GoKawiilI’ve been on the Pixel bandwagon for almost nine years now, since the Pixel 2 XL was released. I’ve had nearly every Pixel since then (minus the Pixel 3 series) and used them as my primary phones throughout the entire year until it was time to upgrade again.
But Pixels have not been my only phones. I’ve had Samsung, OnePlus, HONOR, realme, Nothing, Fairphone, Poco, Nokia, and other phone brands in my hand. Yet every time I try another brand, there’s something that keeps me coming back to my Pixel.
Those features change with time, with my use and digital needs, and with the different features that get implemented on non-Pixels and stop being unique to Google’s phones. Right now, here are the five features I miss the most when I move away from my Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Which Pixel feature do you / would you miss the most from Pixel phones? 80 votes Pixel VPN 21 % Phone call and message spam management 38 % Pixel Recorder 5 % Screensaver modes 10 % Safety features 8 % Something else (tell us in the comments) 8 % I don't miss any Pixel features. 11 %
Pixel VPN
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Of all the Pixel-exclusive features, the one I keep coming back to the most these days is the free Pixel VPN. I used to avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks and rely on my SIM card, which offers free roaming across Europe, or a prepaid eSIM outside of the continent. But I’ve recently found myself in several situations where I needed to connect to public networks.
From uploading photos at hotels to having a terrible reception signal on trains, I’ve had to accept the perils of connecting to public Wi-Fi, and the one mitigating factor that has kept me feeling safe and at ease is my Pixel 10 Pro’s VPN. It’s free, it works everywhere I need it, and it’s very easy to turn on from the Quick Settings toggles.
Plus, thanks to a bunch of more granular settings, I can choose exactly when the VPN works and where it gets automatically disabled. For example, I can set my home Wi-Fi to be safe so the VPN doesn’t trigger there, and exclude the apps that misbehave on VPNs. Of course, there are more powerful VPN services out there, but for something free and built into the phone, Pixel VPN is enough for my needs.
Spam management
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