Multiple Pixel users have reported that their status bar, Quick Settings tiles, and notification shade are becoming unresponsive or failing to display new notifications following the Android 17 QPR1 update. Some users say notifications appear but can't be tapped, while others report notifications not showing up at all. Google's official PixelCommunity Reddit account has acknowledged the reports and suggested resetting app presets or restarting in safe mode as temporary workarounds.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Multiple Pixel owners across the 8, 9, 10, and 11 series say contactless payments and transit passes have been working inconsistently since last week, with a restart being the only apparent fix. The cause remains unidentified, and reports include devices running the latest Android and Google Play Services builds.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
A GrapheneOS user running a Pixel 8 for about a year found that OsmAnd, the OpenStreetMap navigation app, runs noticeably slower than on other Android devices. Investigation traced the lag to GrapheneOS's hardened memory allocator, which can be disabled per-app via the app's info screen under 'Exploit protection,' restoring normal speed after a restart.
blog.wirelessmoves.com
· 2026-09-28
Google has released version 1.0.981607934 of the Pixel Buds app, adding Gemini-powered voice control over earbud settings such as EQ presets, ANC mode, conversation detection, and touch controls. The feature requires the Gemini app and is rolling out now via the Play Store.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Google's September software update extends its newer, more dimensional 3D emoji design to the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4, matching the look already shipped on the Pixel Watch 5 and on phones running Android 17. The redesign adds shading and depth to emoji faces and objects, replacing the flatter previous style, according to 9to5Google.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Google has rolled out a new setting in its Recorder app for Pixel devices called 'Allow recordings in other apps,' which is enabled by default. With it on, audio recordings now appear directly in a Recordings folder accessible through any file manager, rather than being sandboxed within the app.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Google's new Pixel Search app, which expands the app drawer search bar to surface photos, emails and other content, ships preinstalled on the Pixel 11 series but isn't officially available for older Pixels. Android Authority found that the app can be manually sideloaded onto older Pixel devices, provided they are running the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 update or newer; installation fails on stable Android 17 QPR1 builds.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Android Authority polled nearly 5,000 readers on their preferred alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, which costs $50 more than its predecessor with few added features. The Motorola Edge (2026) narrowly won with 25.6% of votes, edging out the Samsung Galaxy S26 at 25.4%, while the Pixel 11 placed third with 20.3%.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Android Authority found that Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 expands Pixel HiLight's color options from five to nine, adding blue, cyan, green, orange, pink, purple, teal, white and yellow among the choices. The beta also contains code referencing 'LIGHT_ANIMATIONS_SETTING_FAVORITE_MESSAGES_ENABLED,' suggesting Google is developing support for message notifications through the Pixel 11 Pro's camera-ring lighting feature.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
An Android Authority writer who used the iPhone 17 for nearly a year switched to the Pixel 11 as their main phone for over a month and compared the two. They highlight the Pixel 11's 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a feature the iPhone 17 lacks, as the standout advantage, praising its detail, natural colors and low noise, especially in portraits.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Android Authority found code in Google Messages beta version 20260921 suggesting Google is building support for Samsung's Finder search tool to search text messages. The feature is not yet functional and Google Messages currently doesn't appear in Finder's list of supported apps.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
Android Authority reports that Google's Pixel 11 series, running the Tensor G6 chip with a new PowerVR CXTP GPU, ships with ANGLE set as the default OpenGL ES implementation as of the September 2026 update. ANGLE translates OpenGL ES calls into Vulkan commands, and the outlet says this layer is causing jank and microstutters in games and emulators like Genshin Impact and Dolphin that didn't affect the Pixel 10.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-28
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