Google Pixel 3 XL

It’s here! Three months after the first, Google has just released another Feature Drop for its Pixel smartphones, once again delivering a bunch of awesome new features. Every feature is going to be more useful for one person than another, though, so we’re curious — what’s your favorite?

Expand
Expanding
Close

One of my favorite features of Google’s Pixel smartphones for the past couple of generations has been “Now Playing.” The effortless feature identifies music playing in the background, and, now, it’s fixing one source of frustration. Now Playing will no longer show songs you’re casting from Pixel.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The second Pixel Feature Drop is here and it brings a ton of new features with it, including one for Google Pay. Alongside the new “Cards and Passes” power menu option, Google Pay on select Pixel devices can add flight boarding passes using nothing more than a screenshot.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Coming as part of the first official Pixel Feature Drop, Call Screening and its automated answering service has now steadily rolled out to all Pixels in the United States. However, with this rollout, it appears that some Pixel owners are now unable to save audio from the Call Screen.

Expand
Expanding
Close

One long-requested feature for Android finally popped up in Android 10’s beta releases, but it didn’t end up in the final release, unfortunately. However, there is a trick to bring it back. Here’s how to enable Android’s built-in screen recorder on Google Pixel devices.

Expand
Expanding
Close

A big part of the Pixel’s appeal is that it gets new updates very quickly. However, in recent months, that hasn’t been the case. As we kick off the new year, some Pixel 3 owners still haven’t gotten the December security update and all of the goodies it brings with it. Thankfully, it’s not far off.

Expand
Expanding
Close

One of the biggest benefits of a Google Pixel phone is that you’ll get updates and security patches in a timely manner, but for the past couple of months, Google has been lagging behind. The question begs to be asked, has your Pixel got the December update yet?

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google kicked off its new “Feature Drops” for the Pixel series just yesterday, and included in that first batch is a new way to combat spam calls. Apparently, that won’t remain Pixel 4-exclusive for long, as Google plans to add Automatic Call screen to all Pixels in the not-too-distant future.

Expand
Expanding
Close

One of the biggest perks of owning a Google Pixel smartphone of any generation is how quickly it gets updates. Today, Google is introducing a new monthly “Feature Drop” for Pixel smartphones and in its first release, automatic Call Screen, better memory management, Portrait Blur, and more are on the table.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google’s software on Pixels usually feels very polished, but it often has bugs we just can’t explain. Now, a strange bug seems to be showing up on a few more Pixels running Android 10 which leaves random letters or words floating on the screen.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google just released the December security patch for its Pixel smartphones yesterday, but there’s an unfortunate issue for users on Pixel 3 devices. Apparently, the Pixel Launcher is continually crashing on Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a when using gesture navigation.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The cameras on Google’s Pixel phones are great mainly thanks to their software and now, thanks to some developers, a new mode is available. With a Google Camera mod, all Pixel phones are getting a “Light Painting” mode.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Nearly a month after the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL went on sale, last year’s phone is now out of stock at both the Google Store and Fi. The Pixel 3 is no longer available to purchase in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

Expand
Expanding
Close

If you’ll recall a few years back, owners of the Nexus 6P were reporting issues of their phones shutting down well before the system reported a dead battery. Now, some Pixel 3 owners are reporting similar early shutdown issues on their devices when on low battery.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google has quietly rolled out a new option for Pixel devices which allows the ringer to vibrate first and then gradually start to ring at your set volume. Now, that feature appears to be widely rolling out to all Pixel devices.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Battery life is not a strength on basically any Pixel smartphones, meaning most users are going to have to find a place to charge at some point throughout the day. If you have a daily commute, iOttie’s new fast wireless car charger is a great, if expensive, option for Pixel owners.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google’s Pixel 4 sure seems like the best in the series to date, but the company isn’t giving owners of its previous devices a break when it comes to trade-in values. Even if you have a maxed-out Google Pixel 3 XL that debuted just a year ago, the Google Store trade-in will only value your device at $295.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Since the original Pixel, Google only sold its phones unlocked or through Verizon Wireless. That changed this year with an expansion to T-Mobile, Sprint, and other carriers. However, it seems despite the low-cost Pixel 3a, sales of Google’s smartphones at Verizon make up just 5% of the carrier’s total.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google’s camera prowess is the reason “Pixel” is a well-known brand. Most people know after the past three generations that if you want the best camera in a smartphone, you buy a Pixel. This year, however, reviewers think that may have changed. Reviews of Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro give high praise to the cameras and claim it’s better than the Pixel 3. Is that really the case?

Expand
Expanding
Close

Netflix offers a ton of HDR movies and TV shows and as smartphone displays add support for the feature, the content provider is enabling support. The list of HDR10 devices on Netflix just grew quite a bit, and it now includes some of Google’s Pixel phones including the still-unannounced Pixel 4 series.

Expand
Expanding
Close