Latest news with #PixelPhones
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
4 days ago
- Android Authority
Survey shows people are deeply divided over Pixel battery issues
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Pixels are among the best Android phones money can buy, but if there's one issue that keeps coming back to haunt them, it's battery safety. We've seen battery overheating problems take down the Pixel 4a. The Pixel 6a took it further, and in one alarming case, it reportedly melted completely. More recently, Google acknowledged that a batch of Pixel 7a units was experiencing 'unexpected' battery swelling. In response, Google pushes out software updates that reduce maximum charging capacity and speed, and offers replacements or compensation in some cases. But these solutions feel more like putting a Band-Aid over a problem that requires a more permanent fix, especially when swollen batteries pose a serious safety risk and Pixel phones are expected to last longer than ever, thanks to Google's extended update commitments. So, we decided to ask our readers — Are battery concerns putting you off Pixel phones? Given the safety implications, you'd expect the answer to be a resounding 'yes,' but interestingly, the results of the survey conducted on our site turned out to be deeply divided. Are battery concerns putting you off the Pixel? We received approximately 3,000 votes in our survey asking people if battery safety or the lack of it would put them off Pixel phones. 46% of the respondents said that they are indeed concerned about Pixel battery safety. On the flip side, a nearly equal 44% said they're not too worried and still believe Pixels are solid phones despite recurring issues. The remaining 10% were undecided. That's a surprisingly close split, and the comments gave us a better sense of the hesitation and trust Pixel users (and potential buyers) feel right now. What readers are saying Some survey takers voiced serious concerns based on their personal experience. One user shared that their Pixel 6a was overheating despite trying multiple chargers, including Google's official accessories. 'I'm not sure what to do and worry about leaving it plugged in for too long,' they said. Another reader pointed to multiple incidents among their friends, including a Pixel 7 that caught on fire. 'This looks more and more like real issues, and that corners that can't be cut have been cut,' they commented. Some comments also showed signs of declining loyalty towards the Pixel brand. A Pixel 6a owner noted, 'At the moment, my 6a is getting warm, but no other issues. I'm not going to get another Pixel, though, in the next year or so. I'll look around and see what else is available. I'm disappointed that they nerfed my phone.' Pixel battery issues are clearly not universal, but they're also not rare enough to ignore. That said, plenty of respondents also defended Pixel phones. One user remarked, 'I have not had a single issue ever and have owned every Nexus/Pixel released,' while another said, 'I never ever had a Pixel problem besides a few dumb things, and it's probably my error.' Clearly, not all Pixel users are encountering battery-related troubles, and many are sticking by the brand. Meanwhile, some readers also argued that battery issues aren't unique to Google. 'Had two Pixel 7as and now a Pixel 9a. No issues,' a user noted. 'Isn't this just in the nature of what are quite volatile components? Can happen to any lithium battery if not treated correctly.' The bottom line and what we gather from the survey results is that Pixel battery issues are clearly not universal, but they're also not rare enough to ignore. Some users have had great experiences with Google's phones, while others are worried about or experiencing overheating, swelling, and even dangerous failures. That said, one thing is clear — for a company that now promises seven years of updates, Google needs to do more than patch things with software.
Android Authority
12-06-2025
- Android Authority
Pixel phones may finally get native flashlight brightness controls, years after Samsung and Apple
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google may add native flashlight brightness controls to Pixel phones in the next quarterly release of Android 16. While the hardware has long supported it, Pixel users currently need to use an app to adjust the flashlight's intensity. The new feature, discovered in the latest beta, will likely make the Quick Settings flashlight tile expandable. Nearly every smartphone has an LED flash on the rear that you can use as a flashlight in a pinch, but most don't let you adjust its intensity, leaving you stuck with a light that's either too dim or too bright for the situation. Google Pixel phones currently lack a flashlight brightness slider in the Quick Settings panel, but that could finally change in the next quarterly release of Android 16. While Samsung Galaxy devices have offered flashlight brightness controls for years, stock Android only added support for the underlying functionality with the Android 13 release in 2022. This update introduced an API that allows apps to control flashlight brightness, provided the phone's hardware supports it. Most Pixel devices already support brightness control at the hardware level, but Google has yet to provide a built-in way to access it. As a result, Pixel users must turn to third-party apps like FlashDim or Google's Magnifier app to adjust the flashlight brightness, both of which use the Android 13 API to provide a brightness slider. This workaround is especially needed on newer Pixel phones, which oddly default to 50% brightness when the flashlight is toggled from the Quick Settings panel. It was always strange that Google's own Magnifier app provides a UI for adjusting the flashlight brightness while the Android OS doesn't, but Google is finally rectifying this discrepancy. While digging through the latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release, we spotted new code that hints at a 'Flashlight Strength' dialog being added to the System UI. Code Copy Text Flashlight Strength Although there aren't many references to this dialog yet, we believe Google will make the flashlight tile expandable, similar to the Internet and Bluetooth tiles. Thanks to tipster Nail Sadykov who managed to activate the dialog, we can confirm this will be the case. Sadykov first revealed the existence of the feature in a post on his unofficial Google News Telegram group a few weeks ago, and he shared some images with Android Authority that show the feature in action. Nail Sadykov Tapping the tile's icon will toggle the flashlight, while tapping its text label will open the new 'flashlight strength' dialog with a slider. When the flashlight is enabled, the brightness level will be shown underneath the text label in the tile. If the tile has been shrunk, the brightness level won't be shown and a long press will be required to open the dialog. The dialog is quite basic in its current form and lacks the visual polish found in Apple's version of the feature. We don't know if Google plans to add a more refined interface later, but it wouldn't be surprising given the competition. Once this feature rolls out, Google will be joining other manufacturers like OnePlus and Xiaomi in finally offering native flashlight controls. OnePlus quietly introduced this feature to some of its flagships in the past year, and Xiaomi recently did the same for some of its devices. Flashlight brightness controls in One UI 8 (Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra) Flashlight brightness controls in HyperOS 2 (Xiaomi 15 Ultra) Flashlight brightness controls in OxygenOS 15 (OnePlus 13) It's surprising it has taken this long for many Android phones to add what's considered a basic function, but the addition is welcome nonetheless. 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.
GSM Arena
10-06-2025
- GSM Arena
Google Android 16 coming today
While all eyes were on the new iOS 26, Google announced that the Android 16 final release will come out later today. Mind you, this doesn't mean 'final' as in 'last', it's just the end of the beta period. This is only for supported Pixel phones (Pixel 6-series and newer). They need to be running either Android 15 or an Android 16 beta. Other manufacturers should have final updates ready soon, given that they have followed Google with their own beta releases. It's almost time for the Android 16 final release! See you back here tomorrow. 😉 — Android Developers (@AndroidDev) June 10, 2025 Note that if you are running Android 16 QPR 1 Beta 1, you will not receive Android 16 final as an over-the-air update. QPR is a quarterly release and is expected in the fall – that update will deliver a major UI overhaul called Material 3 Expressive. QPR is a separate update track and is currently on Beta 1.1. Source
GSM Arena
08-06-2025
- Business
- GSM Arena
Deals: Pixel 9 and Poco F7 deals, plus OnePlus 13 and Moto Razr 60 Ultra discounts
This week's deals focus on Pixel and Poco phones, but for those looking at flagship devices, we also have a OnePlus and a Motorola offer. The Google Pixel 9 is paired with an Acer Chromebook 314. It's kind of a free laptop – the combo costs €50 more than just the 128GB phone, but if you go for the 256GB model (and you probably should), then the laptop does come free. The Acer Chromebook 14 is nothing incredible, mind you, it has a 14' 1080p display, an Intel Celeron N4500 with just 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD. You can pick it up for just €150. Still, it's hard to beat free. Note that neither the RAM nor the storage is upgradable, which is quite limiting. Moving on, the more premium Google Pixel 9 Pro has a solid discount of €350. Unfortunately, higher capacity options are out of stock at the time of writing (but you can keep an eye on it). Here's how the Pixel 9 Pro compares with the vanilla 9. Google Pixel 9 Pro €350 Read our review 16/128GB - €750 at Amazon DE The Google Pixel 9a is the current mid-range option. Due to how the discounts work out, getting the 256GB variant is a no-brainer – it's only €10 more than the 128GB one. For a cheaper alternative, there is the Google Pixel 8a, but that is saddled with the Tensor G3 – the G4 chip in the 9a has significantly reduced standby power draw. Google Pixel 8a €170 off Read our review 8/128GB - €380 at Amazon DE Looking at flagship models, the OnePlus 13 is under €1,000. The upgrade to 16/512GB is only €38 over the base 12/256GB model, which also seems like an easy decision. You don't need to pay €900+ to get a Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phone, though. The Poco F7 Ultra has that and is under €700. The screen is smaller (6.67' vs. 6.82') and isn't an LTPO panel, but it still has 1440p+ resolution. The phone has an aluminum frame with an IP68 rating and a 5,300mAh battery (vs. 6,000mAh on the OnePlus). The cameras aren't as good with a 50MP main (1/1.55' vs. 1/1.43'), 50MP telephoto (2.5x/60mm vs. 3x 73mm) and 32MP ultra-wide (vs. 50MP). Check out our review for details on the camera. You can go even cheaper with the Poco F7 Pro. That one drops back to the older Snapdragon 8 Elite, but has the same screen and IP68-rated aluminum frame. The 50MP main camera is the same, but the ultra-wide only has an 8MP sensor and there is no telephoto. The battery is bigger at 6,000mAh, the same size as the OnePlus, though with 90W wired-only charging. Check out our Poco F7 Pro vs. F7 Ultra article for more details. Another Snapdragon 8 Elite phone is the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra. It's Moto's latest flip foldable flagship and is still pretty pricey, even with the current €150 discount. It has a 6' 1224p+ internal display and a 4' cover display (both LTPO), a 50MP main camera (1/1.56') and 50MP ultra-wide. It's powered by a 4,700mAh battery with 68W wired and 30W wireless charging. The Razr 60 is the first generation of Moto foldables to have ingress protection with an IP48 rating. Let's wrap up with a pair of Poco mid-rangers. The Poco X7 has a great display for the price, a 6.67' 12-bit panel with Dolby Vision and 3,000 nits peak brightness. The Dimensity 7300 Ultra can be found on cheaper phones, but it's fast enough. You also get a 50MP main camera (1/1.95') and 8MP ultra-wide and a 5,110mAh battery. The Poco X7 Pro is a €50 upgrade (looking at the base models) and that gets you the faster Dimensity 8400 Ultra chip and a larger 6,000mAh Si/C battery with double the charge rate at 90W. Both phones are rated IP69. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
