Google Pixel

Haptic feedback on smartphones has become a great tool when used in moderation. On the Pixel, having haptics turned on for your keyboard can give typing a different feel, though some might prefer to leave it off. Here’s how to turn keyboard haptic feedback on or off for your Google Pixel.

If checking the Pixel’s Security & privacy menu returns a “Google Account may be at risk” alert encouraging you to “Add a screen lock,” you’re not alone today.

If you have a Pixel phone and have been unable to use a hotspot in recent months, it seems you’re not alone, as a long-standing issue has prevented users on select carriers from starting up a hotspot successfully.

The January 2023 security update for Google Pixel phones was released on schedule during the first week of this month, but as of January 12, it still hasn’t arrived for Pixel 7 owners on T-Mobile, and it’s not the only Pixel update that’s been delayed on the carrier as of late.

Following the Pixel’s first stable update of 2023, Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 is rolling out today with the January security patch.

The January 2023 update arrived earlier this week for Google Pixel owners, but it seems the patch is carrying some problems along with it, as some users are seeing issues with Bluetooth and Android Auto.

The year in Pixel updates gets underway today with the Android 13 January security patch for the Pixel 4a, 4a 5G, 5, 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7 and 7 Pro.

Per Verizon, the next Google Pixel update with the January security patch is rolling out tomorrow.

If one thing became clear about the Google Pixel lineup in 2022, it was that Google is pushing hard to create a proper ecosystem of hardware. In 2023, that will include a folding phone and the Pixel Tablet, but one thing missing from the equation is a new Pixelbook. 

Smartphones have reached a point of stagnation, with upgrades usually being fairly minor year to year. In 2022, there wasn’t a whole lot to get excited about, but two devices really stood out. Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro were, for a few reasons, the best smartphones of 2022.

Hardware development spans years into the future, so today’s leak describing the Google Pixel roadmap into 2025 is right on track. If Google sticks to it, barring disruptions, the next three years of Pixel phones reveals Google’s desire to offer a range of devices that more than mimics the iPhone in terms of variety.

Google has been investing more and more into the Pixel lineup over the past couple of years, and now we might be getting a sneak peek at what’s to come later on as an alleged roadmap offers a few tidbits about the Pixel 8 and beyond.

To close out the December Feature Drop, Google is now rolling out the combined Security & privacy settings for Pixel phones running Android 13 QPR1.

Stargazing increasingly requires that you travel a good distance away from lights. In Japan, Google is presenting a “Night Tour” event where you go to a ticketed location and can rent a Pixel for astrophotography.

It’s no secret at this point that there’s a Google Pixel Fold in the pipeline, and all signs point to the hardware being quite similar to the Oppo Find N2. Is that the right choice? Personally, I have mixed feelings.

As part of December’s Pixel Feature Drop, Google’s excellent Recorder app gained Speaker Labels that can identify multiple people. As with previous editions, the team behind it is out with an explanation of how the feature came to be.

For some, the 5G rollout hasn’t necessarily resulted in faster speeds or even a more consistent experience. In a possible acknowledgment of that, Google Fi now lets Pixel owners set their Preferred network type to LTE.

With QPR1 now stable, Google is rolling out Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1 as the next sizable Pixel update that will be released in March.

Following several promotions since the launch of the Google Pixel 7 series over the past two months, the Google Store has just drastically lowered the value of trading in your old phone, especially if it’s a Pixel device.