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Android Authority's Stephen Radochia initially criticized Google's higher Pixel 11 series pricing and the base model's reduced RAM, but after a month using the Pixel 11 Pro XL he reports the phone's display, cameras, battery life, and Gemini Intelligence features justify the cost. A reader poll cited in his piece showed 59% of respondents still plan to stick with their older Pixel rather than upgrade.
Android Authority ran a reader poll pitting the Motorola Signature 27 against the Google Pixel 11 Pro, drawing over 1,700 votes. The Motorola device won decisively, taking 73.9% of the vote compared to 26.1% for the Pixel, with the publication's own writer citing the phone's faster Snapdragon chip, distinctive design, and quicker charging as draws.
Google is developing a hands-free way to trigger Emergency SOS on Android devices, according to code strings found in a new build of its Personal Safety app. The strings suggest the feature would require voice confirmation, letting users say 'yes' to proceed or 'cancel' to dismiss an alert, rather than pressing the power button five times as currently required.
A teardown of Google Play Services version 26.38.30 uncovered text strings referencing a notification that would say Motion Assist was activated by Transit mode. This suggests Google is working on tying its anti-motion-sickness screen cues directly to Pixel's Transit mode rather than requiring manual activation.
An Android Authority writer describes keeping a four-year-old Nothing Phone 1 running after it reached the end of official software support. The fixes included a third-party battery replacement, switching to a slower 18W charger and thinner case to reduce heat, and moving to lighter, open-source apps to cut battery drain and improve speed.
Android Authority highlights a two-year-old Pixel setting, Charging Optimization's 'Limit to 80%' option, found under Battery and Charging settings. Enabling it stops the phone from charging past 80% most of the time, though it occasionally charges fully to keep battery capacity estimates accurate. The outlet notes the feature can also reduce heat buildup when people use their phone while it's plugged in.
Google has relaunched its Pixel Referral Program for the US Google Store, giving buyers a 10% discount when they check out with a referral code. Referrers earn $50 in store credit per successful referral, capped at $500 for 10 referrals, with codes valid until November 4. Participation as a referrer requires an invitation from Google and prior opt-in to Pixel marketing emails.
Google has listed its new Antigravity development platform on the Play Store, but the app is built exclusively for Googlebook OS devices rather than Android phones. Android Authority sideloaded the APK onto a Pixel phone and found the interface poorly scaled, with setup failing at a Terminal VM configuration step due to a permission error.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will unveil a new smart home lineup on October 13, including a square six-inch smart display (code-named J490/J491), an updated HomePod mini, and a faster Apple TV 4K. The display reportedly uses facial and voice recognition and runs software blending elements of iPadOS, watchOS, and iOS's StandBy mode, with the whole lineup built to showcase Apple's revamped Siri.
Pixel 11 Pro users running the Android 17 beta are reportedly seeing VoLTE and 5G connectivity activate in markets Google previously didn't support, according to a user report and firmware analysis. The change follows last month's announced partnership between Google and the GSMA to use the Network Settings Exchange (NSX), a shared database of carrier settings, to broadly enable VoLTE starting with the Pixel 11 line. Firmware checks reportedly confirm VoLTE enablement for carriers including China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, and Hong Kong's CSL.
Multiple Pixel owners, including users of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 Pro, say the September 2026 software update has broken their lock screens, preventing correct PINs or patterns from registering. Affected users describe patterns resetting mid-gesture and PIN entries being rejected after only the first digit, leaving them unable to access their phones. Troubleshooting steps like Safe Mode, cleaning the screen or reinstalling the build have not fixed the issue for at least one user, who resorted to a factory reset.
Android Authority ran a two-week reader poll asking Pixel owners whether Android 17 QPR1, which began rolling out this month, introduced new problems. Of 1,458 respondents, about 68% reported some new issue, with performance (19%), UI behavior (16%), display glitches (14%) and connectivity (11%) as the top complaints, while nearly a third said they saw no new problems.