You get all the identical software program options because the Pixel 9 collection, however there are some extras to reap the benefits of all of the screens. Made You Look, for instance, performs a cute animation on the outer display screen to verify your kiddo stares at it once you’re making an attempt to seize a photograph. If you’re on a Google Meet name, now you can make the most of all of the screens so that everybody round you’ll be able to see the individual you are talking with, and meaning utilizing all of the cameras too, so the individual on the opposite finish would not should see simply your face.
On the finish of the day, that is nonetheless a $1,799 smartphone, and that is simply too excessive a value to pay. However you probably have the money and love folding telephones, particularly when paired with a Pixel’s smarts and digital camera prowess, this is among the finest choices out there.
How Lengthy Is Your Pixel Supported?
The Pixel 10 collection, Pixel 9 collection, Pixel 8 collection, Pixel 9a, and Pixel 8a will get seven years of Android OS upgrades and safety updates. The 2023 Pixel 7a will obtain three years of Android OS upgrades and 5 years of safety updates from the date of launch, the identical as older Pixels. Google has a web page you’ll be able to verify to see precisely what month your Pixel telephone will cease receiving updates. Safety updates scale back the chance of malware, hold your telephone bug-free, and make it safer. Android model updates introduce new options—beauty and useful—that enhance the OS as an entire.
Pixel telephones additionally occur to be the primary to obtain any sort of Android replace, in order quickly as Google releases a brand new model, like Android 16, you’ll be able to obtain it instantly by heading to Settings > System > System Replace > Verify for Replace. You can too take a look at beta variations of Android, however you may must enroll your machine. (Make sure that to again up your telephone first!) Pixels are additionally aware of the characteristic drops Google points each few months, which embrace options from newer Pixels coming to older fashions and brand-new options for the most recent units.
There are just a few different Pixel telephones value contemplating if you don’t need any of the above decisions. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional (7/10, WIRED Recommends) can be found by way of official channels and third-party retailers (till provides final). The hot button is to not pay greater than $500 or $600 for both of them; in any other case, you could as nicely put that cash towards the Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 collection.
I don’t advocate you purchase any older Pixel units. A number of Pixel A-series telephones have been put beneath a battery efficiency program to mitigate the chance of overheating or swelling batteries. These software program updates have crippled the battery life on these telephones, and Google has offered prospects with battery alternative choices or Google Retailer credit score for a brand new Pixel telephone. These potential points imply it is simply not well worth the danger of shopping for a Pixel 7a or Pixel 6a. The Pixel 8a (8/10, WIRED Recommends) would not appear to indicate issues but, however I would nonetheless throw warning to the wind.
Pixel A-Collection Battery Points
In 2025, some Google Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a homeowners have acquired obligatory updates that purposefully degrade the efficiency of the battery to stop overheating. Your telephone might have been working positive earlier than, however Google issued these updates as a preventative measure, and never each machine was affected. Equally, some Pixel 7a units might encounter battery swelling points.
In case your telephone has been affected, you will have two choices. You will get a free battery alternative—Google has a registration web page for the Pixel 4a, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 7a. If that is not going to be just right for you, you will get Google Retailer credit score for the Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a to place towards a brand new Pixel telephone.
These points appear to have solely affected some batteries within the A-series telephones, suggesting it is doubtless a provider subject. What concerning the newer Pixel 9a? This is an announcement a Google spokesperson offered to WIRED: “Google constantly improves Pixel testing primarily based on person suggestions and completely investigates reported incidents for all parts, together with batteries. With Pixel 9a, we delivered the most important and longest-lasting battery of any A-series but. We’ve been inspired by its reception up to now and are assured within the telephone’s longevity and sturdiness.”
Ideally, this battery subject has been rectified within the newest mannequin, however we’ll be monitoring it over the subsequent few years.
What Does Pixel Care+ Embody?
If you buy a Pixel from Google, you may see the choice so as to add Pixel Care+ for defense. It is solely out there within the US by way of the Google Retailer and Google Fi. The month-to-month possibility can run for as much as 60 months, whereas the fastened pricing is for a 2-year time period. This is what you get.
Pixel Care+ begins at $9 per 30 days or $179 and contains limitless unintentional harm safety, $0 display screen and battery repairs, replacements that ship in a day, and precedence assist from Pixel consultants. That pricing is for the Pixel 10, and it goes up for the pricier units. For instance, the Pixel 10 Professional will value $13 per 30 days, or $239 for the 2-year time period. There is not any Pixel Care+ possibility for the Pixel 9a.
Pixel Care+ with Loss and Theft begins at $10 per 30 days or $199 and contains the identical protections as talked about above however contains two claims of loss and theft each 12 months. Weirdly, Loss and Theft protection just isn’t out there in New York state.
You Can DeGoogle Your Pixel Cellphone
Love Google’s Pixel telephones however need to get away from utilizing Google companies? It is a little bit ironic, however you’ll be able to really use a unique working system with the Pixel as a substitute of the built-in Android. We have examined and actually like /e/OS, a privacy-first working system that is primarily based on the Android Open Supply Undertaking. When you can set up it your self, it requires a little bit of technical know-how, you’ll be able to purchase a refurbished Pixel from Murena with /e/OS put in already. Should you’re , we’ve extra particulars about /e/OS right here.
The Finest Pixel Circumstances and Equipment
I’ve written a broader information on the Finest Pixel 9 Circumstances and Equipment right here, however listed below are just a few picks on your perusal. We’ll be testing circumstances for the Pixel 10 collection quickly.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
This silicone case helps you to match your Pixel telephone’s colour. It is sturdy and good to the touch, with raised edges on the entrance to guard the display screen. It is made with recycled plastics, and whereas the older circumstances appeal to lint and dirt simply, this revamped case does a greater job of resisting them. I additionally like that it retains the again flush, so the digital camera bump is not so apparent. The Pixel 9 Professional Fold case is fabricated from a hard-shell polycarbonate, nevertheless it’s pretty slim and light-weight in comparison with third-party circumstances I’ve examined. Entry to the buttons is open, and I like the way it provides you a better method to unfold the telephone.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
That is our favourite case total for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8A collection. It has clicky buttons and extremely grippy edges (therefore the title). It feels sturdy but pretty slim, and you may select a snazzy design. Simply know that it’s important to apply this “pores and skin” to the again of the case. There’s a number of room for error right here, so watch out, and watch Dbrand’s set up video for suggestions. There’s MagSafe assist so you should use your Pixel with MagSafe equipment, and it labored exceptionally in my testing.
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Julian-Chokkattu-(no-border).jpg){kind=tracking}
That is hands-down the most effective case should you steadily connect your Pixel to the handlebars of a motorbike or an electrical scooter. Peak Design’s mounting system helps you to magnetically affix the telephone to its Common Bike Mount ($50), and it stays put. After almost a yr of testing, I’ve but to have a telephone fall off my experience utilizing this mounting system. It makes use of Apple’s MagSafe system, so it really works with loads of MagSafe equipment, even wi-fi chargers. The corporate additionally has a number of different magnetic equipment, like a automotive vent mount. The case itself is sweet; I simply want the sides have been raised extra for higher display screen safety. It is available in extra colours than ever.
This charging adapter is all it’s good to recharge your Pixel, whichever mannequin you will have. The latest high-end Pixel telephones do not include chargers within the field, so if you have no spare USB-C chargers, it is value choosing one up. This one’s prongs fold up, so it is nice for journey too.
.jpg)
Dbrand provides you two display screen protectors on this package deal, and once I initially examined it, there was no utility device, so I needed to freehand the set up. The present Prism 2.0 model fortunately now comes with a device, so it needs to be a lot simpler to align. You get all the opposite instruments within the field to wipe down your telephone and guarantee there are not any specks of mud on it prior to installing the protector.
Our Favourite Pixel Software program Options
Pixels have many nice software program options, however some must be toggled on. It will also be laborious to do not forget that all these options exist, so listed below are a lot of the prime ones.
There are some key options on Pixels that you just will not discover on some other Android telephone. A few of these can be found solely on choose Pixels—the Tensor chip began with the Pixel 6, and at present, the Tensor G4 is within the Pixel 9 vary. This is a breakdown:
Name Display: If you get a name from an unknown quantity, Google Assistant will scan and flag it if it is suspected spam or a robocall. If it is merely a quantity you do not acknowledge, you’ll be able to have Assistant take the decision. You will see a real-time transcription of what is taking place, so you’ll be able to finish the decision instantly if it is a telemarketer or reply if it seems to be a long-lost highschool buddy. If it is somebody essential, you can provide Assistant responses to recite should you’re unable to take the decision—it gives up contextual replies now, too. Keep in mind to show it on by opening up the dialer app and heading to Settings (three dots on the highest proper) > Spam and Name Display.
Wait Occasions and Direct My Name: If you name a enterprise within the telephone app, you may see an estimated wait time till somebody actual picks up (it would not work with each enterprise). Google’s Direct My Name characteristic additionally transcribes your entire name and separates the menu choices so you’ll be able to see them with out having to pay attention intently to the decision. Extra lately, for some numbers, Direct My Name will cache responses so you may instantly see menu choices while not having to attend for the automated response to undergo each quantity. You may flip this on by going to the telephone app’s Settings > Direct My Name.
Maintain for Me: Should you’ve been positioned on maintain with a enterprise quantity, you’ll be able to ask Google Assistant to take over. It should play a loud chime when the individual on the opposite finish is again. No must pay attention to carry music! Toggle it on within the telephone app’s Settings > Maintain for Me. This characteristic is out there on most Pixels however solely works in choose international locations, together with the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, and Canada.
Clear Calling: You probably have a Pixel 7 or newer, you’ll be able to activate this characteristic to boost the opposite caller’s voice and scale back their background noise. Head to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Clear Calling to toggle it on. It additionally works on Google’s Pixel Buds Professional.
Name Notes (Tensor G4 and newer; with 12-plus GB RAM): You may allow this within the dialer app by going to Settings > Name Notes and ensuring the toggle is on. This does not activate each time you are on a name. Relatively, it’s important to faucet the Extra button once you’re on a name and faucet Name Notes to start out it. It kind of data the dialog (it notifies the opposite individual that the decision is being recorded), and on the finish, it’s going to provide you with a abstract of essential factors from the decision proper within the name historical past log, equivalent to value quotes, telephone numbers, or addresses. Typically it will get data incorrect, because the accuracy of the transcription will depend on the decision high quality, however you’ll be able to play again your entire recording your self to double-check.
Rip-off Detection: This characteristic detects dialog patterns as you might be on the telephone with a suspicious quantity to warn you when somebody is deploying a basic rip-off tactic. It additionally works in Google’s Messages app. You may flip it on by going to the telephone app, then tapping the three-dot menu icon on the prime proper, and hitting Settings > Rip-off Detection.
Reverse Cellphone Quantity Lookup: Do not acknowledge the telephone quantity from an incoming name? Within the name app, now you can shortly search for a quantity with out having to manually run a search your self.
Take a Message (Tensor G5): Google is revamping voicemails with Take a Message. It is just like transcribed voicemails, although that characteristic would not all the time work and should rely in your provider. Take a Message bypasses the usual voicemail (your regular voicemail will solely kick in with missed calls when your telephone is off or out of community). The caller shall be instructed to depart a message, and this recording shall be auto-transcribed, seen proper within the name historical past of the telephone app. It will even supply actionable steps, like including a reminder or an occasion to your calendar.
Pixel VIPs: This can be a new widget that provides you one-tap entry to your favourite contacts. But it surely’s greater than that. Faucet on one among your contacts and you may see a superbly designed web page that provides fast entry to name the contact and message them on varied platforms. It will present the final messages between you two, share location, climate updates, and the time for his or her space, and you may add notes if you wish to bear in mind particular issues. You may entry this the identical manner you add a widget; it sits beneath the Contacts app.
Transcription and Translation Options
Translated Cellphone Calls in Your Voice (Tensor G5): You may translate a telephone name in actual time, however what makes Google’s strategy distinctive is that the corporate will make the translated voice sound like your individual (or the individual on the opposite finish). That manner, it nonetheless sounds such as you’re speaking to somebody , reasonably than a robotic voice. No audio is recorded, and knowledge is not saved (it really works on-device). It is solely out there for just a few languages, like English, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
Reside Translate: In choose messaging apps, Pixels will mechanically know when somebody sends a message in a language apart from your default. It will translate it (if you want), and you’ll reply in that very same language. Greater than 50 languages are supported, although you may must obtain the languages you need to see translated by heading to Settings > System > Reside Translate.
Reside Caption: Pixels can mechanically transcribe any video taking part in on the display screen. You may shortly toggle this on by tapping one of many quantity buttons and tapping on the sq. button under the amount slider (or head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Reside Caption). If the video is in a unique language, you’ll be able to even see it translated (solely on Tensor-powered Pixels), although you may must obtain one of many supported languages. It could actually even caption telephone calls.
.gif)
