Google Pixel

Every phone eventually dies, even if the hardware is still holding up. The main reason for that is software, because, at a certain point, it’s no longer worth it for a manufacturer to spend the cash needed to develop and push software updates. It happens to every phone, and it’s going to happen to the Google Pixel. Today, Google has revealed when exactly that will happen…

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The Google Pixel has a stunning camera that can produce excellent pictures thanks to its HDR+ mode. While smartphone photography has excelled in recent years thanks to these techniques, there are still physical limitations.

Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, one Googler experimented with capturing low-light shots with the Nexus 6P and Pixel. The resulting nighttime photography, though requiring heavy post-processing, is comparable to a DSLR.

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Following the release of Android 7.1.2 earlier this month, Google is beginning to push the update to Pixel and Pixel XL devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program. For the Pixel line, it addresses a number of Bluetooth, battery shutdown, and camera issues, as well as other improvements.

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Android 7.1.2 finally finished its rollout to Google’s collection of Android smartphones this past week, but according to many users on Google’s support forums, it broke a crucial function for many — the fingerprint sensor…

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The next-generation Pixel might feature a flexible OLED display from LG if a rumored Google investment pans out. According to South Korea’s Electronic Times, Google has offered to make an $880 million investment in LG’s display division.

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Following the second public beta of Android 7.1.2 last month, Nougat’s second maintenance release is now rolling out. Mainly focusing on bug fixes and optimizations, there are some minor new features for the Google Pixel and Nexus devices.

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Following the second public beta of Android 7.1.2 and the O Developer Preview last month, the April security patch is now rolling out. Still on Android 7.1.1, it features minor bug fixes and security patches for Google Pixel and Nexus devices.

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On its first wholly-made device, Google earned high marks for the Pixel’s 12.3 megapixel camera. Surprisingly, the software behind the lens dates back to when Alphabet’s X division was working on Google Glass.

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For the past month, some Pixel and Pixel XL owners have reported that Bluetooth on their device randomly shuts down. The issue seemingly began in February after that month’s security patch and has persisted through this month’s update. However, according to Google, the issue has now been remedied server-side.

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As of today, it’s been exactly 5 months since I started using the Pixel XL as my daily driver. In the time since, I’ve used several devices, including the LG V20 and Huawei Mate 9 among others, but Google’s first flagship has always held a spot in my pocket.

So, after 5 months of constant usage, how has it held up?

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Today, it was reported that Google is currently working on a third phone alongside the two-second generation Pixel devices. While not much is known about this codenamed “taimen” device, we have heard that it will be even larger than the updated Pixel XL. If you were to purchase one of these phones, which size would you choose?

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Yesterday we had “confirmation” of the codenames under which the sequels to the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are being developed over at Google (“walleye” and “muskie”, respectively). However, it looks like the Mountain View firm may have a third device up its sleeve…

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Update 3/13/17: Google tells us that the company has not made any revisions to the Google Pixel or Pixel XL hardware, and says that the “Rev. B” seen on the device’s box has nothing to do with the device, but is rather an identifier for the packaging itself. Google says it has, however, made “small improvements” to the manufacturing process to reduce the ‘likelihood of an audio codec failure.”

Google has not made any revisions to the Pixel or Pixel XL hardware. We have made some small improvements to our manufacturing process to further reduce any likelihood of an audio codec failure.

Update 3/12/17: The letter at the end of the SKU relates to color, but it still seems that the “Rev. B” you can see behind the sticker is referring to a hardware revision. We’ll update this article again when we learn more.

The original story follows:

Minor hardware revisions are quite common over the lifetime of a device. For one Google-related example, the Nexus 4 received a slight design change that added nubs to raise the phone on flat surfaces. It now appears that revised Google Pixels are in the wild, likely packing fixes for recent hardware issues…

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The Google Pixel and Pixel XL easily became our picks for the best smartphones of 2016, but they’ve not been without faults ─ and a lot of them. Since release, Google has been dealing with issues such as battery hiccups, speaker popping, camera bugs, and much more. Now, some Pixel owners are reporting a new issue with their microphones.

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Removing 3.5mm headphone jacks has been a bit of a trend with flagship devices on the market, but now it seems there’s a possibility that Google could also be ditching the jack with the next-generation Pixel. The big question about this rumor is obvious: Would you still consider purchasing the “Pixel 2” if it didn’t have a headphone jack?

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Still on Android 7.1.1, the March security patch is beginning to rollout for current Pixel and Nexus devices. Likely addressing minor bugs, but otherwise lacking significant new features, there are fixes for 60 vulnerabilities.

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Google’s SVP of hardware, Rick Osterloh, said during a private meeting in Barcelona this week that there will indeed — unsurprisingly, considering its wild acclaim — be a second generation Pixel announced later this year. Further, Osterloh says that that the Pixel brand will “stay premium”…

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Google’s Pixel XL is a wonderful phone, and it’s been my daily driver for the past few months. The hardware on this phone is excellent, but whether it’s for added protection or a better look, most of us will add a case to the phone. There is an alternative, however, a skin.

There are several fantastic skin makers on the market today, but which makes the best skin for the Pixel XL? Over the past few weeks, that’s what I’ve been aiming to figure out. I’ve recently tested four different skins from dBrand, Colorware, Toast, and SlickWraps, all for the Pixel XL. Each skin was tested for a minimum of one week. So, let’s take a look.

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