Tushar Mehta / Android Authority
The Pixel 10 is a fresh new phone series, but its novelty lies mainly in the software, which revolves around features like Magic Cue, on-device AI improvements, scam protection, and more. Even camera improvements over the Pixel 9 series — apart from the newly added telephoto on the base Pixel 10 — largely rest on top of software enhancements. Yes, that includes the new 100x zoom on the Pro models.
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While all of these improvements are impressive and help the Pixel 10 secure a spot among the best Android phones of 2025, my favorite feature is less flashy but practical. My heart lies with the new Screen Saver mode on the Pixel 10, which transforms the phone’s screen into a smart display.
With this iteration, Google has finally upgraded the feature that previously had remnants of the Android Marshmallow era. The Screen Saver mode on the Pixel 10 feels entirely reinvented, but it saddens me to think that it is limited to the Pixel 10 — at least until Google shares an update about its rollout to older phones. Thankfully, there is an easy way to recreate it on any Android device, which, in fact, allowed me to achieve more than Google’s version.
Do you use a screen saver on your Android phone? 15 votes No, but I'm looking forward to Pixel 10's improved Screen Saver mode 47 % No, I'd rather save battery 47 % No, it's too crude! 0 % Yes, I've used it in the past 0 % I want Pixel 10's Screen Saver on all Android phones 7 %
StandBy Mode Pro’s similarities to Pixel 10’s Screen Saver
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The app, StandBy Mode Pro, incorporates all the new features introduced by the Pixel 10’s Screen Saver. If you’re counting, these include multiple variations of analog and digital clocks, an overview of the weather, an improved photo gallery, and controls from the Google Home app.
I use the app on my OnePlus 13, giving it superpowers it initially lacked. In addition to the features I listed above, the app introduces some exciting new additions, including the ability to run a GIF continuously. Besides those, it also has built-in functionality to save the screen and protect our eyes, neither of which is originally part of the Pixel 10’s Screen Saver.
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