GoKawiil
Tech News
Reddit users report that Google support replaced their malfunctioning Pixel 9 Pro Fold devices, which had issues like dead front cameras, with the newer 512GB Pixel 11 Pro Fold. One user said Google also offered a three-year extended warranty despite their device being out of standard coverage and uninsured. Multiple reports over the past year have flagged similar front-camera failures on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Google's official PixelSnap Phone Case for the Pixel 10 Pro XL is currently discounted by 58% on Amazon. The case is built around Google's magnetic PixelSnap system, supporting chargers, stands, grips and wallets, and features a soft-touch exterior with microfiber lining. It comes in several colors, including Obsidian and Moonstone, though availability varies by seller.
An Android Authority contributor details Pixel settings he routinely turns off after setup, including auto-adding new app icons to the home screen, the always-listening 'Now Playing' song-recognition feature, and the camera's Top Shot mode. He cites clutter, battery drain, and privacy concerns around constant listening as reasons for disabling these defaults.
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking which wearable people would buy instead of the newly launched Fitbit Edge. Among over 2,000 votes, the screen-free Fitbit Air won with 26%, followed by the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 (22.5%), Fitbit Charge 6 (20.9%), Pixel Watch 5 (20.3%), and Oura Ring 5 (6.1%), with 4.2% naming other devices like the Garmin Venu 3 and Fitbit Sense 2.
Reddit users report that Pixel Watch 2, 3, 4 and 5 devices are suffering sudden, severe battery drain, with runtimes dropping from 24-48 hours to under 12 hours. Some users report losing up to 20% charge every four hours even with Always-on Display disabled and background activity minimized. Google has not yet publicly acknowledged the problem.
Android Authority writer Megan Ellis describes a workaround using Do Not Disturb settings, Find Hub, and Google Contacts to replicate the Pixel-exclusive VIPs widget on other Android devices. The method lets users build a Do Not Disturb exception list for important contacts and use existing tools for location sharing, though it doesn't fully replicate the single hub-like widget Pixel offers.
Google has rolled out a voice recorder feature inside Gemini Notebook, confirmed in version 1.63.1002728510 for Android and also available on iOS, seemingly to all regions rather than just the US. Tapping the microphone icon in the Sources tab or on the homepage starts recording, with the audio uploaded to Google's servers for automatic transcription and a 'source guide' summary.
A SIM Manager connector has surfaced in Gemini on a Pixel 9 running Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2, letting the assistant set up new eSIM profiles, convert physical SIMs to eSIMs, transfer or restore profiles, and delete them. Google has not announced the feature, and it does not appear on non-Pixel devices tested, suggesting an early or accidental rollout. Testing confirmed the connector actually triggers the eSIM setup process rather than just displaying placeholder prompts.
A Pixel owner on Reddit reported two consecutive morning alarms failing to sound, instead showing a notification that the alarm was 'automatically silenced' after its set duration. The user said they made no settings changes and missed important work obligations as a result. Several other Pixel users in the thread described similar experiences, and Google has said it is looking into the issue.
A Pixel 11 Pro XL owner on Reddit says roughly 4 in 10 incoming calls fail to ring, instead showing up only as missed-call text notifications. The user, on Germany's Congstar network, says resetting network settings, swapping the SIM, and factory resetting the phone haven't fixed it, nor has disabling Do Not Disturb or Call Screen features. Google's Issue Tracker shows similar complaints dating back to June, including another Pixel 11 Pro report from last month, and Google has acknowledged the issue without giving a fix timeline.
A comparison outlines how Apple's reported iPhone Duo and Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold differ in foldable design, with the Duo using a wider passport-style shape featuring a 5.4-inch outer and 7.6-inch inner screen, versus the Pixel's 6.5-inch outer and 8-inch inner displays. The two also diverge in weight, thickness, materials, and screen brightness, with the Pixel reaching 3,600 nits versus the Duo's 3,000 nits, though the Duo adds a nano-texture anti-glare layer. Both devices reportedly carry IP68 water and dust resistance.
Code within Find Hub version 3.1.787-04 shows Google is building 'Left-Behind' separation reminders that work across item tags, headsets, and other supported accessories. The code also points to trusted exclusion zones that can silence alerts at chosen locations, and the ability to move notification and reverse-ringing settings between devices without unpairing them.