While the Google Pixel experience is easily one of the best you’ll find today, it’s no secret that other platforms often have features not available on a Pixel device. As Google prepares to fill yet another one of those gaps, what features do you think are still missing from Pixel phones?
New findings in Android 17 suggest that Google is adding a proper “shuffle” wallpaper option to Pixel phones, a feature that’s become commonplace on other devices. I use it on my Galaxy Z Fold 7 to shuffle through some of those stunning images from the credits of Project Hail Mary on my lockscreen, but it’s available well beyond just Samsung phones. Even Apple supports it on iPhone. Google Pixel has had a very limited version of this for the better part of a decade now, but it’s wild it’s taken this long for this to even be in development.
It had me thinking – what other features are missing on Pixel?
For a while, it’s felt like Google has been checking boxes on things I’ve missed from other devices. Pixel foldables/tablets now support pop-up apps through Bubbles, for instance. That’s something I really liked about the Galaxy Z Fold lineup, but missed last year while daily-driving the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. A while back, auto-complete for using PIN unlock was finally added, something that Google left out for far too long and that I always missed when switching back to Pixel from basically any other Android device.
Top comment by matteventu
Decent screenshots markup tool
Decent rules/shortcuts app
Sorting the item list in Find Hub
A decent integration amongst all "AI" stuff (i.e. Call Notes doesn't integrate with the Recorder features, Recorder doesn't integrate with Calendar/Tasks, the summaries in Recorder are half-baked, etc)
"Charge to full once" tile when you have the 80% limit set
Widgets in the lock screen (in the lock screen, not "in another page accessible from the lock screen" as it is now)
Browser extensions (Samsung Internet and Safari have them, Chrome doesn't)
Overall better polished UI without things that break or glitch introduced with almost every update
A proper, full, comprehensive way to backup the whole phone locally to a personal computer
But those are just a couple of examples that sprung to mind – this is where I really just want to open the floor to you.
What features do you think are missing from Pixel devices?
Unlike a typical poll here on 9to5Google, this one needs to be more of an open discussion instead of a vote. So sound off below! We’ll round up the highlights (and most upvoted) soon.
More on Google Pixel:
- Google Pixel phones get better wireless audio quality in Android 17 – how to check
- June 2026 Pixel Drop: Bubbles, screen reactions, Phone app expansions, & more
- Google preps Pixel ‘Audio Memory’ that ambiently tracks your ‘important conversations,’ like AI notetaker pins
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