You get all the identical software program options because the Pixel 9 sequence, however there are some extras to benefit from all of the screens. Made You Look, for instance, performs a cute animation on the outer display to ensure your kiddo stares at it once you’re making an attempt to seize a photograph. While you’re on a Google Meet name, now you can make the most of all of the screens so that everybody round you may see the particular person you are talking with, and meaning utilizing all of the cameras too, so the particular person on the opposite finish would not need to see simply your face.
On the finish of the day, that is nonetheless a $1,799 smartphone, and that is simply too excessive a worth to pay. However when you’ve got the money and love folding telephones, particularly when paired with a Pixel’s smarts and digital camera prowess, this is without doubt one of the greatest choices obtainable.
How Lengthy Is Your Pixel Supported?
The Pixel 10 sequence, Pixel 9 sequence, Pixel 8 sequence, 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 page you can check to see precisely what month your Pixel telephone will cease receiving updates. Safety updates cut back the danger of malware, maintain your telephone bug-free, and make it safer. Android model updates introduce new options—beauty and practical—that enhance the OS as an entire.
Pixel telephones additionally occur to be the primary to obtain any form of Android replace, in order quickly as Google releases a brand new model, like Android 16, you may obtain it instantly by heading to Settings > System > System Replace > Test for Replace. It’s also possible to take a look at beta variations of Android, however you will have to enroll your device. (Be certain to back up your phone first!) Pixels are additionally aware about the feature drops Google points each few months, which embody options from newer Pixels coming to older fashions and brand-new options for the most recent gadgets.
There are just a few different Pixel telephones price contemplating if you don’t need any of the above decisions. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro (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 more than $500 or $600 for either of them; in any other case, you could as properly put that cash towards the Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 sequence.
I don’t suggest you purchase any older Pixel gadgets. A number of Pixel A-series telephones have been put underneath a battery efficiency program to mitigate the danger of overheating or swelling batteries. These software program updates have crippled the battery life on these telephones, and Google has offered prospects with battery substitute choices or Google Retailer credit score for a brand new Pixel telephone. These potential points imply it is simply not well worth the threat of shopping for a Pixel 7a or Pixel 6a. The Pixel 8a (8/10, WIRED Recommends) would not appear to point out 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 house owners have acquired obligatory updates that purposefully degrade the efficiency of the battery to forestall overheating. Your telephone could have been working high-quality earlier than, however Google issued these updates as a preventative measure, and never each machine was affected. Equally, some Pixel 7a devices could encounter battery swelling points.
In case your telephone has been affected, you may have two choices. You will get a free battery substitute—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 may 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 probably a provider problem. What in regards to the newer Pixel 9a? Here 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 elements, together with batteries. With Pixel 9a, we delivered the biggest and longest-lasting battery of any A-series but. We’ve been inspired by its reception to date and are assured within the telephone’s longevity and sturdiness.”
Ideally, this battery problem has been rectified within the newest mannequin, however we’ll be monitoring it over the subsequent few years.
What Does Pixel Care+ Embody?
While you buy a Pixel from Google, you will see the choice so as to add Pixel Care+ for protection. It is solely obtainable 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. Here is what you get.
Pixel Care+ begins at $9 per thirty days or $179 and consists of limitless unintentional harm safety, $0 display and battery repairs, replacements that ship in a day, and precedence help from Pixel consultants. That pricing is for the Pixel 10, and it goes up for the pricier gadgets. For instance, the Pixel 10 Professional will value $13 per thirty 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 thirty days or $199 and consists of the identical protections as talked about above however consists of two claims of loss and theft each 12 months. Weirdly, Loss and Theft protection just isn’t obtainable in New York state.
You Can DeGoogle Your Pixel Cellphone
Love Google’s Pixel telephones however wish to get away from using Google services? It is just a little ironic, however you may truly use a special 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 Challenge. Whilst you can set up it your self, it requires a little bit of technical know-how, you may buy a refurbished Pixel from Murena with /e/OS put in already. For those who’re , we have now extra particulars about /e/OS here.
The Finest Pixel Circumstances and Equipment
I’ve written a broader information on the Best Pixel 9 Cases and Accessories here, however listed below are just a few picks to your perusal. We’ll be testing circumstances for the Pixel 10 sequence quickly.
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This silicone case helps you to match your Pixel telephone’s coloration. It is sturdy and good to the touch, with raised edges on the entrance to guard the display. 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 manufactured from a hard-shell polycarbonate, however 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 solution to unfold the telephone.
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{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
That is our favourite case general for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8A sequence. It has clicky buttons and extremely grippy edges (therefore the title). It feels strong but pretty slim, and you may select a snazzy design. Simply know that you must apply this “pores and skin” to the again of the case. There’s lots of room for error right here, so watch out, and watch Dbrand’s installation video for tips. There’s MagSafe support so you need to use your Pixel with MagSafe accessories, and it labored exceptionally in my testing.
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That is hands-down one of the best case in case 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 Universal 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 accessories, even wi-fi chargers. The corporate additionally has a number of different magnetic accessories, like a car vent mount. The case itself is good; I simply want the perimeters had been raised extra for higher display safety. It is available in extra colours than ever.
This charging adapter is all you have to recharge your Pixel, whichever mannequin you may have. The most recent high-end Pixel telephones do not include chargers within the field, so if you haven’t any spare USB-C chargers, it is price selecting one up. This one’s prongs fold up, so it is nice for journey too.
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Dbrand provides you two display protectors on this bundle, and after I initially examined it, there was no utility instrument, so I needed to freehand the set up. The present Prism 2.0 model fortunately now comes with a instrument, so it ought 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 should be toggled on. It may also be laborious to keep in mind that all these options exist, so listed below are a lot of the prime ones.
There are some key options on Pixels that you simply will not discover on another Android telephone. A few of these can be found solely on choose Pixels—the Tensor chip began with the Pixel 6, and presently, the Tensor G4 is within the Pixel 9 vary. Here is a breakdown:
Name Display screen: While 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 may have Assistant take the decision. You will see a real-time transcription of what is taking place, so you may finish the decision straight away if it is a telemarketer or reply if it seems to be a long-lost highschool pal. If it is somebody necessary, you may give Assistant responses to recite in case you’re unable to take the decision—it presents up contextual replies now, too. Bear 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 screen.
Wait Instances and Direct My Name: While you name a enterprise within the telephone app, you will 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 the whole name and separates the menu choices so you may see them with out having to pay attention intently to the decision. Extra just lately, for some numbers, Direct My Name will cache responses so you will instantly see menu choices with no need to attend for the automated response to undergo each quantity. You possibly can flip this on by going to the telephone app’s Settings > Direct My Name.
Maintain for Me: For those who’ve been positioned on maintain with a enterprise quantity, you may ask Google Assistant to take over. It’s going to play a loud chime when the particular person on the opposite finish is again. No have to pay attention to carry music! Toggle it on within the telephone app’s Settings > Maintain for Me. This characteristic is accessible on most Pixels however solely works in choose nations, together with the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, and Canada.
Clear Calling: When you’ve got a Pixel 7 or newer, you may activate this characteristic to reinforce the opposite caller’s voice and cut back their background noise. Head to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Clear Calling to toggle it on. It additionally works on Google’s Pixel Buds Pro.
Name Notes (Tensor G4 and newer; with 12-plus GB RAM): You possibly can 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. Somewhat, you must faucet the Extra button once you’re on a name and faucet Name Notes to start out it. It kind of information the dialog (it notifies the opposite individual that the decision is being recorded), and on the finish, it will provide you with a abstract of necessary factors from the decision proper within the name historical past log, resembling worth quotes, telephone numbers, or addresses. Typically it will get data fallacious, because the accuracy of the transcription is dependent upon the decision high quality, however you may play again the whole 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 possibly can 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 rapidly lookup 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 much like transcribed voicemails, although that characteristic would not all the time work and should rely in your service. 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 will probably be informed to depart a message, and this recording will probably 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 offers you one-tap entry to your favourite contacts. Nevertheless it’s greater than that. Faucet on one in all your contacts and you will see a fantastically designed web page that gives 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 keep in mind particular issues. You possibly can entry this the identical approach you add a widget; it sits underneath the Contacts app.
Transcription and Translation Options
Translated Cellphone Calls in Your Voice (Tensor G5): You possibly can translate a telephone name in actual time, however what makes Google’s method distinctive is that the corporate will make the translated voice sound like your individual (or the particular person on the opposite finish). That approach, it nonetheless sounds such as you’re speaking to somebody , fairly than a robotic voice. No audio is recorded, and information is not saved (it really works on-device). It is solely obtainable for just a few languages, like English, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
Reside Translate: In choose messaging apps, Pixels will routinely know when somebody sends a message in a language aside 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 will have to obtain the languages you wish to see translated by heading to Settings > System > Reside Translate.
Reside Caption: Pixels can routinely transcribe any video taking part in on the display. You possibly can rapidly toggle this on by tapping one of many quantity buttons and tapping on the sq. button under the quantity slider (or head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Reside Caption). If the video is in a special language, you may even see it translated (solely on Tensor-powered Pixels), although you will have to obtain one of many supported languages. It might probably even caption telephone calls.
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