Items tagged with pixel 3
Back in late July, we reported of issues that Pixel 4 XL owners were having with the back glass panel on their phones separating from the frame. At the time, the issue appeared to primarily be limited to the larger Pixel 4 XL and not the standard Pixel 4. According to a representative for the uBreakiFix store, a faulty connector within the device was causing the battery to swell while charging, which in turn pressed against the back glass causing it to separate. At the time, Google made the following statement regarding the issue: We’ve investigated the issue and concluded that this is not related to the Pixel battery. If you’re experiencing back glass lift on your Pixel...
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Google is facing the prospect of a new class-action lawsuit over issues that owners of the Pixel 3 family of smartphones have faced. The Pixel 3 line of smartphones launched in 2018 and are still popular with many Android users today. A law firm by the name of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP (CSK&D) has confirmed that it is investigating various user reported defects and issues with the smartphones. As with any lawsuit, Google may never wind up in court over this issue. The odds are high that if the legal firm decides to file a class-action lawsuit against Google over the alleged Pixel 3 defects and issues, the case would more than likely be settled out of court. There...
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It was a good run for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, a pair of flagship phones Google released in 2018. Now a year and a half later, however, Google has sold out of its remaining inventory of both handsets and does not have any plans to produce more of them. So, if you are interested in buying one, you will have to track one down outside of Google's Store. The landing pages for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL now redirect users to the main Google Store page. And if you expand the Phones category, you will see just two listings now—Pixel 4 and Pixel 3a (both of which are still available). Google confirmed with the folks at Android Police that it's inventory of Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices has...
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Google recently launched the first Android 11 Developer Preview, and code sleuths are quickly scouring through the OS to see what new features await users. While Google announced a number of new features coming to Android 11 earlier this week (including better support for 5G phones and folding displays), some new ones have been uncovered including double tap gestures for Pixel smartphones. The gesture system was developed under the codename "Columbus" and is initiated by double-tapping on the back of the smartphone. Right now, these are the double tap gestures that are currently available with Columbus according to XDA-Developers: Dismiss timer Launch camera Launch Google Assistant...
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A new report is claiming that Verizon is very unhappy with the current deal it has in place with Google to sell Pixel smartphones. The Pixel series of devices hasn't been a strong seller for Verizon, according to reports. A source claiming knowledge of the carrier's plans says that Verizon has put any plans to sell new Google Pixel smartphones on hold. The source gave no specific reason why Verizon was canceling the deal, but the sales issue is the leading assumption. The source, cited by Android Police, said that the chance of the rumored Pixel 4a coming to Verizon is zero. The source claims it's far too late for Verizon to change its mind on that device at this point. There is a chance,...
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The Pixel 4 family is famous for its strong support from Google. Google tends to support the devices with three years of major Android OS, along with feature/security updates, which is much better than we typically expect from other Android OEMs. Google is now introducing a new category of updates for its Pixel devices, and it is calling it a "feature drop". Google says that feature drops bring bigger and more impactful updates than the typical security updates and bug fixes, and will come "on a regular basis." The first feature drop is coming later this month and includes a handful of new features for Pixel users. One of the most prominent additions is the ability for the Google Assistant to...
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The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a smartphones are no longer the latest and greatest of the Pixel devices, bu there are still plenty of the smartphones out in the wild. This week Google released a patch for the Pixel range, which didn't apply to the new Pixel 4 smartphones. Since the December security update was launched, users of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a have noticed that the Pixel Launcher is repeatedly crashing. The launcher crash has forced many to perform a hard reset of their devices. The launcher crash is seemingly a widespread issue as multiple reddit threads have sprung up complaining about the problem. The crashes appear to be isolated to users of devices with the Pixel 3 or 3a who are...
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Photography is an art form in every sense, and taking great looking photos can be challenging even when lighting conditions are ideal. Bad lighting will really test a photographer's skills, and night photography is especially tricky. That's what makes Google's Night Sight technology on its PIxel phones so awesome—it allows casual users to snap great looking photos of the night sky and other dark scenes. How exactly does the magic happen, though? Google provided some insight into its Night Sight feature in a new blog post, which explains how astophotography with Night Sight on Pixel phones is accomplished. This is not a brand new feature, of course, but as Google explains, this year's implementation...
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If you are still rocking a Nexus 6P handset, good news, the shutdown issues some users had complained about are now officially fixed. A Google engineer says so, having finally marked the related issue tracker as "fixed" a little over four years after the phone launched. Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL owners who may be experiencing similar problems, on the other hand, are not so lucky. It is a bit of a curious situation. The Nexus 6P, while a fantastic phone in its day (see our review for a refresher), is somewhat underwhelming by today's standards, at least in terms of cutting edge hardware and features. That tends to happen when a phone turns four years old. The Nexus 6P was also not with its issues....
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Pictures of the actual retail packaging (read: not press renders) for Google's forthcoming Pixel 4 handset are popping up online, giving us a sneak peek at the company's next flagship handset. The photos also enable us to discern a few details about the Pixel 4, though there are not any surprises. The Pixel 4 series has been extensively leaked up to this point, so we have a pretty idea of what to expect in terms of the overall design, hardware, and features. In the photos shared to Reddit, however, we have confirmation of a large square camera bump on the rear of the phone. We can also see a "G" stamped onto the bottom section, on the back of the Pixel 4. Both the front and back of the retail...
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Over the past few months, we've brought you a number of enticing deals on the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. These are Google's current-generation Android Pie flagships, and they will be replaced next month by the Pixel 4 family. Both are still excellent smartphones, but carriers are rolling out a final round of deals to clear inventory ahead of Google's October hardware event. Late last month, we saw Best Buy discount the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL by $500 with activation on Verizon. This week, Best Buy is offering up to a whopping $700 discount on the smartphones when you activate with a 24-month installment plan on Sprint's wireless network. Let's start off with the smaller of the two smartphones:...
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It appears that the rumors swirling around the web yesterday were correct: Android 10 has just been released today for Google's first-party Pixel smartphones (Pixel, Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 3a families). This latest version of Google's mobile operating system was previously known as Android Q, and we were expecting it to be named after so sweet delicious treat like its predecessors. However, Google confirmed late last month that it was simply going with the Android 10 nomenclature. Android 10 isn't exactly a huge rethink of the most popular operating system in the world, but it does bring with it a wealth of improvements and refinements that make it easier to live with on a daily basis....
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We've seen some excellent deals on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, with the most popular being $300 off on Google's current flagship smartphones. However, Best Buy is currently running a deal that blows those past promotions out of the water... that is if you don't mind putting up with one major concession. Right now, the Pixel 3 is available for a low $299 from Best Buy, while the larger Pixel 3 XL can be had for just $399. For those keeping score, the regular, everyday MSRP for both smartphones is $799 and $899 respectively, which means this promotion represents a savings of $500 for each phone. While this price is no doubt amazing, the one stipulation is that the phones must be activated...
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The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are closely approaching their one-year anniversary, and for the most part, the phones have been well liked not only by reviewers, but also by their owners. However, an issue with the phones is now being brought to light that has become more than an annoyance for Pixel 3 owners. According to threads posted on the Google Pixel Help forum and reddit, numerous people have encountered problems with the rear camera on the back of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The issue presents itself as the camera viewfinder wildly shaking when the user attempts to take a picture. This problem usually could be dismissed as "You're holding it wrong", with the user contributing...
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Sustainability and being green is a big deal for many major technology firms. The need to be green impacts a variety of processes and operations for most tech firms, from green energy use for factories and offices to the use of recycled materials and fewer chemicals in production processes. Google pledged this week that it will start to include recycled materials in all its Made By Google products. Google says that it intends to achieve the goal of using recycled materials in all its hardware products over the next three years. Google's Anna Meegan, head of sustainability for Google consumer hardware, has talked about several targets that Google wants to hit by 2022, including every Google hardware...
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Smartphone shoppers looking for a smartphone on a deep discount will want to check out the Google Store as it is offering great deals on Pixel smartphones. Naturally, the catch to this is that the devices are expected to be replaced soon with a new Pixel 4. Buyers needing a smartphone right now can save $300 of the regular retail price of the Pixel 3 smartphones. The special deal will get all buyers a Pixel 3 for $499, a $300 discount of the regular $799 price. The larger Pixel 3 XL is on sale for the same discount with a price of $599, $300 off the regular price of $899. Those prices are for the base storage versions with higher amounts of storage offered starting at an additional $100. The...
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The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are still excellent flagship Android 9 Pie smartphones even though they first launched nearly a year ago (read the HotHardware review here). In addition to offering good all-around performance, the onboard rear camera is arguably the best available in the smartphone world. For those that are looking to score a hot deal on either the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, signing up for Google Fi service will allow you get a device for a whopping $300 off. That means that the 64GB versions of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will cost you just $499 and $599 respectively instead of $799 and $899. For those keeping score, that's even lower pricing than Amazon Prime...
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For developers and enthusiasts looking to get an early taste of the next version of Google’s Android operating system, the release of new betas is always a highly-anticipated event. And while there's always the promise of cool new features and performance enhancements, there's always the possibility that things could go wrong with this early software -- after all, it is still in beta. Such is the case with Android Q Beta 4, which first landed earlier this week. Almost immediately, Pixel owners began complaining about problems with the over-the-air (OTA) update. Many users said that the Beta 4 update failed to install and, in some cases, put them into reboot hell. Others were cast...
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Does your Pixel device feel like it is harboring untapped performance potential? Is it acting sluggish at times, or have you noticed any unusual stuttering? If so, the culprit could be Google's Digital Wellbeing feature in Android 9 Pie, which is designed to help you manage how much time you are spending on your smartphone. Turning it off could actually help solve performance issues. The Digital Wellbeing app offers a daily view of your digital habits, including how frequently you use different apps, how many notifications you receive, and how often you check your phone. It allows you to set limits for how much you use apps, and can silence notifications at nighttime to ensure a good night's...
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At this point, there isn't much that we don't already know about the incoming Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones from Google. Rather than trying to push another flagship-level device at consumers, Google is solidly aiming at the mid-range market with the incoming Pixel 3a family. Up until now, one of the last unknowns about the phones was their starting price. However, today that information is finally coming to light thanks to rumored information from the This is Tech Today YouTube channel. According to the channel's M. Brandon Lee, the Pixel 3a will start at $399, while the Pixel 3a XL will be just $80 more at $479. For comparison's sake, the flagship Pixel 3...
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If you’ve been following the headlines in the smartphone world, then you know that Google is nearing the release of its Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones. Unlike the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, which are flagship Android phones, the Pixel 3a family uses more meager specs backed up by a [hopefully] much lower price tag. Some have questioned why Google would even bother with a cheaper family of Pixel phones given that 1) customers could just buy an older Pixel 2 with decent hardware specs, or 2) take advantage of the many promotional offers that have been available for the Pixel 3 since its release. However, Google explained on an earnings call this week that sales of its...
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One of the only ways to get a really good deal on a smartphone these days is to switch carriers. If you are ready to switch to a new carrier and want to give Google Fi a try, Google has a smoking-good deal going on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL today only. The deal will save you 50% off the purchase price. The half-off discount is good on Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL smartphones that are purchased April 22, 2019, between 12:00 AM PT and 11:59 PM PT. One bit of good news for those who are already using Google Fi is that current customers can get the discount as well. Typically smartphone discounts this significant are only for new customers. Buyers are required to activate the smartphone within 30 days...
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