Despite the outstanding photo quality of the Google Pixel 7 series of smartphones, Google’s flagships have long suffered from complaints of poorer battery life and cellular stability than their competitors like Apple, Xiaomi and OnePlus. And the main culprit has always been assumed to be Google’s power-intensive Tensor chipsets manufactured on Samsung’s foundry.

With the recent release of the Google Pixel 8 series this week, Google fans were curious by whether the new Tensor G3 chipset would bring better battery life to the Pixel lineup. However, based on the small fine print on Google’s “Compare Phones” section on its website, it is revealed that the Google Pixel 8 series not only has the same bad battery life as the Pixel 7 series but is also worse than the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro that were released 2 years ago.

As shown in the official fine print above, the latest Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro’s battery lasted an average of 31 hours from Google’s own internal testing, which makes both devices on par with the Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro from last year. In addition, when compared to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro launched 2 years back, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro’s battery life is worse because they only last 3 hours shorter than Google’s own Pixel 6 at 34 hours. We compiled a table below to view Google’s claims of average battery life in its Pixel lineup in descending order, alongside the battery capacity of each Pixel smartphone.

For context, external testers like TechDroider on YouTube, have tested the battery life of last year’s Google Pixel 7 Pro against the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, OnePlus 11, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. Their results on battery life are as shown in Table 2.

As shown, the Pixel 7 Pro is significantly lagging behind its competitors in the battery life department of the premium smartphone market by around 2 hours in battery life. And the battery life result of 8 hours and 13 mins is much shorter than Google’s official claim of 31 hours on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

If Google’s claims of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro’s battery are true, then the Pixel 8 series has the same bad battery life of “31 hours” as the Pixel 7 and possibly worse battery life than the Pixel 6 series as well. 

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(Source 1, Source 2)

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Google has just announced that the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro will be receiving support for 5G networking in India. The company had recently brought support for the faster bandwidth earlier this month for the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and even the Pixel 6a. Now, it is adding support for the two other Pixel 6 series models as well.

This is quite interesting considering the fact that the Search Engine giant did not launch the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in the Indian market. Unlike its successor, the company only launched the Pixel 6a from the last gen lineup in the region. As of right now, the Pixel 6a will receive the update with the March Android security patch while the Pixel 6 and the Pro variant receives 5G support. So you can expect to see much faster data speeds over the last gen networking standard.

PSA – 5G functionality has started rolling out in India on Pixel 6 series and above, available on select carriers
Learn more: https://t.co/XHdZaNAysY. pic.twitter.com/nX67DDRZ0F

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) March 20, 2023

Notably, these updates arrives months after testing and gathering feedback from its users for quality and usability during the early beta stages. So now, users can head to settings to enable 5G connectivity from the networking settings in addition to the existing LTE and 3G networking. As of right now, it is unclear if and when the brand will bring support for 5G networking for some older models. This includes the likes of the Pixel 5 series, or the Pixel 4a model. Similar to the Pixel 6 lineup, these older smartphone models were also not officially launched in the country.

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The Google Pixel 7 series was announced around early October and the phones have started to ship globally. Both the Pixel 7 and the Pro variants are getting good popularity due to solid launch day offers on them. However, before you decide to get hold of the new Pixel devices, it might be a good idea to check how they compare to their predecessors. 

In this article, we’ll be taking a close look at the Pixel 7 vs Pixel 6 and see how they both are similar yet dissimilar in a number of departments. One of the biggest upgrades on the Pixel 7 is the new second-gen Google Tensor G2 processor, which brings a number of improvements over last year’s Tensor chip.

There are differences in the dimensions and the camera departments too, so let’s take a look at how the new model compares to last year’s Pixel 6.

Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 6

DESIGN

The Pixel 7 series doesn’t bring any significant upgrades over its predecessor. So you get the same horizontal camera bar at the back as the Pixel 6 series. One change that you’ll notice is that the rear camera housing is now made of aluminum and curves on the side.

Despite the subtle changes over its predecessor, the Pixel 7 looks a bit more premium this year. The polished aluminum definitely makes it look more expensive, which the Pixel 6 lacked. The new model is available in three colors, namely, Snow, Obsidian, and Lemongrass. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 had a bunch of fancier color options, including pastel color options like the Kinda Coral and Sorta Seafoam. Note the two phones are IP68 dust and water-resistant too. 

Coming to the dimensions, the Pixel 7 is slightly more compact than its predecessor. It measures 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm vs 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm on the Pixel 6 model. Even in the weight department, the Pixel 7 shaves off a few grams with 197 grams weight as compared to the 207 grams on the Pixel 6

Personally, despite the changes being subtle, the Pixel 7 seems to be better looking than last year’s Pixel 6.

DISPLAY

The two phones also differ slightly in terms of their displays. The Pixel 7 comes with a smaller 6.3-inch OLED panel with Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 brings a 6.4-inch panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. Notably, the Pixel 7 is said to be 25% brighter under sunlight than the Pixel 6. While the overall peak brightness of 1400 nits is slightly lower than the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 7 is still significantly brighter than the older Pixel 6 model.

Another addition to the Pixel 7 is the Face Unlock feature which is missing on the Pixel 6.

SPECS

The Pixel 7 comes with the latest Tensor G2 chipset inside with Titan M2, bringing better performance over last year’s chip. The new G2 chip features two Cortex-X1 cores with two Cortex-A78 cores and four Cortex-A55 cores. The chip has enough power to handle all the tasks thrown at it, but the real highlight of this new chipset is its ability to handle AI and ML. 

In comparison, the Pixel 6 came with the first-generation Google Tensor chip, which should be slightly inferior to the latest generation. As for the RAM configurations, both the Pixel devices feature just a single 8GB RAM option. For storage, both models offer either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage onboard. 

As for the software, both devices run on the latest Android 13 stock version. Google has promised at least three OS updates and 5 years of security updates on both devices, but since the Pixel 6 is a year old device, it will receive one less Android upgrade than the Pixel 7. 

CONNECTIVITY

In terms of connectivity, both phones come with Wi-Fi 6e support, Bluetooth 5.2, aptX HD codecs support, NFC, and a USB-C 3.2 port at the bottom.

You also get an under-display optical fingerprint sensor along with other sensors like gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer. As mentioned above, the Pixel 7 also adds Face Unlock, which the Pixel 6 lacks. 

CAMERAS

As for its camera module, the Pixel 7 features a dual-camera setup, much similar to its predecessor model. 

The new Pixel 7 features a 50MP primary camera and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor.  On the front, you get a 10.8MP f/2.2 sensor camera module for selfies and video calls.

On paper, the Pixel 6 has the exact same rear camera module as the Pixel 7, but the front camera is slightly inferior. It features an 8MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture. 

While the camera specs look more or less similar, the real difference lies in the processor underneath. Thanks to the Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 can take multiple shots from its main and wide-angle cameras to ensure blur-free photos. The low light performance is also better with faster Night Sight. Another big addition in the camera department is guided prompts via audio for taking perfect selfies for people with impaired vision.  

Overall, despite the similar camera specs, the Pixel 7’s camera performance is going to be better than the Pixel 6.

BATTERY

The Pixel 7 comes with a smaller 4335mAh battery with 30W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. To recall, the Pixel 6 had a larger 4614mAh battery on board but the charging speed was limited to 21W. Despite the reduction in battery life, Google has said that the Pixel 7 can last for an entire day and can even add up to 72 hours under Extreme Battery Saver mode. 

However, it is worth mentioning that ensuring the fastest charging support of 30W would cost you a few more bucks, as Google isn’t shipping a charger inside the box in most regions.

PRICE

The Pixel 7 starts at $599 in the USA. While in India, the phone is priced at INR 59,999. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 started at the same $599 in the US last year. Notably, the Pixel 6 wasn’t announced in India, but only the cheaper 6a was made officially available in the market. 

Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 6 – VERDICT

Unless you are getting the Pixel 6 for a heavily discounted price, it makes complete sense to get the new Pixel 7 over the older model, which brings better processing power, advanced camera features, and even a longer support cycle.

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*Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

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While the Pixel 6 series was a success in the market, it is also known for being one of the most buggiest smartphones from Google. The brand has offered various fixes for a lot of these issues, but the amount of bugs might have the company lose out on customers.

According to a TradingPlatform’s Edith Reads, the Search Engine giant might be losing out on its loyal userbase over the number of issues its Pixel 6 series have been facing. As per the latest analysis from her company, the Pixel devices have a drastic fall in popularity. The report adds that as many as 36 percent of the Pixel owners are considering to abandon the brand for another smartphone maker.

Overall, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro has seen great reception in the market. However, the two flagship smartphones have been plagued with a number of bugs ever since they were first launched. The issues ranged from problems with the display, its fingerprint scanner, and many more. As of right now, most of these issues have been addressed but there are still issues that affect the device on a hardware level.

A great example being the fingerprint scanner, which has been slow since the start. The updates have attempted to fix this but the scanner is still slower than other rivals in the market. While many of the bugs were minor inconveniences, TradingPlatforms’s report has suggested that Pixel 6 series has not been performing well at carrier stores.

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Google has just announced the latest Pixel feature drop for Google Pixel devices. Along with new features, the update also brings multiple bug fixes for the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro along with the latest security patch. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the update.

Starting with the new features in this update, Pixel devices now get access to proof of vaccination in supported regions, Google’s At a Glance is now available from the Lock Screen, and Live Translate gets a few new languages. Other than that, the update brings the June 2022 security patch level along with multiple bug fixes which you can check out in the changelog below (Only for Google Pixel 6 & 6 Pro).

• Fix for issue causing Google app crash after updating device in certain conditions.
• Fix for issue preventing GBoard from appearing in certain apps.

• Fix for issue causing loud noise artifacts during calls under certain conditions.
• Fix for issue preventing audio playback over USB accessories when using certain third-party apps.
• Fix for issue preventing incoming notifications for calls in certain conditions (A-199020405).
• Fix for issue preventing pre-screened calls to be accepted in certain conditions.

• General improvements for idle power consumption under certain conditions.

Biometrics

• Fix for issue causing under-display fingerprint unlock to fail while in a call with AOD active.

• General improvements for Bluetooth stability & performance.

• Fix for issue causing white screen to display after double tapping power to open Camera.
• Fix for issue occasionally causing Camera to launch when tapping power button for Emergency SOS mode.
• Fix for issue occasionally causing click sound in the background of captured videos.
• General improvements for camera stability & performance.

• Fix for issue causing display artifacts after waking device in certain conditions.
• Fix for issue causing display artifacts in Photos preview in certain conditions.

• Fix for issue causing display brightness to increase when flashlight is turned on.
• Improvements for adaptive brightness response in low light levels.

• General improvements for system stability & performance.
• Kernel update to 5.10.81 for Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro.

• General improvements for network connection stability & performance.

• General improvements for Wi-Fi stability & performance.

To check out the entire changelog for every eligible Google Pixel device, you can follow this link.

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Earlier this month, Google introduced the new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro alongside the upcoming Pixel 6a, Pixel Watch, and Pixel Buds Pro. This was just a teaser for the upcoming flagship Android phones and we’re still about five months off the launch of the Pixel 7 series. However, a new report is here to reveal some interesting details about the display and other major specs of the smartphone duo. Let’s take a look at it.

According to a report by 9to5Google, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will feature the exact same display as their predecessor Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The publication uncovered this from the Android Open-Source Project, where Google created two new display drivers, one tagged C10 and the other P10. The tags appear to be the abbreviated version of “Cheetah” and “Panther”, the codenames of Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

Further digging into the code disclosed that both the devices will sport the same Samsung-made display panels as the Pixel 6 duo, with model numbers S6E3FC3 and S6E3HC3, respectively.

This means that the Pixel 7 will feature a 1080 x 2400 display that is capable of running at up to 90Hz, whereas the Pixel 7 Pro will have a 1440 x 3120 display that can support up to 120Hz refresh rate. If you recall, these are the same specs as the 2021 Pixels.

However, the Pixel 7 is said to be a bit smaller than last year’s Pixel 6, the handset’s display will be 1mm narrower and 2mm shorter. On the contrary, the Pixel 7 Pro’s display is the same as the Pixel 6 Pro but it will have a native 1080p mode, which is likely to improve battery saving in Low Power Mode.

Judging from leaks and rumors, the Pixel 7 series only seems to carry minor upgrades and nothing out of the ordinary. However, there are still 5 months to the launch and Google may surprise us.

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Google has become the fifth largest smartphone brand at the start of 2022 reports IDC. This is for the United Kingdom market and for this year’s first quarter, i.e. January to March. This is also the first time the search giant’s Pixel lineup of smartphones have entered the top five list. 

Google shipped 1,63,900 Pixel phones during Q1 2022 and secured a 3.3 percent market share. It is a significant improvement during the same period last year when the company sold 50,900 units. Google is widely criticized for limiting the Pixel series to select markets, however, the approach seems to be working since it has entered the top five smartphone brands in the UK. 

Back in Q4 2021, Google’s Pixel series recorded the best sales numbers. This was attributed to the Pixel 6 series with an all-new design and in-house processor. The flagship offerings were available at all four major carriers in the UK i.e. Vodafone, Three, O2, and EE. 

The IDC report adds that Apple led the smartphone market with a 48.4 percent share and 2.4 million shipments. Samsung came second with 1.58 million sales. HMD Global (Nokia) and OPPO bagged the third and fourth spots in the list with 2,05,900 and 2,10,700 units respectively.

It’s anticipated that Pixel shipments will decline in the current quarter as the Pixel 6 series becomes older. But since the mid-range Pixel 6a launched earlier this month, the demand should pick up once it hits the market. 

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Last month, we reported on numerous Google Pixel 6 users facing issues with their smartphone’s WiFi. The search giant officially confirmed the issue later that month and stated that they are working on a fix that will arrive with the march update.

Now, the update has been made available to Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users which brings along the March feature drop, Android 12L, the March security patch, and many bug fixes. In a tweet, Mishaal Rahman had listed all the features that were coming to the Pixel 6 devices with the March feature drop, and now, the update is finally rolling out to users after being delayed for two weeks.

pic.twitter.com/qgHecMxdGR

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) March 7, 2022

The changelog for the March update is quite long, but it notably mentions fixing the notorious WiFi bug on the Pixel 6 devices.

For those unaware, Pixel 6 users have been facing troubles with Wi-Fi, like not being able to turn it on, in the first half of this month. The issue began appearing after people updated their devices to the second February update that was released previously. And now, the brand has stated that they are working on a fix, and users can see a software update rolling out sometime in March 2022.

Additionally, the phones are also gaining support for Verizon’s 5G C-Band network, which gives the devices access to the full power of the 5G Ultra-Wideband (UEB). However, this is a feature that’s specific for US users only.

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Google is encouraging Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro owners to purchase some accessories for their devices by offering a $10 coupon for the Google Store, sent through email. A snippet from the email reads, “Use the code below to save on your next purchase. Get inspired with devices and accessories that are a great match for your Pixel 6 Pro.”

Among the accessories Google is convincing users to buy is a Pixel 6 Pro case that costs $29. Applying the coupon brings the price down to $19. The case makes use of a dual-layer shock-absorbing material with raised edges that helps protect the device against scratches and drops.

The coupon also covers the Pixel Buds A-series which normally cost $99 but will cost $89 after the coupon is applied. The TWS earbuds come with features like 12mm dynamic drivers, dual beamforming microphones, and offer up to 24 hours of playback time. Adaptive Sound is supported too, allowing the Buds to adjust their volume automatically depending on the environment.

Lastly, the coupon suggests availing of the Pixel Stand wireless charger which is compatible with the Pixel phones, Pixel Buds, and various other Qi-certified devices.

If you own a Google Pixel 6/6 Pro and haven’t received the $10 coupon yet, then keep your eyes peeled for the mail. It’s unclear how Google is determining who gets qualified for the coupon but it could be tied to the region a device owner resides in.

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If you think that the default battery indicator on your Google Pixel 6/6 Pro just isn’t slick enough, you can now replace it with another — only this one wraps around the selfie camera cut out instead of sitting tight on the right of the status bar. The “Energy Ring” app already supported a bunch of devices but the list now includes the Pixel 6 series too.

The battery ring engulfs the front camera and shows the remaining battery percentage in real-time. It’s highly configurable, allowing color codes for certain percentages. There are even a number of animations you can choose from that’ll play for as long as the phone’s on charging, and they do look kind of mesmerizing.

The app itself is free but an in-app purchase will remove ads along with unlocking three additional color configs. While its latest update added support for the Pixel 6 series, I tried the app on my Xiaomi Mi 11X and it worked flawlessly, despite the device being unmentioned on the supported list.

However, you will probably want to make some tweaks to avoid redundancy. Simply download the System UI Tuner app and head over to Android’s built-in tuner using it. Once that’s done, just turn off the battery icon from the status bar so that you rely on nothing but the battery ring.

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The Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro have been officially confirmed to skip the Android 12L beta 3 update and will get the next release instead that’s been scheduled for March.

The information comes from a Reddit thread on r/Android_beta (via Android Police) where Pixel 6 owners inquired why their devices were not receiving the latest beta despite signing up for the program.

As a response, Google from its official Reddit account stated that “If you’re enrolling a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro that is on the latest February build SQ1D.220205.004, you will not receive an update to 12L Beta 3, but instead will receive the next upcoming beta build release in March as long as you keep your device enrolled.”

In other words, Pixel 6 series users will have to wait for the release of Android 12L beta 4 in order to get updated to the latest version.

The response can also be taken as a confirmation for a fourth beta since the official roadmap released last year showed beta release plans only until February, with an official “Final release” scheduled for some time after.

But if you simply can’t shake off the urge to jump aboard Android 12L beta 3, then you can try re-checking for the update for about five times after opting in. A Redditor says it worked for them so it’s worth a shot.

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Earlier this month, we had reported on a number of Google Pixel 6 series users complaining about their smartphones facing issues with the Wi-Fi. Now, the company has officially acknowledged the issue and has confirmed that it is working on a fix.

The news arrives from the official Reddit account of the search engine giant that posted a statement on Pixel sub-Reddit earlier this week. In the statement, the company says that “Hey u/cheesehead78. Thanks so much for reporting this issue, we’re sorry that you’re experiencing it. After some investigation, we identified the root cause and determined that it impacts a very small number of devices. Of course, we realize this is a poor experience and immediately developed a software fix that will be available in the next Google Pixel Update, rolling out in March.”

For those unaware, Pixel 6 users have been facing troubles with Wi-Fi, like not being able to turn it on, in the first half of this month. The issue began appearing after people updated their device to the second February update that was released previously. And now, the brand has stated that they are working on a fix, and users can see a software update rolling out sometime in March 2022.

Although, many have expressed their disappointment with Google for taking so long to fix some of the basic features of their smartphones that are not working properly. One Redditor said that “How in the world is it acceptable to break Bluetooth+wifi in early Feb and push a fix over a month later? This is shameful.” He further added that “Also, as someone who has reached out to your support team on three separate occasions about this issue I can attest that they are wholly unprepared to help. They have no idea what’s going on and all wanted to warranty my P6P with a new phone. Google needs to do better.” (Via PhoneArena).

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While the Google Pixel 6 series has seen a successful launch, it has been plagued with a number of issues ranging from firmware update bugs, signal drop issues, and more. But now, the latest problem makes the fingerprint sensor completely unusable.

During the early days of the Pixel 6 launch, many users had reported on the fingerprint scanner being slow. The company addressed the issue in future software patches but that did little to fix the issue. However, a new problem has added on to the bugs related to the fingerprint scanner, as users are unable to use the biometric security system after getting their screens replaced (Via GSMArena).

Notably, this issue affects both the base and Pro model, with various users taking to Reddit and Google Support threads to voice their complaints. Furthermore, the issue is even affecting those that have replaced the display from the Search Engine giant’s officially endorsed service shops, like UBreakIFix. Interestingly, even the technicians working on the repairs are unable to get the feature to work every time. Apparently, the problem is due to the use of Google’s provided fingerprint calibration tool.

This tool fails to install the new fingerprint scanner to the device, for a small percentage of users that are getting the screen replacements. Those affected by the problem see the notification “Couldn’t find the unique calibration software for this device”. There has been no official word from Google as of right now, so we will have to wait for an official statement to know how the company goes about solving another one of the Pixel 6 issues.

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A developer has managed to get Windows 11 to run on their phone running Android 13. The first Developer Preview of Android 13 was released last week and it apparently makes it easier to access the kernel-based virtual machine that’s built into Android.

The feat was pulled off by XDA developer kdrag0n who was able to run Windows 11 on their Pixel 6 as a virtual machine using the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) on the OS version.

Booting Windows, logging in, using it a bit pic.twitter.com/r1ws0WFxOg

— kdrag0n (@kdrag0n) February 14, 2022

kdrag0n says that Windows on the device is “really usable,” and despite the lack of GPU or 3D acceleration, they were still able to run Doom on the Windows VM.

Said Windows 11 build is obviously ARM-based and not the x86 one you get on a typical Windows PC. kdrag0n says that they’ll be providing more information about the process and how other users can replicate it.

Do keep in mind here though that root access will be required for the procedure.

As explained by XDA Developers, Android 13 allows much easier access to the built-in kernel-based virtual machine. kdrag0n took advantage of an exploit in the OS, allowing full Windows 11 virtualization to work at near-native speeds on the Pixel 6.

Getting new operating systems to run on unsupported machines is nothing new but does take plenty of patchwork. A developer earlier managed to similarly boot Windows 11 ARM on their Xiaomi Pad 5 with little compromise. Another was successful in booting the same on Microsoft’s Android Surface Duo tablet.

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The post Developer manages to boot Windows 11 on Pixel 6 running Android 13 DP1 appeared first on Gizmochina.

While the Google Pixel 6 series has seen great success, the latest flagship lineup is still quite limited in the regions it is available in. But now, the company is releasing the high end premium devices in another market, which is Singapore.

Now, the Search Engine giant’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be available for purchase in the Southeast Asian country. For those unaware, the Pixel 6 series was first announced back in October of 2021. So its launch in Singapore arrives around nine months since its official release, which is quite a long time. However, Google clearly believes that it is better late than never. Similarly, the company had even launched its current flagship in Italy and Spain as well, earlier this month.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel6 Pro will be available in Singapore through the Google Store (Via 9To5Google). This appears to be a quiet launch as Google had previously confirmed that the flagship phones were on their way to Singapore, and now we even have the official pricing as well. The Pixel 6 is available in Stormy Black and Sorta Seafoam. while the Pixel 6 Pro is available in Stormy Black and Cloud White.

Looking at their pricing, the Pixel 6 starts from 999 Singapore Dollars (roughly 742 US Dollars). On the other hand, the Pixel 6 Pro is available in the region for 1,299 Singapore Dollars (roughly 965 US Dollars). Google is also releasing the smartphones with the protective covers worth around 49 Singapore Dollars (roughly 36 US Dollars), Pixel Stand that costs 119 Singapore Dollars (roughly 88 US Dollars), and a 30W USB Type C charger worth 45 Singapore Dollars (roughly 33 US Dollars).

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The Pixel 6 series devices from Google are the most popular phones from the search giant yet however, the devices have pretty been plagued with bugs pretty much from launch. And now, Pixel users are facing a new bug.

New reports have surfaced across Reddit and Google support forums with Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users complaining of issues faced with Wi-Fi. According to the reports, the Wi-Fi of the device is automatically being shut off while the phone is locked. In some cases, the users are not able to turn on the Wi-Fi altogether. Google support directed one user to reset the device which initially worked, however, the issue later returned.

The issues have reportedly arisen after the latest February update and do not affect every user, however, there are enough cases reported that make it clear that it isn’t a rare issue either.

Users have found temporary workarounds which include resetting network settings, disabling “Adaptive connections,” and removing a Wi-Fi network. These workarounds can buy you some time with your Wi-Fi which could range from a few minutes to a few hours, however, it is not a permanent fix.

Google has yet to officially acknowledge the issue, and it is now certain how long it will take the search giant to fix the problem. However, Google’s recent track record in fixing the recent Magic Eraser bug gives users hope for a quick fix.

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Yesterday, we reported on a new bug that popped up for the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices. The bug was making it impossible for users to use the Magic Eraser feature. But not anymore as Google has issued a fix.

Recently, users took to Twitter and Reddit to report on a new bug that was causing the Google Photos App to crash whenever they tried to use the magic eraser functionality. The issue seemed to be caused due to a recent update to the Photos App. Google has reacted fast to the complaints and has issued a new update to fix the issue.

In a post on the Official Google Account on Reddit, the company wrote, “Thank you for your patience and bug reports. Starting today, we are rolling out a fix, so please update to the latest version of Google Photos (5.76.0.426251772 or higher) in the Play Store.”

For those unaware, Magic Eraser is one of the key features in the Pixel 6 devices which uses the machine learning capabilities of Google’s new Tensor processor and enables users to remove unwanted objects or people from their photos.

So updating the app will now fix the issue in devices that have been plagued by this bug. The abundant bugs faced by Pixel 6 series users ever since its release have many believing that the company simply doesn’t care enough to polish and optimize before releasing a new update. However, the quick fix comes as a reassurance that maybe not all bugs in the new Tensor SoC equipped devices are caused due to neglect by the search giant.

Despite being all over the news for various bugs and issues, the Pixel 6 series still appears to be the most popular Pixel device yet as Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai recently announced that the Pixel 6 series has set an “all-time quarterly sales record.”

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Google recently fixed a whole host of major connectivity issues on their latest Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices. However, the Google flagships can’t seem to catch a break as another bug has appeared on the devices.

Users have taken to Twitter and Reddit to report and discuss a new issue they are facing with the Magic Eraser feature on the Google Photos app. Users have stated that whenever they tap on the Magic Eraser, the Photos app crashes.

@googlephotos has been crashing every time I try to use the "magic eraser" on my Pixel 6. Has it been the case for anyone else @madebygoogle users?

— John Sohrawardi (@johnsohrawardi) February 4, 2022

The bug has apparently come along with the latest update to the Google Photos app. Users have tried to find a workaround to this problem by clearing cache and data but to no avail. Restoring the device to the factory setting also doesn’t work since it removes the Magic Eraser functionality completely from the device.

For those unaware, Magic Eraser is one of the key features in the Pixel 6 devices which uses the machine learning capabilities of Google’s new Tensor processor and enables users to remove unwanted objects or people from their photos.

Google Photo’s official Twitter handle has directed users affected by this bug to follow the steps in their “Fix an installed Android app that isn’t working” article, however, the generic fixes mentioned in the article don’t appear to work.

For users who have not been infected by this new bug yet, we highly recommend you to turn off the automatic update for the Google Photos App for the time being. To turn off automatic updates for your Google Photos app, go to the Play Store and open the Google Photos app page. Then click the three dots button on the top right and uncheck the “Enable auto-update” checkbox.

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• Google hiring ‘camera ISP’ experts for 2nd Gen Tensor chips: Report

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It’s been a few months since Google announced its flagship smartphones — Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Now, both these smartphones from the company are finally available for purchase in Italy and Spain.

With the availability of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones in Italy and Spain, the latest flagship devices from Google are now available in 11 countries. This is also the first time the tech giant is expanding the availability of phones to new regions.

The Google Pixel 6 lineup is available in only Just Black or Carbon color option in Italy and Spain. The standard model is priced at €649 for the 128GB storage model while the Pro model with 128GB storage costs €899.

The company says that both the devices will have “limited availability” and adds that additional devices will be made available from May. It remains unknown what’s the stock count for both these new offerings.

For those who are unaware, the Pixel 6 series phones were already available in select European markets ever since their unveiling in October last year, which include United Kingdom, France, the Republic of Ireland, and Germany.

These are the first smartphones from Google that come powered by the company’s own Google Tensor chipset and not Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor. The strategy seems to have worked as the company recently revealed that these new phones managed to break all the previous phone sales records.

The launch of Pixel 6 series phones in other regions come at a time when the company is expected to soon launch the Pixel 6a smartphone. However, the launch is still months away and we expect to know more about the phone in the coming weeks.

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• Google Pixel 6a aluminum dummy reveals a design similar to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

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Despite the Pixel 6 series being in the news over various bugs and issues, the Google flagship lineup has seen great success in the market. Now, an official financial report from the company has revealed that the new phones have even managed to break past its previous sales records.

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet (parent company of Google), stated in the earning’s call that the Pixel 6 series has set an “all time quarterly sales record.” The senior official attributed the latest Pixel phones’ success to its new real time translation tools (Via AndroidPolice). Unfortunately, the Search Engine giant did not reveal any accurate figures and groups its hardware products along with its software as “Google Services.”

It includes Android, Chrome, Google Maps, Search, Google Play, and YouTube as well. But looking at the overall financial figures, we can clearly tell that the brand saw a notable rise, as its revenue hit 69 billion US Dollars in Q4 2021. This also marked a noticeable bump compared to the fourth and final quarter of 2020, in which the company had a revenue of 52.8 billion US Dollars. Meanwhile, profits also saw a boost, reaching 26 billion US Dollars in 2021, compared to 19 billion US Dollars from back in 2020.

With the Pixel series launching sometime between October and November, its clear great sales of the premium grade smartphones helped Google boost its revenue. However, it is still doubtful if the Pixel 6 is actually the best selling Pixel ever, considering it isn’t as widely available as its predecessors and has only been available since October 2021. But with its current pace, it might become the most popular Pixel model.

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Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices recently received the January update which came with a whole host of bug fixes and software optimization. Along with these long-awaited solutions, Google also introduced more features to the Google At a Glance widget, so let’s check out what’s new in this widget.

To access and enable these new features, you will have to long-press on the widget (once you’ve unlocked the home screen) and tap on “Customize”  which takes you to Home settings.

There, you will see new toggles available for timer and stopwatch which once enabled, will show the timer and stopwatch information on the At a Glance widget. The widget also has Bedtime and Fitness toggles which once turned on will show your upcoming bedtime and activity from fitness apps like the Adidas Running app and Strava.

The menu also includes Sensitive contents on the lock screen option which gives you the option to prevent notification that you deem ‘sensitive’ on the lock screen at the tap of a button.

Additionally, Google has also promised more features which are expected to be added soon to the At a Glance widget. The Doorbell feature is one of the most interesting among these upcoming features. When someone rings a linked doorbell, the widget will give a text notification along with displaying a thumbnail live video from your Google Nest doorbell camera on your Pixel 6 lock screen.

In addition to doorbell camera views, the new features will also remind you when your flashlight is turned on, pop a safety check alert when you start a countdown from the Personal Safety app and show information about your connected devices among other things.

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(via)

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Another flagship killer by Samsung is finally official with amazing specifications at the right price. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G brings the best Qualcomm chipset of 2021 and a complete specs sheet with a modest price in the global market, and it will definitely fight the Google Pixel 6 in its same price range. Both are flagship killers, both are compact but powerful phones and their specifications are at the same level, but which one is worth buying right now? We hope to give you the answer through this comparison between the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and the Google Pixel 6.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Google Pixel 6

Design

The Google Pixel 6 is my favorite handset when it comes to design. First of all, it has very original aesthetics with its horizontal camera module. Further, it is built with premium materials: while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is made of plastic, the Google Pixel 6 has a glass back and an aluminum frame. The glass back is protected by Gorilla Glass 6, while the front glass has Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Both the phones are dustproof and waterproof with the IP68 certification. The Google Pixel 6 is more attractive, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is thinner and lighter, so it is still worth taking this handset into consideration.

Display

The Google Pixel 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G are very similar if we talk about the image quality provided by the displays. They are equipped with AMOLED panels sporting a diagonal of 6.4 inches and a Full HD+ resolution, as well as the HDR10+ certification and in-display fingerprint scanners. These displays should provide similar performance and they are both great panels with bright colors and deep blacks. The main difference between them is the refresh rate: you get just 90 Hz with the Google Pixel 6, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 120 Hz refresh rate. Thanks to their stereo speakers, these devices provide a great audio experience.

Specs & Software

According to the benchmarks, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile platform found on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is stronger than the Google Tensor found on the Google Pixel 6. And given that the memory configurations are the same (up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS internal storage), the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is able to guarantee better performance in a lot of scenarios. Note that there is a variant of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G equipped with the Exynos 2100 chipset, but it is still a stronger mobile platform than the Google Tensor. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 6 runs a stock version of Android 12 supported directly by Google and it will get faster software support.

Camera

The main camera of the Google Pixel 6 is superior to the one of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: it is a 50 MP sensor with OIS and laser autofocus against an old 12 MP main camera. But unlike the Samsung flagship featuring 3x optical zoom, the Pixel 6 lacks a telephoto sensor. Both the phones add a 12 MP ultrawide camera to the party, but the Samsung device has a better 32 MP selfie camera in its punch hole.

• Read More: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G launched in India for Rs 49,999 (~$676) with cashback offer

Battery

The Google Pixel 6 has a bigger 4614 mAh battery and, given that the processor has the same production process and the display has similar specifications, we believe it will provide a longer battery life. It also provides faster charging speeds with 30W wired charging and 21W wireless charging.

Price

The starting price of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G globally is €749/$599, and the Google Pixel 6 starts from $599 as well. I would personally go for the Pixel 6 due to its premium materials, bigger battery, better main camera, and great software support. But the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a higher refresh rate, a better chipset, and optical zoom.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Google Pixel 6: PRO and CONS

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

PRO

• 3x optical zoom
• Thinner and lighter
• Snapdragon 888
• Superior front camera

CONS

• Smaller battery

Google Pixel 6

PRO

• Stock Android and Google support
• Premium materials
• Bigger battery
• Better main camera

CONS

• Inferior selfie camera

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The post Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Google Pixel 6: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

The Google Pixel 6 was launched back in October 2021 as a flagship phone from the search-engine giant. Just like every year, this year’s flagship smartphone was also expected to receive cheers for its camera performance out of the bunch. However, it looks like it’s not the case as the phone has just slipped off from the top 10 list of camera phones by DXOMark.

As per DXOMark, the Google Pixel 6 scored 132 points in the camera test. The score looks good but it has missed being in the top 10 list. The phone stands 11th in the list and comes below the Xiaomi 10 Ultra which has 133 points and is above the Huawei P40 Pro which has the same 132 points.

Although it didn’t make it to the top 10 of its global camera test, the phone made it to the 5th spot in the US-based test. It seems that the phone was able to hold that position primarily because the US market doesn’t face any competition from the Chinese giants. The phone stands just below the Asus Snapdragon Insiders which scored 133 points and passes the Apple iPhone 13 that scored 130 points.

Coming to the cameras, the Google Pixel 6 has a dual-camera system with a 50MP main lens and a 12.5MP ultra-wide sensor. The phone scored 144 points in the photo department and 115 points in the videography department.

It scored 54 points in the zoom department. As per the website, the phone is great in offering natural detail and preserving shadows in the images. It has great stabilization, thanks to the OIS support on the primary lens.

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Earlier this month, we reported on Google Pixel 6 series network issues worsening post the December 2021 update. Now, Google has officially addressed the issue and given an expected timeline for a future patch that will fix the problem.

According to a new note published by a Pixel Community Manager, Google paused the December software update to Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices after users reported calls dropping and disconnecting randomly. The Pixel team has now identified the issue and is working on a fix that will arrive sometime in late January along with all the bug fixes and features that were originally planned in December.

The late December fix timeline may not be satisfactory for all, hence Google has suggested a fix for customers who have already received the December fix and are struggling with the network issues. The search giant has advised these customers to revert back to the previous software version using the Android Flash Tool and perform a factory reset.

However, this solution will result in the loss of any data that has not been backed up and all the usual inconveniences that come with a factory reset of a smartphone. Additionally, you will temporarily lose access to all the bug fixes, features, and security patch that came with the December 2021 Pixel Feature drop.

At this point, it is a choice between the lesser of two evils that the Pixel 6 owners will have to make. As for the update, Google has stated that it is expected to roll out around late January but it can even arrive in the first or second week. So stay tuned as we will be keeping an eye on any notable developments.

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Since its launch, the Google Pixel 6 series had been plagued with a number of issues that surfaced one after another. Now, another one of these supposed issues has surfaced that affects the Pixel 6 Pro. However, this time around, it might be a feature that the company intended.

Recently, a Reddit user (Via PhoneArena) shared his experience with the Pro model in a post, in which he asked other Pixel users if their new smartphones are also facing a bug that causes the battery to charge slow. The user said that the Pixel 6 Pro charged at a “snail’s pace” and he even tried restarting the device. Although, neither restarting the phone or changing chargers help. For those unaware, the Pixel 6 Pro is powered by a large 5,003mAh battery pack that supports 30W fast charging.

Notably, other users also joined this thread, with one saying that his new Pixel took 3 hours to charge from 23 percent to 100 percent while another said that his Pixel 6 Pro went from 10 percent to 50 percent in one hour. One common factor most of the users on the Reddit thread noticed was that the range between 80 percent and 100 percent was the slowest to charge. But, it seems like this is intended by the Search Engine giant rather than being a bug.

A feature called Adaptive Charging is believed to be the culprit behind what the users’ are considering a bug. This feature uses AI and Machine Learning to determine the time that a user plugs their Pixel 6 Pro out of their chargers every day. Adaptive Charging is basically to help keep the battery of the smartphone in good health. Thus, charging speeds usually drop around 80 percent while computing how fast it needs to charge to reach 100 percent before the device is unplugged. In other words, users can disable the feature in Settings, although, your battery life might deteriorate faster in the longer run.

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Earlier this year, Google launched the Pixel 6 phones with punch-hole AMOLED display, Tensor chipset, and Android 12 OS. Soon after its launch, some users started facing fingerprint scanner issues, followed by network issues, and screen-cracking issues. Now, there’s a new bug reported by netizens where the screen does not automatically rotate.

As reported by AndroidPolice, the screen rotation on some Pixel 6 units do not work. It seems that the phone’s sensors aren’t responding and it is making the phone stuck in portrait mode.

The publication tried troubleshooting one of such units and as expected, the major problem was with the sensors. The gyroscope and accelerometer sensors didn’t return any data to testing apps like Sensor Test. Similarly, the compass sensor was also not working as again, it didn’t show any data. When tried in map apps the apps didn’t show data of the way the phone was pointed to. However, some other sensors like Barometer, Proximity, Magnetometer, Light sensors were found to be working in the unit tested by the publication.

As of now, there’s no clear fix for such units. But, at least a simple reboot may help. We expect the company to respond to such issues and provide a fix as soon as possible.

Google Pixel 6 Specifications 

The Google Pixel 6 comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution It has a dual rear camera system with a 50MP main lens and a 12MP secondary lens. It boasts an 8MP selfie sensor.

It is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor octa-core chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The phone packs a 4,614mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging technology. It has IP68 dust and water resistance rating and features an in-display fingerprint scanner for security.

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The Google Pixel 6 series has been plagued with a number of issues since its launch. Now, the flagship lineup is suffering from another new problem, but this time, the issue lies with the display.

The news arrives from various Pixel owners that have shared their complaints on Reddit and the company’s support forum (via AndroidPolice). Reportedly, owners of the Search Engine giant’s Pixel 6 series have found that cracks have appeared on the front glass of both the base and Pro models. This issue is not entirely new either as early reports are a couple of months old as well. With the Pixel 6 Pro featuring a curved display, it is apparently more prone to suffer from this odd issue.

Notably, both variants feature a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back. So, its even more odd that the toughest glass for phones in the market is facing this problem. The cracks first begin appearing on either one of the sides or the corners of the Pixel 6 series’ display, and unfortunately, using a screen protector does not appear to help negate this issue or make it less likely at all. For those unaware, spontaneous screen issues are not unheard off and have been seen before as well.

Although, this usually implies that the smartphone is suffering from a slight manufacturing defect. To put things simply, the small defect can cause pressure to build up in the display that eventually cracks up and possibly even split apart. Significant variations in temperatures also tend to cause this issue as well. However, the exact reasoning for the cracks are still unknown, but thankfully, only a small number of devices are facing this problem at the moment. Google has acknowledged this issue and has confirmed that it is investigating it as well. So stay tuned for more updates.

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It’s getting clear now why Google chose to hold back on rolling out the December security patch for all Pixel 6 users. The month is now nearing its end but only a few lucky ones have received it.

But are they really lucky? There have already been multiple reports of network drops and low signal strength following the update. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s now joined by “a bug in the December Android update” that’s caused Hold for Me and Call Screening features to be put on pause.

The info comes from a “Product Support Manager” on the official Google forums who says that both features will be unavailable temporarily and that the Pixel software team is “actively working on resolving this issue.” Nothing was said about when a fix can be expected or when the December security update will be rolling out widely.

For those unaware, Hold for Me works with calls with business and lets your Google Assistant wait on hold for you and notifies when the support representative is ready to speak with you. Pixel 6 Call Screening, on the other hand, lets Google Assistant answer calls from numbers that are not in your contacts and shields against robocallers and spammers.

It appears that the aforementioned features have only been disabled on Pixel 6 devices running on Android S December QPR release. To check if you are on the build, head over to Settings > About Phone > Build Number and check if it starts with SQ1D.

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Around October end, Google launched its latest Pixel 6 lineup of devices with the all-new Tensor chipset and a whole host of new features. However, it has been unclear how well these new devices are doing in their domestic U.S market. Now, a new report has emerged that sheds light on this question.

According to a 9to5Google, Wave7 Research has published a new report that breaks down brick-and-mortar carrier sales based on a sample size of multiple stores around the United States. In Wave7’s October report, Google Pixels averaged around a mere 1-2% sales with major carriers, namely Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. However, this data represented the previous generation Pixel Phone sales, namely the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a, as the latest devices were released too late in the month to affect the sales figures. 

In the November report, we observe Google’s Pixel sales have increased to anywhere between 3-5%. The flagship duo seems to be most popular at Verizon, where it managed to capture 5% of store sales in November compared to 3% back in October. Sales remained constant at AT&T, which saw 3% during both months, while T-Mobile saw a slight increase of 1%, bringing the sales share from 2% in October to 3% in November.

Samsung and Apple remain dominant in the North American market with Google now coming in at a distant 3rd.

The sales gains might not appear huge, but it is a significant increase that has not been observed throughout 2021. It signifies the increased interest of customers in the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which could be credited to Google’s aggressive ad campaign, especially the heavy TV advertising.

When asked directly about the sales performance of the Pixel 6 series phones, one carrier store said that the Pixel 6 series was a cause of frustration due to a lack of inventory. Multiple Verizon employees gave similar feedback stating that inventory was “too thin” to meet the demand for the new Pixel smartphones.

However, this comes as no surprise Google has had trouble keeping the Pixel 6 series in stock since launch day due to the ongoing global chip shortage.

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The Pixel December security update is here for models all the way back to the Pixel 3a, bringing along a ton of fixes for bugs across the lineup. However, for the Google Pixel 6, things have seemingly worsened with the latest patch as there have been several complaints about poor signal and network issues.

Reports of the problem have surfaced on Reddit and the Google Issue Tracker (via Android Central), with users stating that they’re now having to deal with connectivity woes in areas where there previously were no issues. The mobile network signal allegedly has been quite poor and even non-existent in some cases.

Not only does the issue lead to simple functions like calling and texting becoming a real pain, but also drains the battery faster as the phone struggles to find a proper signal. The whole thing is rather ironic considering one of the fixes included with the update was “General improvements for network connection stability & performance.”

Most reports seem to originate from Europe with some touting the .A4 or .A1 builds that were pushed out to select European countries, Canada, and Taiwan, as the culprits for the issue. However, without official clarification, the matter still remains unclear.

Regardless, many of the Pixel 6 users are yet to receive the December update as rollout seems quite spotty this time, so it would be advisable to hold off on it until the issue is addressed.

In the meantime, be sure to check out the workarounds we have listed in a recent related coverage about the issue.

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The post Google Pixel 6 network issues have reportedly worsened with December update appeared first on Gizmochina.

With the launch of the Pixel 6 series, Google had sought to compete in the premium segment market against the likes of Apple and Samsung. However, while its 2021 flagship phones were received as a notable contender in the high end Android market, it appears that there are still areas where iPhones managed to best the Pixel 6.

According to data from SellCell, that sought to find out which of the two smartphone lineups held out its value best, it appears that iPhone took the lead. The report compared information from the smartphone market and price comparisons between the two. It found that the iPhone 13 series hold their value better than the new Pixel 6. Looking at the data that compiled from over 45 buyback vendors, the Pixel 6 series lost an average of around 43 percent of its value within a month of its launch.

On the other hand, the iPhone 13 family only saw a depreciation of around 25 percent within just the first month of its release. Notably, the iPhone 13 saw a rise in value, with the positive trend also including the iPhone 13 mini as well. For those unaware, this model was the least popular model within the lineup. Interestingly, the base Pixel 6 model lost around 37 percent of its value compared to the 35 percent buyback value that was lost for the iPhone 13 mini.

In other words, the search engine giant had better competed with the Cupertino based company in the entry level flagship market. While the iPhone 13 series saw a rise in buyback value over the last two months, SellCell believes that the same might not be reflected for the Pixel 6 models. Rather, the Pixel 6 value might drop further before reaching a plateau in the next couple of months. Keep in mind that the buyback value do not directly reflect the quality of the smartphones, since iPhones are known to typically hold their value better than their Android counterparts.

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Google is finally giving some love to tablets and foldable phones with its Android 12L update, bringing along a number of improvements and optimizations for large screen devices. To recall, Android 12 was released in October and the first Android 12L developer preview followed not long after. And now, around a couple of months later, Pixel phones all the way back to the Google Pixel 3a have received the Android 12L update in the form of Beta 1.

There isn’t really much to test on Google Pixel phones, however, as most of the front-end changes can only be seen and felt on large screen devices (via XDA). The update is, after all, more of a feature-drop kind than a full-blown upgrade.

As for features, the update adds a new dual-pane UI for the notifications shade, settings, and lock screen. There’s even a Windows-style dedicated taskbar for better multitasking. In short, the layout of multiple system interfaces has been tweaked to take advantage of larger displays with a DPI higher than 600dp.

To download the Android 12L Beta 1 build for your Pixel device, simply click on one of the links below. Google has released the update for every eligible device barring the Pixel 6 series, but it shouldn’t be long before the latest Pixels get it too.

For those who’d rather not install the update manually, the Android Flash Tool can be used as an alternative installation method for the Beta build. This web-based installer comes with a GUI wizard which greatly simplifies the flashing process. But the most user-friendly installation method is still simply enrolling your Pixel in the beta program which will allow you to get an OTA officially.

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• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G gets stable Android 12-based One UI 4.0 update

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Yesterday, Google rolled out the December 2021 Pixel feature drop for devices ranging from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 5a. If you are a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro owner, don’t worry, your devices will also receive these updates with some additional bug fixes and patches later this month.

So, what’s in this feature update? Well, a lot. The update comes with Google’s latest security patch and hundreds of optimization changes and bug fixes. But let’s focus on the new features introduced in this feature update.

• Conversation mode for Sound Amplifier

Pixel devices become the first Android phones to gain a conversation mode for the Sound Amplifier Accessibility tool. This feature helps those who are hard of hearing or with hearing impairments. You can use this feature by pointing your phone using a camera UI at any person you want to have a conversation with. The feature will then allow you to pin that person as a participant in the conversation and will provide you with enhanced audio of whatever they say through your Bluetooth headphones while at the same time tuning out background noise.

• Bass Boost for Pixel Buds A-series

We know that the Pixel Buds A-series TWS earphones have a very neutral sound profile. Now, they finally get the Bass Boost feature allowing them to add a little bit of extra power to their sound output. This feature can be accessed through a slider in the pixel buds app, which allows you to slide the bass levels from -1 to +4.

• Ultrawide band integration in Nearby Share
  

With the Android 12 update, Pixel phones gained the nearby share feature, allowing data to be transferred via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, similar to AirDrop. Now, this feature drop will enable the Pixel 6 Pro to use the wideband chip for directed ‘nearby share’ enabling you to send data in a specific direction.

• Now Playing Search

The enhanced now playing search feature which has been rolling out to devices for the past month is officially coming to more devices with the December Pixel feature drop. The feature previously worked with an on-device database to identify songs being played near you, allowing it to work offline and to maintain user privacy. This caused the problem of many songs not being recognized due to the limited on-device database. With the new update, if the song is not recognized by your device, a new search music icon will appear on your lock screen. Tapping the icon will transmit the audio data to Google search, making for quick identification of the song.

• Car crash detection new feature
  

The Google Pixel’s car crash detection feature has been around since 2019 and has helped save multiple lives. With this update, the detection app gets a new feature that allows it to check if you are ‘OK’ in the event of a crash and if there is no response, the Pixel device can share your location and other relevant details with emergency responders. Additionally, this feature gains support in three new regions namely Taiwan, Italy, and France.

• Google Recorder app update

The much-loved recorder app which features transcription capabilities gains support for more languages including Japanese, French, and German. These additional languages that debuted in the Pixel 6 series phones are now available for other supported Pixel devices through this update.

• Double-tap feature for Snapchat

Google just added Snapchat to the list of apps supported by Android 12’s Quick Tap feature. The photo-sharing app can now be set up to be accessed via a double-tap gesture to the back of your Pixel device. The feature even works with screen lock, enabling you to capture those sudden moments on your devices. The feature is supported on Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 6 series devices. Starting from this month, Pixel phones will also get an exclusive ‘Pixel face lens’ filters, that will get more variety via future feature updates.

• Material You on boot

On your first boot after this update, you will notice that the color of your boot logo has changed. The Google logo itself, which appears first, retains its standard brand-identifying colors. But the animation that turns into the Google G (and the associated loading bar) will both pull from your phone’s Material You background colors.

For those unaware, Google‘s new UI, the Material You, introduced with Android 12, is a dynamic theming engine that extracts colors from the current wallpaper and splashes it across the system UI and supported apps, giving users greater control than ever over what their phone’s software looks like.

Other than these major features, Google has also added back the WiFi and internet quick toggle which was for some reason not available since Android 12 launched. You will be able to access the WiFi and Internet toggle from your lock screen post this Feature update.

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• Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users complain about signal drops, but there possible workarounds

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There is a growing suspicion that Google Pixel smartphones mailed in for repairs are being tampered with after the repairs and before being sent back to the owners. Game designer Jane McGonigal has relived her experience with her Pixel 5a smartphone which she mailed for repairs to a Texas Google facility. She claims that the smartphone was hacked into and someone used the smartphone to log into her Gmail account, Drive, photos backup email account, and dropbox.

McGonigal is advising against mail-in servicing of users of Google Pixel phones, as the device could be hacked. McGonigal also said that most of the photos opened by the hackers were of her at various stages of undress, with the intruders looking for nude photos that could be used against her. She also alleged that the hackers deleted Google security notifications in her backup email accounts, obviously aimed at covering their trail.

There has been another case relating to the same Texas facility where McGonigal mailed her Pixel smartphone, and it was alleged that the hackers went as far as accessing the user’s Paypal account and made a $5 transfer. These accusations are grave and are bound to hurt Google if drastic actions are not seen to be taken. Although no official statement has been made yet by Google, McGonigal hints that back-channel communication on the matter indicates that it is under review by Google.

McGonigal is advising that persons desirous of having their smartphones repaired/replaced should consider other ways of getting the stuff down rather than mailing the device to Google. The McGonigal issue could have grave implications for Google, and even litigation, as happened to Apple in a similar case.

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• Google Pixel 6a camera details leaked, flagship-grade chip tipped

(via)

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Multiple Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro users have taken to Reddit to complain that their phone randomly loses mobile network service, even as their older device had no such issues.

The issue doesn’t seem limited to a particular region or carrier as Pixel owners from the US, Canada, and other parts of the world are reportedly facing it (via Android Police). The phone usually recovers from the signal drops on its own but several users have also complained that when the mobile network is lost, the only way to get it back is by rebooting the device.

Complaints aren’t limited to Reddit though as there’s another thread on the official Pixel Phone Help forums with over 130 replies. Here, several reports have interestingly stated that the network drop issues started for them only recently, meaning that the problem could also be something triggered by a recent update.

While several users were able to actually get replacements after contacting Google, doing so isn’t really guaranteed to fix the issue as several of such have observed that the problem continues on the replacement unit. Google support also recommended users perform a network reset on their Pixel 6, which doesn’t seem to help at all either.

What did help though was getting a SIM card replacement from their carrier for some. Several other users reported that turning off “Adaptive Connectivity” from the Settings menu fixed the problem to a large extent.

Regardless, a definitive solution for the signal drop issue on the Google Pixel 6 series is still awaited. With no official acknowledgment from Google yet, it is near-impossible to ascertain the cause. Still, if the issue isn’t software-related, then the Pixel 6’s antennas could be the one to blame.

We previously highlighted with a Pixel 6 disassembly story how the phone has only a single antenna for mmWave 5G. An on top of that, its position isn’t exactly optimal either, as its placement is sure to be interrupted when holding the device in the landscape mode.

Either way, we hope that Google will soon be clarifying the matter.

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• Google had planned to ship Pixel 5 with Tensor SoC, Here’s why they didn’t
• Google to use your Chromebook’s camera to help prevent shoulder surfing

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A compatibility issue or a bug is preventing DJI apps from performing as intended on the Google Pixel 6 series, leading to some DJI devices becoming virtually unusable.

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro owners have reported that the latest versions of the DJI Fly and Mimo apps currently suffer from an issue that prevents live previews from displaying at all. Instead, all the users get to see is a black screen. The controls and other elements are still visible and work as intended but the live image fails to show up completely.

For DJI drones, the issue is a dealbreaker considering Pixel 6 owners are left with no way to see from the POV of the drone and thus control it accordingly. Framing a shot or marking a target becomes impossible too. Action 2 or Pocket 2 owners, on the other hand, are a little better off in this regard as the issue is only an inconvenience that makes it harder to get the best possible shot.

Android Police has confirmed that the DJI Fly app works just fine on Pixel 4 XL running Android 12. Therefore, it isn’t difficult to establish that the issue is indeed an incompatibility problem affecting the Pixel 6 series, likely due to the new Tensor chip.

There is no error. It just shows a black screen instead of the video feed. See all the responses in the community threadhttps://t.co/RyEl2kDsOT pic.twitter.com/F1TYCmAQpV

— Josh Dunn (@jdmaxima89) November 8, 2021

However, there are also some complaints suggesting that the issue may also affect the Galaxy S21, although it could be possible that something else is at play in this case.

Regardless, in view of the ever-increasing complaints on DJI’s public forum, moderators have confirmed that it’s a known issue and that DJI is working to fix the issue. Also suggested was to use devices other than the Pixel 6 series in the meantime.

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Several Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro owners have complained that they’re unable to charge their devices through older or third-party chargers – a major bummer considering that the phone’s box doesn’t include a charger. To recall, companies started giving a miss to chargers citing environmental concerns and that most users already have chargers lying around in their homes. But the issue, if widespread, really beats the purpose of not shipping a charger in the box.

Complainants say that the Pixel 6 doesn’t throw any prompts upon getting connected to a charger and acts almost as if it’s not plugged in at all. Others were a bit better off and stated that while their device does charge with a third-party charger, the charging time is ridiculously slow.

But the charging woes aren’t limited to chargers alone, as some have even reported that the Pixel 6 only charges with the USB Type-C cable that comes in the box. Other cables again lead to no response from the phone at all.

It is worth mentioning here that OEMs typically have self-developed proprietary charging technologies that are usually not inter-compatible. For example, a OnePlus Warp Charger will likely be charging the Pixel 6 at very low speeds or may not work at all. Therefore, it is advisable to use chargers from the same brand as the phone.

However, judging from complaints, the charging system on the Pixel 6 seems to be rather strict when compared to other OEMs, and seemingly rejects third-party chargers and cables completely.

Still, some users were able to find workarounds for this and we have listed them below:

1. Turn off ‘Developer options’: Honestly, this one is rather odd. A couple of users reported that their Pixel 6/6 Pro started charging the moment Developer options were toggled. While the reason behind it working is unknown at the moment, trying it out wouldn’t hurt.
2. Turn off Adaptive Charging: One user also reported that turning off Adaptive Charging made their Pixel 6 go into slow charging mode when connected. It wasn’t charging at all earlier. The same can be tried out through Settings > Battery > Adaptive Battery > Adaptive Charging.
3. Use official Google charging accessories: If nothing else works, then the last resort would be to purchase the official $30 30W charging brick and stick to using the stock USB cable.

Sources: 1, 2 (via PhoneArena)

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• Google Pixel 6 Performance Benchmarks – How does it compare to other flagships?
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• Google to use your Chromebook’s camera to help prevent shoulder surfing
• Google Pixel 6a camera details leaked, flagship-grade chip tipped
• Google offers special developer discount on Lenovo Tab P12 Pro to try Android 12L

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According to the latest Wave7 research report, the global chip shortage is doing a number on Samsung‘s smartphone market share in the U.S. This is due to the short supply of high-end Samsung Galaxy phones, which has helped increase demand for the Apple iPhone 13 line.

The research was conducted as a survey with 40 representatives of the major carriers, namely Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. This report aimed to shed light on the sales of smartphones for October by the carriers mentioned above in the United States.

According to 65% of the store representatives, the demand for the iPhone 13 series is higher in October when compared to the demand for iPhone 12 for the same month last year.

Last month, the iPhone made up 72% of Verizon’s smartphone sales, while Samsung accounted for 23%. For AT&T, this number was 76% in favor of iPhone sales, compared to 20% of the Samsung sales. T-Mobile sales also favored Apple, with 66% of iPhones sold against 26% of Samsung devices.

Availability of the iPhone 13 has improved as of November 20th, with plenty of inventory in stock for the iPhone 13 base model. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max shipping dates are pushed into December.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max was the top iPhone 13 model, responsible for 20% of sales at Verizon and AT&T and 13% at T-Mobile. On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was the top-selling phone for Samsung in the month of October. 62% of the carrier reps said that the S21 Ultra was among their top three sellers, while 42% stated that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was among their top three selling models for the month. Reps say that the iPhone 13 Pro Max and larger-screened phones are doing well as they are being used for video conferences during the pandemic.

With Samsung models in short supply, T-Mobile reps stated that they are offering six OnePlus models as Android alternatives to Samsung. Google Pixel models saw their shares at Verizon and AT&T rise from 1% in September to 3% in October, the phones were released on October 28th, which was too late to impact the survey, and next month’s report will give us much more information.

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Google has long been teasing a major upgrade to the capabilities of the At a Glance widget on Android 12 for the Pixel 6 series. Most expected it to go live as soon as Android 12 hit stable, but that, unfortunately, hasn’t been the case. However, a new APK teardown has revealed that the new features may finally be on the way.

9to5Google, on one of their “APK Insight” posts, gave out their findings after decompiling the latest version of the Android System Intelligence app. The S10 version of the app contains a slew of new strings describing an upgraded “smartspace.” FYI, smartspace is what the Google app calls the functionality of At a Glance.

To recall, the At a Glance widget already displays various pieces of info like Weather, Commute & Time to Leave, Alerts, Travel, and upcoming calendar events and reminders.

ASI seems to be replicating all of it and has even added more, indicating two things. Firstly, At a Glance will be getting several new features. And secondly, Google may be moving At a Glance to the Android System Intelligence app for faster updates.

The new features include ‘At a store’ that will be displaying shopping lists and Google Pay rewards cards when you’re in a supported store. This one first made an appearance with the Material You teaser from May but could now finally be making its way through.

Not all of these new features are coming in late though. ‘Timer & stopwatch’, for example, has been live since the Android 12 Beta days.

But perhaps the most useful addition is ‘Connected devices’ that will let you see the connection status and battery levels for your Bluetooth devices. Connected Nest Doorbells will go a tad further and even display a shortcut on the home screen to the live feed.

Moreover, more apps will gain integration with At a Glance including Google Clock and Personal Safety. You should soon also be able to view workout stats directly from the home screen through the function.

And last but not least, At a Glance will be displaying a reminder for when the flashlight is on.

So far, 9to5Google has only spotted signs of the upgrade on the Pixel 6 series, although newer ASI releases may add all of it to older Pixel phones as well. It is worth mentioning here that none of the newer aforementioned features are live yet and there’s no indication of when they’ll be rolling out.

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• Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro get mid month update that improves fingerprint sensor

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Previously, we had reported on the Google Pixel 6 series seemingly has an overrated charging capability. Now, the company has officially confirmed that its latest flagship series does not feature 30W fast charging.

According to an official blogpost, the search engine giant confirmed that its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 pro does not feature 30W charging solution, despite it offering a separate 30W fast charger. For those unaware, the Pixel 6 series does not arrive with a charger in the box, but the company does sells a 30W fast charger. This, in turn, led many reviewers to believe that the latest premium grade handsets feature 30W charging as well.

However, Google confirmed that the Pixel 6 supports just 21W charging while Pixel 6 Pro supports only 23W charging. In the blogpost, the company added that “The charge rate at any moment is based on factors such as battery cell and system design, temperature, system usage, and state of charge.” Although, when the phone’s battery drops low, the Pixel 6 series can draw their peak 21W and 23W power from the charging brick to charge up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

Post half an hour, the charging rates drops to a slower pace to reach 80 percent. For the final 20 percent, the phone’s charging rates are reduced gradually even further to “help minimize degradation to preserve the lifespan of your battery.” Notably, this is in line with our previous report that covered the overrated charging capabilities.

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