Google Pixel

The US smartphone market is dominated by names like Apple and Samsung, but others such as Google and OnePlus have been trying to make a meaningful impact in it for years now. As we near the Pixel 6 and its “soft reboot” of Google’s lineup, new stats on the US smartphone market in the first half of 2021 show that Google is actively losing market share while OnePlus is seeing a surge in popularity.

Given that we’re nearing the end of the 2020/21 Pixel lineup, Google ads for its phones are in an odd spot and have to be generic to not raise awareness about hardware that will soon be out of stock. The latest Google ad rather interestingly talks about the health features of the Pixel with brief Fitbit appearances interspersed throughout. 

Google is alerting Pixel 4 XL owners that it’s running an extended repair program for the 2019 flagship phone. It’s specifically limited to four countries and applies only to “certain power-related issues.”

Android 12 brings a lot of visual changes with it, and now the out-of-box-experience is being updated to match. With Android 12 Beta 3, Google is giving a fresh coat of paint to the setup experience on Pixel phones.

Battery technology nowadays generally means that a phone will last a couple of years before longevity issues start to set in. However, a known trick to extend battery health is to stop charging around 80% capacity, and that’s something Google has quietly been doing on Pixel phones in some situations.

Compared to previous generations, the rollout of Google’s 2020 phone lineup was much more staggered given world events. Pixel 5 and 4a 5G stock on the US Google Store is now fluctuating in a sign that supply might be limited or nearing the end.

Google’s recent advertisements for Pixel phones have been somewhat all over the place. Continuing that trend, the company today released a trio of short ads that focus on one feature each of “The Google Pixel.”

As the next major version of Google’s mobile OS progresses through the Beta Program, Android 11 remains the stable release throughout the summer. Google is now rolling out a more quiet July security patch to address bugs on the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), and Pixel 5.

A new month getting under way means that a new security patch is about to launch for Android devices. However, the July security update will be rolling out later than usual to Google Pixel phones.

Last week we asked our readers if they’d buy a folding Pixel, and with thousands of responses, it was interesting to see just what people had to say about the potentially new form factor.

Besides astrophotography time lapse, the key addition from June’s Pixel Feature Drop is the Google Photos Locked Folder that was first announced at I/O. It’s now beginning to roll out via a server-side update.

Last week we asked you what your most-used Pixel camera feature is. We had a pretty sizeable response, including a few things we didn’t even consider ahead of time.

The recent Pixel Feature Drop and subsequent Google Camera update has added yet another feature to the Made by Google devices, which poses the question as to what is your favorite or most-used camera feature.

Alongside Live View directions in Maps and 3D Animals, Lens is one of Google’s key investments in augmented reality. Google UK is now promoting the visual search tool with a “Behind the Lens with Google Pixel” promo campaign.

This quarter’s Pixel Feature Drop is primarily focused on camera features from Night Sight video to the Locked Folder. Google Camera 8.2.400 with astrophotography time lapse is still rolling out via the Play Store, but you can also download the new version immediately.

The 2021 Made by Google device lineup is looking to be one of the strongest ever with Whitechapel, Pixel 6, and a new Wear OS incoming. Things continue to shape up for a Google Pixel foldable, too, with a report today claiming that display production for the device is in the books for October.

The very latest Pixel Feature Drop has arrived alongside the June 2021 security patch, and it has brought with it a very modest selection of new features for those rocking an eligible Google Pixel smartphone — which means that we’ve gone hands-on.

While the first beta of Google’s next mobile operating system is now available, Android 11 remains the stable release for the next few months. Google is rolling out the June security patch with a Feature Drop to the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), and Pixel 5 today.

The June update for Pixel phones is coming later than usual this month, but it does bring a Feature Drop that’s more packed than recent releases. Highlights include the ability to take Astrophotography time lapses and a Locked Folder for Google Photos, while several capabilities are now more widely available abroad.