With this month’s rollout of Android 16 QPR3 and its associated Pixel Drop, anyone rocking one of Google’s growing collection of Pixels is finally getting access to something we’ve waited on for a long time: custom app icons. Unfortunately, using this feature is locked behind a basic set of generative AI tools, and compared to what you’ll find on other launchers — from both first and third-party developers — it’s just not good enough.
Smartphone cases are something we all use, but I don’t get why Samsung and Google keep making the same annoying mistake when it comes to their first-party Galaxy and Pixel cases.
Google’s efforts with Pixel phones have been improving over the past few years, to the point where the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series both managed to win “Best Smartphone” awards at MWC in back-to-back years, but the iPhone 17 has taken back the crown this time around.
No phone is complete without a weather app, which is probably why Google realized it was high time its Pixel devices had a dedicated offering just a few years ago. Soon, the company plans to roll out an accessibility-friendly overhaul to its weather icons, all centered around contrast and visibility.
Google Pixel’s well-known and beloved Now Playing experience just became its own app, which is great, but it comes at the apparent expense of some third-party history tools that have completely stopped working since the change.
Besides the new features introduced with Android 16 QPR3, the March 2026 Pixel update includes several bug fixes across Audio, Camera, Display & Graphics, Framework, Telephony, and User Interface.
If there’s one big complaint about Google’s Pixel UI experience, it’s the lack of customization. Rivals like Samsung and OnePlus offer easy theming tools with deep personalization options, but on Pixel, your icon options are primarily limited to Material You’s dynamic colors. That’s finally changing with today’s Pixel Drop, though it might not be exactly what you’ve been wanting from Google.
Android 16 QPR3 is rolling out today with the March 2026 security patch for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10a. We also have the latest Pixel Feature Drop.
Pixel Studio was introduced in 2024 with the Pixel 9 alongside Screenshots and Weather. In light of other Google image generation features and integrations, Pixel Studio is going away.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series might not add a ton of new functions and features, but there are a few software functions and features being lifted right from Pixel phones.
With the Pixel 10a unveil last week, it’s officially a wrap on the Pixel 10 series. Before the next cycle begins, Google posted a fun “Pixel Colors Through the Years” infographic today.
Google initially debuted its Titan M security chip back in 2018 with the Pixel 3 before following it up with Titan M2 in its first-gen Tensor launch. Now, as we approach the tenth anniversary of Pixel and the five-year anniversary of that step into custom silicon, Google is rumored to be working on yet another step forward for its security coprocessor.
Trade-ins are a key part of modern smartphone purchases, and Google is making a pretty big change for Pixel buyers with the arrival of instant trade-in credits through the Google Store.
Biometrics are a core part of any smartphone nowadays, and Google Pixel is one of the few brands that balances both fingerprint and face unlock properly. But it seems Google wants to take things a step further on Pixel, with a new “Project Toscana” in the works that includes new face unlock hardware for phones and even Chromebooks, which is said to be comparable to iPhone’s Face ID in performance.
Google Pixel is undoubtedly a small player in the overall smartphone market, but it’s steadily growing and, thanks to a new report, we have a slightly better idea of how many Pixels there are out in the wild.
There have been growing reports of Google Pixel users experiencing Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth issues after a January 2026 update. Here’s how many of you should feel validated.
The numbers are in, and it seems Google’s Pixel 9a was a hit among the holidays in a US smartphone market that Apple dominated even more than it usually does.
The 2025 smartphone market ended on a high note, acting as the calm before the storm with brands including Google Pixel, Nothing, and Honor being among the fastest-growing smartphone brands of the year.
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Google Pixel’s AI icons are a poor substitute for real personalization on Android
With this month’s rollout of Android 16 QPR3 and its associated Pixel Drop, anyone rocking one of Google’s growing collection of Pixels is finally getting access to something we’ve waited on for a long time: custom app icons. Unfortunately, using this feature is locked behind a basic set of generative AI tools, and compared to what you’ll find on other launchers — from both first and third-party developers — it’s just not good enough.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung and Google Pixel keep making the same phone case mistake
Smartphone cases are something we all use, but I don’t get why Samsung and Google keep making the same annoying mistake when it comes to their first-party Galaxy and Pixel cases.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel won ‘Best Smartphone’ back-to-back, but lost to the iPhone 17 this year
Google’s efforts with Pixel phones have been improving over the past few years, to the point where the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series both managed to win “Best Smartphone” awards at MWC in back-to-back years, but the iPhone 17 has taken back the crown this time around.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle is giving Pixel Weather’s icons a contrast-heavy makeover
No phone is complete without a weather app, which is probably why Google realized it was high time its Pixel devices had a dedicated offering just a few years ago. Soon, the company plans to roll out an accessibility-friendly overhaul to its weather icons, all centered around contrast and visibility.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel’s new Now Playing app breaks third-party history tools
Google Pixel’s well-known and beloved Now Playing experience just became its own app, which is great, but it comes at the apparent expense of some third-party history tools that have completely stopped working since the change.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel March 2026 update fixes 16 issues: Pixel 10 GPU, battery, more
Besides the new features introduced with Android 16 QPR3, the March 2026 Pixel update includes several bug fixes across Audio, Camera, Display & Graphics, Framework, Telephony, and User Interface.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel homescreens are getting custom icons, but Google’s keeping them locked to AI
If there’s one big complaint about Google’s Pixel UI experience, it’s the lack of customization. Rivals like Samsung and OnePlus offer easy theming tools with deep personalization options, but on Pixel, your icon options are primarily limited to Material You’s dynamic colors. That’s finally changing with today’s Pixel Drop, though it might not be exactly what you’ve been wanting from Google.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 16 QPR3 rolling out with March 2026 security update
Android 16 QPR3 is rolling out today with the March 2026 security patch for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10a. We also have the latest Pixel Feature Drop.
Expand Expanding CloseMarch 2026 Feature Drop: Pixel 10 ‘Comfort’ view, custom AI icons, At a Glance ‘My commute,’ & more
With the Android 16 QPR3 update, Google today announced the March 2026 Feature Drop and this is a pretty sizable release.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Now Playing redesign with M3 Expressive rolling out
As we’ve been expecting, Google is rolling out a complete redesign of Pixel Now Playing with a dedicated app that’s available via the Play Store.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle is winding down the Pixel Studio app
Pixel Studio was introduced in 2024 with the Pixel 9 alongside Screenshots and Weather. In light of other Google image generation features and integrations, Pixel Studio is going away.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung is cloning Pixel features for the Galaxy AI suite on S26
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series might not add a ton of new functions and features, but there are a few software functions and features being lifted right from Pixel phones.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle touts ‘Pixel Colors Through the Years’ – here’s a look back [Gallery]
With the Pixel 10a unveil last week, it’s officially a wrap on the Pixel 10 series. Before the next cycle begins, Google posted a fun “Pixel Colors Through the Years” infographic today.
Expand Expanding CloseCall Recording in Pixel Phone app expands internationally
In November, Call Recording for the Pixel Phone app began rolling out broadly, and it’s now getting international availability.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s Tensor G6 rumored to be paired with new Titan M3 security coprocessor
Google initially debuted its Titan M security chip back in 2018 with the Pixel 3 before following it up with Titan M2 in its first-gen Tensor launch. Now, as we approach the tenth anniversary of Pixel and the five-year anniversary of that step into custom silicon, Google is rumored to be working on yet another step forward for its security coprocessor.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store trade-ins towards Pixel are now an instant discount, but not for everyone
Trade-ins are a key part of modern smartphone purchases, and Google is making a pretty big change for Pixel buyers with the arrival of instant trade-in credits through the Google Store.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel ‘Project Toscana’ reportedly upgrades face unlock hardware, compares to iPhone Face ID
Biometrics are a core part of any smartphone nowadays, and Google Pixel is one of the few brands that balances both fingerprint and face unlock properly. But it seems Google wants to take things a step further on Pixel, with a new “Project Toscana” in the works that includes new face unlock hardware for phones and even Chromebooks, which is said to be comparable to iPhone’s Face ID in performance.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel getting ‘dedicated’ Now Playing app, coming to Play Store
Now Playing is one of the Pixel’s oldest features and Google is getting ready to give it a big app “upgrade.”
Expand Expanding ClosePixel VPN by Google update adds status to Quick Settings Tile
A small update to the Pixel VPN by Google lets you more easily check connection status from the Quick Settings (QS) Tile.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel finally made up its own tiny little slice of active smartphones
Google Pixel is undoubtedly a small player in the overall smartphone market, but it’s steadily growing and, thanks to a new report, we have a slightly better idea of how many Pixels there are out in the wild.
Expand Expanding CloseA surprising number of 9to5Google readers have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth issues on their Google Pixel
There have been growing reports of Google Pixel users experiencing Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth issues after a January 2026 update. Here’s how many of you should feel validated.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel starts adding ‘high-contrast’ design for At a Glance widget
Google appears to be adding a new “high-contrast” setting for the Pixel’s At a Glance widget, a long-standing request of many.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel 9a was a holiday hit as Apple dominated the US smartphone market in late 2025
The numbers are in, and it seems Google’s Pixel 9a was a hit among the holidays in a US smartphone market that Apple dominated even more than it usually does.
Expand Expanding CloseHonor, Nothing, and Google Pixel were some of 2025’s fastest-growing phone brands
The 2025 smartphone market ended on a high note, acting as the calm before the storm with brands including Google Pixel, Nothing, and Honor being among the fastest-growing smartphone brands of the year.
Expand Expanding Close