GoKawiilShimul Sood / Android Authority
I’ve been using Pixels for as long as I can remember, which is why admitting this feels a little strange: I don’t fully trust Pixels in 2026. That isn’t because Google makes bad phones. In many ways, the Pixel experience has never been better. The software is polished, Gemini takes the hassle out of everyday tasks, and features like Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Call Notes have become so ingrained in my routine that I instantly miss them whenever I pick up another phone. However, Pixels also leave a few crucial boxes unchecked.
Every time I consider making a Pixel my only phone, something holds me back. It has little to do with Google’s AI ambitions or its clean take on Android. The problem is far more basic than that. In 2026, I need my primary smartphone to be dependable in a few areas I cannot compromise on, and despite all the progress Google has made, Pixels still have not earned that level of trust from me.
Would you trust a Pixel as your only phone in 2026? 97 votes Yes, the software makes up for everything else. 58 % Only as a secondary phone. 7 % No, the basics still aren't reliable enough. 25 % I've never used a Pixel. 10 %
The heat never takes a day off
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
For me, it all starts with performance. Or, more specifically, how Pixel phones behave when I actually use them throughout the day. Until very recently, the Pixel 10 Pro was my daily driver, and it tested my patience more than I’d like to admit. We’ve all heard the conversations around Tensor chips not being the fastest or most efficient, but this goes beyond benchmark scores. It’s something I’ve experienced firsthand across multiple generations, including the Pixel 8, Pixel 9, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10 Pro, and now the Pixel 10a.
The top half of the phone starts heating up until it becomes genuinely uncomfortable to hold.
They get hot. Really hot. And I’m not talking about the occasional spike while installing an update or gaming for an hour. I’m talking about regular, everyday tasks. Open a handful of apps, spend a little too long taking photos and selfies, record a few high-resolution videos, or multitask for a while, and I can almost predict what’s about to happen. The top half of the phone starts heating up until it becomes genuinely uncomfortable to hold.
For the longest time, I blamed the weather, my own usage, or yet another software bug that I hoped the next update would fix. I wanted to believe there was a reasonable explanation because, honestly, I wanted to keep loving my Pixel. So I tried everything — I used it outdoors, indoors, in air-conditioned rooms, and during relatively light use. The result barely changed. That same uncomfortable warmth kept showing up, regardless of where I was or what I was doing.
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