Google Pixel

Google is expected to tear the wraps off of the mid-range Pixel 7a and its first foldable phone yet, the Google Pixel Fold, at I/O on May 10. Ahead of that event, though, a new report has now provided more information than ever before on the two upcoming devices.

Google has finally released the March 2023 Feature Drop for Pixel smartphones. While this month's Feature Drop focuses on the Pixel 4a 5G through Pixel 7 Pro, some features have come to all Pixel smartphones, such as expanded Magic Eraser eligibility.

Google has presented Android 14 Developer Preview 2, the second iteration of Android 14. While Android 14 DP2 does not make any major design alterations or features from Android 13, Google has integrated several changes aimed at improving security.

Purportedly, some Google employees are already in possession of Pixel Fold units. One has even been spotted on a New York subway train with Google's first foldable smartphone, which may launch before the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Google has officially announced when this year's I/O conference will be held. Traditionally, Google uses I/O to showcase new Android and Wear OS versions, but the company is also rumoured to showcase new hardware like the Pixel 7a at I/O 2023.

Google appears to be in the final stages of bringing a new Feature Drop to Pixel smartphones. The March 2023 Feature Drop will expand Magic Eraser eligibility to all Pixel smartphones, among other changes.

Spatial audio support is now rolling out for the Google Pixel Buds Pro via the firmware version 4.30 update. It required an Android 13 device with the feature enabled and will not work with Pixel A series earbuds and smartphones.

Google has started distributing a new Google Play update to Pixel smartphones, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The update brings numerous changes and bug fixes to Pixel devices separate from a Feature Drop.

Google has certified three new Google Pixel smartphone model numbers with the FCC, GWKK3, GHL1X and G0DZQ. All variants of the same device, the three model numbers are likely to represent the Pixel 7a or Pixel Fold, which should both arrive this spring with the Google Tensor G2 chipset.

Google has presented new features for Android 13 and Wear OS 3. With focus paid to the likes of the Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Watch, Google has also enabled its Fast Pair technology on Chromebooks, among other changes

Google is bringing its Magic Eraser feature to all recent smartphones, including iPhones. Rolling out through the Google Photos app, the feature will only be available to Google One subscribers. Google Photos also gains a HDR effect for video recordings; print orders now come with free shipping in multiple markets too.

The Pixel Buds Pro will soon receive head tracking support, courtesy of a new firmware update. In the meantime, Google has readied the Pixel Buds app for the new functionality, which will work in tandem with Spatial Audio.

Rocking a Tensor G2 SoC, 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, and a 6.3-inch 90 Hz OLED display, the Google Pixel 7 is a stunning smartphone with only a few compromises. Mint Mobile is now giving the phone away for US$299 if you sign up for one of the carrier’s 12-month data plans for 50% off.

Google has commented on the state of scrolling issues on Pixel 7 series devices. With the stable release of Android 13 QPR2 around the corner, it seems that Google's latest flagships could soon be rid of performance problems that affect some units.

An increasing number of Pixel 7 Pro owners are reporting that volume buttons have started falling out of place. Purportedly a hardware issue and not a localised problem, the remedy is more complex than simply returning the errant buttons to their housing.

Google's Material You design language appears destined for Wear OS, which remains based on Android 11. Material You should bring greater customisation options to Wear OS with tweaks like system-wide colours, among other changes.

Android 14 has arrived in its first incarnation. Google has made many back-end changes with Android 14 Developer Preview 1, although there are a few hints at what could be to come for the next version of Android, including big screen improvements and greater customisation options.

The launch of the cheapest member of the Pixel 7 family is approaching, with the Pixel 7a likely arriving this spring during Google I/O 2023. In the meantime, a third-party case manufacturer has already listed cases for the mid-range handheld with accompanying render images.

Google is rolling out another update for the Pixel Watch. This month's update arrives as RWD9.220429.075 or RWD9.220429.075.J1, depending on where you live. The update brings the Pixel Watch onto the February 2023 security patch, mirroring a comparable update for Pixel smartphones.

Google has released a new round of updates for its recent smartphones. This month's update is focused on bugs fixes, as well as bringing the Pixel 4a through Pixel 7 Pro onto the latest set of Android security patches.

Google has now released official repair manuals for its latest flagship smartphones. Having already made original spare parts available, the repair manuals should make it simple for people to repair their Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro when necessary. Google has only released these guides in French for now, though.

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL may be over five years old, but the former flagships are still receiving updates from third-party developers. LineageOS 20 brings Android 13 to the pair, which offers a revised UI and current security patch updates, among other changes.

Google may still be a few months away from unveiling the Pixel Tablet. However, developer Kuba Wojciechowski has revealed more specifications and details about the tablet and its accompanying accessories. Reputedly, Google has developed two dock accessories, but there will only be one Pixel Tablet variant available and no Pro model.

A comparison has been made between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Google Pixel 7 Pro in regard to the capabilities of their selfie cameras. The Pixel 7 Pro’s front-facing camera has been widely praised for capturing natural-looking images, but the example produced by the Galaxy S23 Ultra in this instance looks to be next level in terms of quality.

A hands-on video has shown what to expect from the Pixel Fold and many of its important features. Google's first foldable smartphone bears a closer resemblance to the Oppo Find N and Find N2 than the Galaxy Z Fold4, with a more compact design and no gap when the device is folded shut.

Google is apparently developing an Apple AirTag alternative under its Nest brand. Codenamed 'Grogu', the tag will support Bluetooth Low Energy, Google Fast Pair and ultra-wideband connectivity for maximum coverage.

Although it lacks a memory card slot and many potential users will consider 128 GB of internal storage insufficient, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is now available with a massive 33% discount on Amazon. After this discount, the list price of US$899 goes down to a more wallet-friendly price tag that reads US$604.

Another noteworthy deal brings the Google Pixel 7 family of smartphones back to their lowest sale prices yet, which means that now is a good time to snatch one these relatively new Android handsets for up to 16% off their original list price.

Google is now issuing its January 2023 round of updates for recent Pixel smartphones. While this month's patch is available from the Pixel 4a onwards, it mainly brings improvements to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

The Pixel 7a is expected to debut later in the year. Months ahead of that, however, the mid-range phone has now made its first live appearance in the wild, following in the footsteps of recent Google devices.

While phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Xiaomi 12S Ultra, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are critically regarded as being the best camera smartphones on the market, thanks to their class-leading hardware and advanced computational photography, it appears public opinion without brand bias leans towards an entirely different smartphone: the Google Pixel 6A.

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones are likely to sport new main cameras according to information that was recently revealed in app code. It appears the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will utilize staggered HDR to create images with enhanced dynamic range. In addition, the same source has apparently confirmed the existence of a Google Pixel Tablet Pro.

The Pixel Tablet has turned up on Facebook Marketplace months ahead before its official release. Presumably a prototype, the unit confirms a few details about Google's first Pixel-branded tablet, as well as its accompanying speaker dock.

Google has snuck in a new feature for the Pixel 6 Pro within the first Android 13 QPR2 beta. Available to download for the Pixel 4a onwards, Android 13 QPR2 should reach stable status sometime in March 2023.

Amazon has discounted Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro by US$100 and $150, respectively. This is a 17% discount for each phone. The Pixel 7 Pro is one of the best Android phones on the market, sitting at #9 in Notebookcheck's Top 10 Smartphones list.

The search engine giant's affordable Android smartphone, which has been on the market for less than five months, has now returned to its very intriguing Black Friday price as Amazon offers all color variants of the Google Pixel 6a for just US$299.

A reliable leaker has shared high-quality renders of the Google Pixel Fold, along with new display details. Supposedly based on official CAD files, the renders have also been transformed into a 360-degree video that showcases the Pixel Fold from all sides.

The Pixel Fold has debuted on Geekbench, confirming a few details for Google’s first foldable smartphone. Rumoured to be arriving next spring at I/O 2023, the Pixel Fold will feature the Google Tensor G2 chipset, 12 GB of RAM and will run Android 13 out of the box.

Google has released another Feature Drop for Pixel devices. Arriving in time for the holidays, the December 2022 Feature Drop adds new features for the Pixel 4a through Pixel 7 Pro, as well as the Pixel Watch. New features include complimentary Google VPN access for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, among others.

Google has announced a major feature update for Pixel smartphones running Android 13. As of the December 2022 update, the likes of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro support a dedicated reader mode and can share digital car keys with other compatible smartphones, among other changes.

Google has released new features for Wear OS. Available first later this month on the Pixel Watch, the new features include functional changes, such as Google Assistant refinements and new tiles as Google continues to modernise Wear OS.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced that it and seven federal states will sue Google and iHeartMedia for ‘deceptive ads’. Having paid radio hosts to promote the Pixel 4 without labelling their testimonials as advertising.

A reliable leaker has shared renders of the Pixel 7a, Google’s next mid-range smartphone. While the Pixel 7a resembles the Pixel 7, the former is a touch smaller than the latter.

Google has shaved a quarter off the MSRP of the Pixel Buds Pro as part of its Black Friday promotions. Now available for US$149.99 in all colours, the Pixel Buds Pro supports ANC, Bluetooth multipoint and a 5-band EQ, among other features.

Google has brought a feature from Fitbit to the Pixel Watch. Available globally, Sleep Profiles is aimed at detecting changes in sleep patterns. The new feature is tied to a Fitbit Premium membership though, which costs US$9.99 per month or US$79.99 annually.

Google is charging around US$150 extra for the Pixel 7 Pro compared to the smaller non-Pro model. Is the surcharge worth it? And if so, for whom? Once again, we provide comparisons to make the decision easier for you.

The Pixel 7 Pro has been temporarily reduced in price from US$899 to US$749 as part of Google’s grand Black Friday sale. US$150 has also been lopped off the price of the Pixel 6a, while there are discounts for the Pixel 7 smartphone, a whole host of Nest devices, and even the Pixel Watch and Fitbit Sense 2.

Google has released new features to the Pixel Watch app as part of its November 2022 update. Not only has Google included several bug fixes, but the company has also integrated greater Fitbit functionality, which still remains lacking compared to Fitbit's flagship smartwatches.