GoKawiil
Tech News
Android Authority found evidence in My Pixel app version 8.9.1 that Google is developing color-matched app icons for Pixel 9 devices, a feature already launched with the Pixel 11 series. The update currently covers several Pixel 9 color variants like Hazel, Rose Quartz, and Obsidian, but excludes the Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and all Pixel 10 models. Testers were also unable to trigger the new icon on a Porcelain-colored Pixel 9.
With the Pixel 11 lineup now priced from $899 to $1,900, Google is offering notably better trade-in credit for old phones than competing retailers. A 2024 Pixel 9 Pro XL that fetches only $255-$310 at Apple, Amazon or Best Buy can earn several hundred dollars more through Google's own trade-in program.
Developer TakaiSaisei has released a modified version of the Pixel IMS app, originally created by kyujin-cho in 2023, that lets Pixel owners enable VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling in markets Google doesn't officially support. Unlike the original tool, this version doesn't require the Shizuku system app and its settings persist after a device reboot, simplifying setup to sideloading the app and pairing it via wireless debugging.
Google's Pixel 11 series replaces the Samsung-made Exynos modem used in earlier Pixels with a new MediaTek modem, paired with the Tensor G6 chip, which remains a 3nm design rather than the rumored 2nm jump. Early testing shows the new modem delivers faster download speeds and holds 5G connections better in weak-signal areas compared to the Pixel 10 Pro and older Pixel 9 hardware.