charger, so faster wireless charging speeds could also be coming to the Pixel 10. Minimum storage of 256GB Rita El Khoury / Android Authority All of the base models in the Pixel 9 series launched with a measly 128GB of storage. With apps and media taking up more and more space as time goes by, this paltry amount just isn't good enough for a flagship phone in 2025. When Google launched the Pixel 9 in the UK, it offered the 256GB model for the same price as the 128GB version as a pre-order bonus. This felt like a tacit admission that this should have been the base storage amount across the board. I think it's fair to argue that 128GB is still acceptable for a cheaper device like the Pixel 9a, but Google needs to do better when it comes to its premium products. The base Pixel 10 Pro models ought to have 256GB of storage, and it would be great if this applied to the standard Pixel 10 as well. Bigger storage options for the regular Pixel 10 would also be welcome, as the Pixel 9 currently tops out at 256GB, with 512GB/1TB options reserved for the Pro models only. An even smaller model Robert Triggs / Android Authority I've used an iPhone just once in my life, and that was the iPhone 13 from 2021. Even though I returned to Android (and the Pixel 8) after this brief dalliance with Apple, there was still plenty I liked about the iPhone. Not least was the feel in the hand — the small size and the pleasingly curved corners made for excellent ergonomics, and it was also pretty light. When I learned that Google would offer a smaller Pixel Pro model, starting with the Pixel 9 Pro, I thought this was a great idea. However, it's quite a bit larger than the iPhone 13 that I so enjoyed using. And even though the smaller iPhone models have crept up in size over the last few years (especially the Pros), the Pixel 9 Pro is still a few centimeters taller and a smidge wider than the iPhone 16 Pro that came out at the same time. Since the Pixel also has bigger bezels, this size difference is even more noticeable when you compare the phones side-by-side. I'd love it if the Pixel 10 could be shrunk down to the size of the iPhone 16 Pro. I still commend Google for squeezing all the same tech from the XL model into the Pixel 9 Pro, but I'd love it if the Pixel 10 could be shrunk down just a little bit further. If not all the way down to the size of the iPhone 13, at least enough to match the size of the latest iPhone Pro. Along with smaller bezels, this could be the perfect body and screen size for most people, especially those of us who prefer to keep things compact. Google has already improved the comfort of recent Pixels a great deal by gradually increasing the radius of the corners and flattening the sides — reducing the overall footprint would be the cherry on the cake for me. An Action button Ryan Haines / Android Authority Plenty of phone makers have toyed with adding an additional button to their phones, but as is so often the case, it was Apple that really made it fashionable. The iPhone 15 Pro models did away with the mute switch in favor of a customizable Action button, and this has proven to be a fairly popular inclusion (although Apple could certainly do more with it). With the iPhone 16, Apple went one step further and added yet another button — Camera Control — to a more mixed reception. Among Android OEMs, OnePlus is famous for its alert slider, but it didn't take long to jump aboard the Action button train with the OnePlus 13T and its Shortcut Key. Not to be outdone, Carl Pei's current company, Nothing, recently introduced its Essential Key. This is used to save content to the AI organization tool Essential Space on the Phone 3a or Phone 3a Pro, which is pretty nifty but it would be better if this button were remappable. Now, I'm not suggesting that Google straight up copy Apple and add two new buttons to the Pixel 10. But including one extra button that could be assigned to almost any function would be a welcome addition. The power button double-press gesture that opens the camera (or wallet) has long been a popular Pixel feature, so I'm sure Google could do something great with another tactile key. The Pixel 10 series is slated for an August 20 reveal, so we don't have too long to wait until we see which of these features Google brings us. Let us know what other features you're hoping to see in the comments, and don't forget to vote in the poll below! What would you most like to see on Pixel 10? 0 votes Faster/more efficient processor NaN % IR face unlocking NaN % Slimmer bezels NaN % Longer battery life NaN % Qi2 magnetic wireless charging NaN % Minimum 256GB storage NaN % Even smaller phone NaN % Action button NaN %
Android Authority
5 hours ago
- Android Authority
One UI 8 could give screenshots an HDR glow-up that was missing from betas
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is testing HDR screenshot support for One UI 8 with its latest closed beta (ZYF7) release. The feature likely relies on Android 16's embedded gain maps to show true HDR imagery when viewed correctly. HDR screenshots aren't yet available in the One UI 8 Beta 2 release, but may arrive with future open betas or the stable release. Samsung will be bringing Android 16 to its devices with the release of One UI 8. The beta program is live for the Galaxy S25 series, and we're already at the second beta release. Samsung also has an internal test track that runs ahead of the open beta, and thanks to these test builds, we have now learned that the company could be bringing support for HDR screenshots. With Android 16, Google has implemented support for true HDR screenshots. Screenshots of HDR content will be saved in HDR format, namely as PNG files with HDR gain maps embedded in them. Viewing these screenshots will brighten the screen to allow the HDR highlights to pop. These gain maps enable the screenshots to appear as HDR when viewed on Android 16 devices but as SDR on other devices. Leaker Ice Universe mentions that the latest One UI 8 ZYF7 build (available in the closed beta but not yet in the open beta) includes support for HDR screenshots. The leaker installed the update on their Galaxy S25 Ultra and took a screenshot of an HDR photo they saw on social media. To Google and Samsung's credit, the screenshot retains the HDR effect of the original image. I saw it on social media, and took a screenshot and put it in my gallery. It still retains the HDR effect of the original photo. However, it is… By the way, Samsung S25 Ultra One UI 8 ZYF7 (Android16 feature) supports screenshot HDR. This is an HDR photo of OPPO Find X8 UltraI saw it on social media, and took a screenshot and put it in my still retains the HDR effect of the original it is… — ICE CAT (@UniverseIce) June 20, 2025 The leaker notes that HDR screenshots is a new feature of the ZYF7 closed beta firmware and is not available in the One UI 8 Beta 2 (ZYF3) release. While there's a good chance this feature will be included in the next open beta release and the stable One UI 8 release, there's still a small probability that it will not. We're crossing our fingers to see HDR screenshots in the stable One UI 8 update when it launches alongside Samsung's next-generation foldables in the coming weeks. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
9 hours ago
- Android Authority
Samsung's upcoming earthquake warning system goes beyond what Google offers
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is preparing a new earthquake warning system that's more refined than Google's broader system for Android. The feature will allow Galaxy users to set a custom magnitude threshold for alerts. Users can also preview earthquake warnings and set different thresholds for day and night. Samsung is upgrading earthquake alerts on Galaxy phones with more features than what Google's built-in Android system currently offers. Google's version is a straightforward toggle that warns users about earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or higher. Samsung, however, is building its own 'Earthquake warning' system, as spotted by Galaxy Techie. According to screenshots, Galaxy users will be able to customize the magnitude threshold for alerts, starting as low as magnitude 1.0, where shaking is barely noticeable, up to 4.0, where more noticeable tremors occur. Users can also preview alerts and set different thresholds for day and night, giving them more control over when and how they're notified. Additionally, Samsung will let users choose whether to receive alerts for lower-intensity quakes that fall below their chosen threshold. The feature will include a history of past earthquake warnings, options to find nearby emergency shelters, and the ability to set emergency contacts who can be reached during an earthquake. Samsung's new Earthquake warning system isn't live just yet, but it's expected to launch with the stable One UI 8 update. That said, if you're curious, the leaker has also shared an APK file so you can try the feature early.
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Android 16 for Pixels brings too many bugs for a 'stable' update, but at least one is getting fixed
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 is causing a very annoying bug where Pixel phones take too long to wake up. Google is aware of the issue and is working on a fix, and temporary workarounds are also available. This is one of several bugs reported by users after the Android 16 update, but there are many more, including freezing lock screens and unresponsive gestures. Android 16 is the flavor of the season, and Pixel owners are already enjoying the latest Baklava update. Granted, plenty of headline features are missing from this release, but there are still enough changes in here to call Android 16 a big update to the platform. Unfortunately for some Pixel owners, this update is also bringing in new bugs, like this annoying one where the phone takes too long to wake up. Google is aware of this and is working on a fix for it, but there seem to be plenty more that need highlighting. Pixel phones are slow to wake up after Android 16 Reddit user jdawg0024 highlighted that waking up their Pixel 9 Pro XL has become unreliable after updating to Android 16. Their phone stays unresponsive for about five seconds every time they try to wake the display, either by double-tapping the display or by pressing the power button. The phone functions normally once it has woken up, but if the screen turns off again, the issue repeats itself. As you can imagine, this does sound very annoying. It's the kind of bug that negatively impacts the user experience in a very noticeable way, but not enough to become a dealbreaker, so most people carry on using their device but stay frustrated. Plenty of other users chimed in to affirm that they are facing the same issue, and we can see many others complaining across multiple Reddit threads. For what it's worth, we couldn't reproduce the issue across a couple of Pixel devices on Android 16, including a Pixel 9 Pro XL. The official PixelCommunity account responded to the complaint, advising the user to reboot their device to fix the issue temporarily: We are aware of this issue and a fix will be released in the coming weeks. For the time being, you can reboot your device to temporarily fix the issue. Some users suggest disabling Tap to check phone and Lift to check phone in Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen, then restarting your device and re-enabling both features. This seemingly fixes the issue, though some users also say it only does so temporarily. Still, you can try it and see if it works for you. The Android 16 update appears to bring a lot of new bugs This isn't the only bug that users are facing with Android 16, though, but it's the one that is the most widespread. Based on scores of user reports across Reddit and X, we could also gather that users are facing the following issues with the Android 16 update: Lock screen frequently freezes Slow/unresponsive fingerprint unlock Unresponsive screen gestures Erratic auto-brightness Erratic/unresponsive proximity sensor Auto-rotate stops working Apps freezing and not responding to touch input Camera freezes, often requiring multiple shutter button taps to take a photo Android Auto drops connection Circle to Search stops working For most of these issues, restarting the device temporarily fixes the problem. As part of the troubleshooting steps, you could attempt a factory reset to see if the issues are resolved, though remember to back up your data, as it will all get wiped. If problems persist, you can consider rolling back to Android 15 and wait for the next stable release that hopefully fixes the issues. You can and should also file a bug report with Google to add your voice to the complaints. These expensive phones are getting a 'stable' update after an extensive beta program, so such a long list of bugs is unacceptable. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
As a Pixel fan, I tried the new iPhone app made by Google's camera team, and it's fantastic
Joe Maring / Android Authority In the Android world, it's hard to beat Google's Pixel phones for consistent, lifelike photos. While the HDR-ified look may not be for everyone, there's no questioning the sheer reliability of a Pixel camera. When you tap the shutter button, you can all but guarantee you'll get a pleasing and natural picture every single time. That camera experience is one of the main reasons I like using Pixels so much, and thanks to a new app called Indigo, you can now get something similar on the iPhone. Indigo is an iPhone camera app created by two individuals who worked on the Pixel Camera and Google Camera apps, and it incorporates the same HDR+ image processing from those apps into the iPhone. And rather than simply copying Google's approach, Indigo adds its own unique touch, aiming to reduce overexposure, blown-out highlights, and noise-filled shadows. It sounds like the perfect way to get a Pixel-like camera on an iPhone, but does it work? I tried Indigo side by side with Apple's camera app to find out. Comparing Indigo vs. the iPhone's default camera Joe Maring / Android Authority I tested Indigo on an iPhone 16, spending part of an afternoon snapping pictures with it and the default iPhone camera app. Indigo offers a range of manual controls, including shutter speed, ISO, temperature, and more. However, for this test, I ignored all of those settings. I simply opened each camera app and tapped the shutter button. Across the dozen or so pictures I captured, there's a pretty consistent difference between Indigo and Apple's camera. In almost every image, the Indigo picture has more shadows, more contrast, and more balanced highlights. Indigo camera Apple camera The picture of my dog above is a prime example of this. At first glance, the regular iPhone camera is the more eye-catching photo, largely because it's brighter. But that doesn't automatically mean it's the better of the two shots. Indigo's picture is much more accurate to how the room looked in person. My dog's darker fur around his snout is better represented in the Indigo shot. The white wall behind my dog also has a starker white color, compared to the blueish tint Apple's camera gave it. The Apple camera app is perhaps the more Instagram-worthy image, but I appreciate how much more true-to-life Indigo's picture is. Indigo camera Apple camera You see a similar result with the picture of the bookshelf. While it's a subtler example, it's another situation where brighter doesn't = better. The Indigo picture is darker and cooler, giving you a picture that's both more lifelike and a bit moody. The enhanced brightness in the Apple camera picture is visually less interesting to my eye. It also adds a halo effect around some letters on the books that isn't present in the Indigo photo. Beyond a simple battle of brightness vs. darkness, there's also a notable difference in how Indigo processes certain colors. Indigo camera Apple camera This is well represented in this shot of the nature trail. Here, Indigo does a really good job balancing the lush greenery and the overcast sky. The trees and tall grass are much more colorful and accurate to how they looked to my own eyes. The regular iPhone camera puts much more emphasis on enhancing the blue in the sky and the cloud detail at the expense of significantly darkening the rest of the scene. Personally, I prefer how Indigo handled this one. Indigo camera Apple camera My preference for Indigo continues with the picture of the dandelion. The Indigo app did a fantastic job of capturing the bright white of the pappus of the dandelion and the dark green plants behind it. The Apple camera app, meanwhile, has a warm, yellowish tint to the whole image that I don't particularly like. It's also much more noticeably sharpened than the Indigo picture, especially once you zoom in a little bit. Indigo camera Apple camera Last but certainly not least, a picture of my cat, Polo. Both photos are pretty good at first glance, and while the Apple camera app certainly didn't do a bad job, subtle details lead me to — again — prefer Indigo's result. Like the dandelion, the iPhone camera app pretty clearly sharpens a lot of details here, especially around Polo's nose. The Indigo image isn't lacking in detail, but it appears softer and more lifelike than the somewhat harsh photo Apple's camera took. I also prefer Indigo's subtler lighting around Polo's left ear and the warmer appearance of his brown fur. These are admittedly small things to consider, but I think they add up to make a better photo. Do you prefer the Indigo or Apple camera results? 0 votes Indigo camera NaN % Apple camera NaN % The Pixel camera experience we've been waiting for? Joe Maring / Android Authority After an afternoon with Indigo, I have to admit that I'm damn impressed with the results. The iPhone 16 takes good pictures with its default camera app, but in virtually every comparison between the two, I prefer the photos from Indigo. Indigo pictures are more Pixel-y than Apple's camera app, but they're also pretty clearly not a 1:1 imitation of the Pixel style. Based on my experience with the Pixel 9 series, the Indigo app favors darker shadows, contrast, and deeper colors in a way modern Pixel phones do not. And I love that. I think the folks behind Indigo are onto something special. Now, is Indigo perfect? Not by any means. Even after just a few hours of use, I ran into numerous issues with the app on my iPhone 16 — including pictures that didn't save, the viewfinder freezing, and overall slow performance. Indigo also caused my iPhone 16 to get really hot, to the point where I received two overheating notifications in the Indigo app. There are also missing camera modes, such as portrait mode and panorama photos. Even with all that being the case, I think the folks behind Indigo are onto something special, and I cannot wait for the Android version (which is coming, just without a firm ETA) to get here.
