Pixel Drops used to be something to get excited about, especially if you had the latest Google handset, but not anymore. These software updates brought exclusive features to Pixel phones, giving users more toys to play with than other Android users. However, as the November Pixel Drop came and went, the play chest was empty, save for a “feature” that’s annoying our Pixel users and many readers.
My colleague Rita El Khoury received almost none of the new features on her Pixel 10 Pro and XL, except for the Wicked theme pack. Similarly, Joe Maring took issue with Google’s aggressive marketing, which paints a rather dim picture of future Pixel Drops and the infusion of advertising material within them.
“If Google had launched its theme pack system with a few ‘normal,’ non-branded options along with the Wicked ones, that would be one thing. But in choosing to debut theme packs exclusively with the Wicked themes, it’s easy to imagine these theme packs being used as nothing more than an advertising machine going forward,” he wrote.
I couldn’t agree more, but that’s just my opinion. What do you — our readers — think about Google’s November Pixel Drop? We put this question to a poll across both articles, and the results are stark.
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What do you think of the new Pixel November Drop? Readers cast over 2,400 votes in this poll, and it’s clear that Google’s effort disgruntles the majority. How so? Well, ~59% of the votes cast were for “It’s disappointing. There’s nothing here I want.” That’s pretty telling.
Some liken Google’s new theme pack to adware. “It’s bloatware in an expensive mobile phone. Period. This is not a Xiaomi. Worst wishes to the Google team that [brought -ed] us this,” wrote reader alfredosoro.
“The Wicked theme pack feels like Google is trying to make a quick buck off a popular IP. The fact that most of the updates were not included for the 9a also leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” penned Notna.
Notably, these sentiments are shared elsewhere on the internet. On a Reddit thread, u/purpleblossom called out the real issue with the Wicked theme pack: “I’m upset that they don’t have ANY OTHER themes, making this whole theme feature ONLY an ad.”
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