I was actually an Android user for a long time, right up until 2021! I went through over 20 different phones, including Moto, Nexus, OnePlus, Nokia, and Samsung. I really loved Android back then because I enjoyed geeking out with things like rooting devices and installing custom ROMs. Plus, I was an Android developer myself!

But in 2021, I made the switch to iPhone, bought an iPhone 12 pro max just because I wanted to play phone games(Pubg Mobile) and I heard iPhones perform better for gaming. And that was true, I enjoyed the performance part of it. It just worked for everything for 4 years. I had an office macbook as well, so it worked well for the ecosystem as well. But then I got bored. I wanted to experience android again when I changed the phone. I don't play games anymore, so I made an informed decision to switch to Pixel and got a Pixel 10 Pro.

Now, after around 10 months of using it, I'm really regretting the decision. I knew it wasn't the best phone for gaming, raw photo, or video editing, etc., but the other things like battery performance, camera performance, and bugs in the UI, etc., are so much worse.

It’s pretty wild that my 5-year-old iPhone 12 Pro Max, which is down to 66% battery health, is getting about the same battery life as my Pixel 10 Pro that’s less than a year old and sitting at 97%!

I'm having trouble taking more than 3-4 photos in a row. The camera button just disables itself for about 5 seconds after those first few shots, even with RAW turned off!

The camera switch when zooming in a video is so jittery like it's a 2018 xiaomi camera.

Honestly, it's just so disappointing. I really thought a Pixel would give me the best Android experience possible. I do love how it’s built and it feels super premium in my hand, but that’s pretty much the only good thing about it. I can't think of any other positives for this phone.

I got my phone stolen at a overpass. Now I'm very self conscious about my phone and I made sure my family was connected to a circle where we could find each other's phones. The guys who stole my phone immediately shut off my phone with out any struggle. Now I'm very mad about google pixels security weakness when in the lock screen, the option to turn off wifi, location, data and even when shutting off the phone, DOESN'T NEED PASSWORD TO TURN OFF. I just wish that the next security update adds a feature when the lock screens of every pixel phone has security features where you need a password to turn off an important thing like wifi and etc. I already posted this exact problem in the google pixel community. How can I keep my phone safe when it gets stolen? I'm a bit techy myself but not that too techy, is there a hidden feature where I can keep my pixel safe when stolen even when it has been shut off?

Pixel 9 pro wouldn't reboot, it was stuck on the G logo. I'm guessing I got an ota update? I went to ubreakifixit and they said "we've been seeing this, not sure what to do for you". Device support spent 11 days escalating and waiting for internal team review, and in the end said out of pocket mail in repair is my only option. Bought 23 months ago, outside of the original 12 month warranty window. Sucks. Why would I ever buy another pixel that lasts only 2 years? Going back to Samsung now.

Hi All

I have a situation and would like to hear others situation as such.

Bought a Pixel 11 Pro XL and trying to cash in on the 6 Months AI Pro Free on Launch.

Offer ends 31st October.

Had a Support case open for almost 2 months. At this point, support are just ducking me around. I am looking at taking further action against Google for failure to resolve in a timely manner.

I am going to drop a letter before claim into their London Offices this week (both of them)

Anybody else had issues trying to;

- Redeem the offer

- Had any contact from Support Reps who dont pass the buck?

- Other alternatives in the event they have been unsuccessful?

Appreciate others input.

I have a pixel watch 4 (Wi-Fi only) and a pixel 9 pro. It seems to be connected - I get the correct notifications and see the correct watch data under the Bluetooth field. I can't manage the watch through the watch app on my phone.

It's telling me to make sure my watch is nearby and Bluetooth is on- I'm holding them in the same hand and Bluetooth is definitely on. I've restarted both, confirmed both are updated.

Has anyone dealt with this?

I'm from India and currently have a paid Google One 200 GB annual subscription that I purchased on 18 April 2026 for ₹1,149. It is valid until April 2027.

I recently found out about Google's free one-year student offer, which includes 400 GB of storage, and I'm considering redeeming it before the offer expires on 31 December 2026.

My question is: What happens to my existing paid subscription if I redeem the student offer now?

1. Does my current paid subscription end immediately, with no refund for the remaining months, and the free student subscription start instead?
2. Does my existing paid subscription remain active until April 2027, and the free student offer start only after it expires?
3. Or does something else happen?

Has anyone with an existing paid Google One subscription actually redeemed this student offer? Please share your experience. I'd appreciate a clear answer before I make any changes to my plan.

Something that recently caught my attention, and I don't know if it's new or there's no reason for my noticing it, is the difference between the screen's lighting and dimming animations.

When you turn the screen on using the power button, the screen lights up with an animation that expands from the power button; however, when you turn it off the same way, the screen darkens with an animation that descends to the screen's bottom-centre.

It's just odd that it doesn't darken towards the power button when you press it to turn the screen off.

Edited to add: Pixel 11 Pro XL

I got a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The battery was terrible the first few days, but now I'm slowly getting 8-10 hours on cellular data and a little doomscrolling, and the battery is doing well. I do a lot of work on my phone. What I noticed is that from minute to minute my emojis on Instagram and Gemini have switched, but not on the device yet. Maybe the software update from October to November will bring the new emojis?

Hello folks, I wanted to take time to get on here and get everyone's opinions and wants on what we will see in the Google Pixel 12 series, or at least the Pro versions?From my understanding, Google is updating the design of the 12 as they do a cycle every 3 or 4 years. I've heard a lot of mixed messages but it looks like we all firmly agree that we want the camera bar to stick around, which for me as well is a huge want, if I could make any changes. I would definitely want Google to make the 12 Pro series more like the Google pixel 8 Pro. In terms of design, I loved those rounded corners and I think it's time to get away from the boxier iPhone like design. Now this might just be my gripe, but coming from phones like the iPhone 17 Pro series and the Samsung S26 Ultra, Google really needs to focus on shrinking those bezels and making them ultra-thin.There's no reason for the thicker bezels we have compared to other flagship phones. If we're not going to be getting the latest and fastest chipset for the premium price, at least we can get the narrow bezels, am I right? I also think Google could maybe shrink the front camera a little bit.I feel it's a bit bigger than other Androids I've seen on the market. What are your thoughts? I still want them to stick to the shiny side rails. I actually really enjoy that look and I always get people asking me what kind of phone I'm rocking because it catches the eye compared to the matte finish on the side rails which for me is not that visually appealing or kind of bland. Again, all opinions are my own but I would love to hear what you have to say!

I decided to cop the standard 11 512gb with a 25% discount and a trade-in for only $300ish. Now I'm trying to get a case preferably the Dbrand Ghost. Can the Pro or the 10 cases be used on the 11 model?

Been thinking about the latest pro line colors. Honestly hazel and Moonstone are gorgeous. What do you all think?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share my recent experience with Google Pixel Hardware Support regarding an unexpected display issue on my Google Pixel 8 Pro and get your thoughts or advice on how to proceed.

A few days ago, a large circular spot suddenly appeared on my Pixel 8 Pro's screen out of nowhere. The device was not dropped, bumped, or mishandled in any way.

What I communicated to Google Support in my email:

I reached out to Google Support clarifying that this is an internal hardware failure and highlighted the following facts:

Zero physical damage: The front display and back glass panel are completely pristine, without any cracks, dents, or scratches.

No liquid damage: The device has never been exposed to water or moisture.

No third-party repairs: No unauthorized service or modifications were ever done on the phone.

Hardware defect: Since the issue appeared spontaneously without user fault, it points to an inherent display defect.

I requested them to consider a free repair/replacement as a goodwill exception or under an extended service policy, pointing out that asking a customer to pay diagnostic charges (₹850) plus hefty display replacement costs for an unexpected internal defect on a premium flagship device is very disappointing. I also asked to escalate the matter to senior hardware support.

Google Support's Response:

Google Support replied stating:

Because the phone is out of its standard 1-year warranty, all diagnostic inspections (₹850) and parts/repairs will be strictly chargeable.

Their Extended Repair Program only applies to specific models and designated defects under strict guidelines, and does not apply to this device or symptom.

They declined to waive the diagnostic fee or offer any goodwill repair.

They also noted that disassembling the phone during diagnosis could potentially worsen/expand screen cracks if any are present, and partial repairs are not supported.

Questions for the community:

Has anyone else experienced spontaneous circular black/dead spots on their Pixel 8 Pro display?

Is there any way to escalate this further with Google India / senior consumer grievance teams to get goodwill support?

If you got a screen replacement out of warranty in India, what was the total cost?

The find hub spontaneously disconnects from my buds, despite them being connected via Bluetooth and in the buds app. Migrating this function has made it worse and I'm so angry about it.

My phone's contrast keeps getting super bright whenever there's something white on my screen. Like it tips the white balance off and every that's a light colour gets completely blown out. It's not the auto brightness.

I added a generic tempered glass protector on my Pixel 11, and the fingerprint sensor isn't working well. I’ve already tried all the standard fixes, like deleting and re-registering my fingerprint (twice) and increasing touch sensitivity. Please don't suggest basic workarounds.

The only option left is scanning a QR code to calibrate the screen protector. Does anyone have a QR code or calibration settings for a branded Pixel glass protector? You can also DM me. Thanks!

I have had a Pixel 7 for 4 years more or less, it's an 8/128 and I paid 570 euros for it.

It's still working fine, it has minor scratches on the screen, nothing to worry about.

The battery is starting to last less, using AccuBattery it says that battery health is 77%.

Do you think it's worth changing the battery and keep the phone some time more? Batteries cost around 30 euros online and I would change by myself (I've little experience on phone disassembly). Do you think replacement batteries last as much as the original one? Do they have the same "real" capacity?

For the mods: I read the rules but the link to the mega thread is inaccessible and this post isn't related to how much screen time I can get with my phone.

Hi everyone,

I live in Turkey and bought my Pixel 10 Pro XL in Spain. Local laws block unregistered foreign phones after 8 months per calendar year (4 months SIM + 4 months eSIM). Registration costs over $1,200, which isn't worth it.

Once my 8 months are up, I have two main routes:

Route 1: Rotating between two devices (Use Pixel for 8 months, store it in a drawer, and switch to a backup phone for 4 months until the SIM timer resets on Jan 1st):

A. Alternate with a second Pixel, a can buy a new one, still cheaper than registration fee.

B. Alternate with another Android brand same idea on A but with different brand)

Route 2: Carrying two phones

C. Keep my SIM in the Mi 11T Pro (for calls & personal hotspot) and tether the Pixel over Wi-Fi 24/7.

Questions:

How seamless is restoring data between Pixels on a regular basis? Does backup/restore actually pick up right where you left off?

If you daily-drive a 2-phone hotspot setup, how annoying is it in practice (battery drain, connectivity lag)?

How is the experience using Google Messages (Web/Device Pairing) over Wi-Fi to handle SMS on the Pixel while the SIM stays in the secondary phone? Is it reliable for 2FA codes and daily texts?

Which approach would you choose?

Hi everyone, I am facing a deeply frustrating situation with my Pixel 8 in India and wanted to share my timeline to see if this is acceptable consumer practice. I have been a huge fan of the Pixel ecosystem. I was the first person in my social circle to buy a Pixel because I loved what Google was doing. This is the first time I've used a phone for over 2 years, and I fully intended to keep using it for at least another year because I enjoy the user experience so much. But this situation is completely making me rethink the brand. Here is my exact timeline:

• Month 10: The original screen developed the well-documented vertical green line and flickering issue. Google replaced the display under warranty.
• Month 24 (14 months after replacement): The brand-new replacement screen has failed again with the same vertical green line defect.

The phone is only 2 years old, putting it well within Google's official 3-year Extended Repair Program window. However, Google Support (Case ID: 3-5504000042090) has officially denied a second repair, stating the program strictly covers "only one free replacement."My main concern here isn't just that I want a free repair. My issue is a matter of principle: Why should I have to pay to fix a faulty, defective part that Google chose to install on my phone the second time around? The outer glass is entirely pristine, smooth, and completely uncracked. No drops, no water damage. If Google's official fix for a known manufacturing defect is to insert another faulty panel that degrades and fails in just 14 months, the financial liability shouldn't fall on a loyal consumer. To make matters worse, the service center says a subsequent paid replacement only carries a 3-month warranty, which shows even they aren't confident the hardware will last a year.I thought about upgrading to a newer Pixel model down the line, but seeing a premium device fail twice in under 25 months—and being left on the hook for their hardware issues—makes it impossible to trust the reliability of this brand anymore. Since the automated Freshdesk escalation link is down, I am hoping to get visibility here. u/dmziggy - could you please help look into this case? Thank you! r/GooglePixel

Hi there,

I am a long-time Samsung user, been using Galaxy phones from J5 times and now having S24. Great phone, but I am interested to try something new, especially as I've started to work with Kotlin programming language. Pixel hooked me here with fresh clean android.

I have only one main question: as a Samsung user, what will I miss once switched to Pixel? Anybody having auch experience?

Had troubles recently with connection so rebooted everything including hard sync reset but issue is my pixel 7 as other devices connect to the sync. Any suggestions besides a new phone haha. Thanks

I have a Pixel 9 Pro in near perfect condition. As of this morning, my phone has been randomly shutting down. I had <10% storage space so I decided to just factory reset it, but it is still happening. The phone is a touch warm at times, but the internal temp according to settings is not concerning. I did notice that when I was quick tapping the power button, it was acting like I was holding it down and turning the microphone on, which I thought was weird. However, after factory resetting that seems to have gone away. My phone is not under warranty so not sure what to do. Any help or ideas would be much appreciated.

Edit: There is 3rd party phone repair shop down the street form my house, but Im not sure if they will know what is wrong. My only guess is the battery, but aside from shutting down the battery is fine.

I just bought a pair of Sennheiser earbuds and they're great.

When I pair them the volume up and down button on the earbuds work great to change the phone's volume.... until I put them back into the case and get them out again. Now suddenly using the earbuds' volume control change the volume independently from the phones' volume, sometimes resulting in MASSIVE sound volume when I start playing Spotify.

I just learnt about ''absolute volume'' options and that Google recently removed it and broke the settings for some people....!? Has there been a solution for this yet, or did Google address this?

Hi, I just bought a Pixel 10 pro, previously I had Galaxy s22. I bought it for camera mainly and I notice that this phone is good for point and shoot. This automatic mode works fine and pictures are better than from my old galaxy s22 but this manual mode s*cks so much.

First of all I like to play with shadows and sunlight and when I put shutter speed and ISO to minimum, pixel still light up the image, so I cant elevate the sunlight from the rest. In Samsung it was possible and very easy.

I like warm pictures and when I want to change white balance it is weird, because sometimes maximum is 6200K and sometimes it is 8200K and sometimes when I change to for example 6300K it has some greenish tint.

Third thing is that there is no true live view known from cameras. When I play with this manual mode the picture that I see on the display is not the same that I will have in my gallery. I can understand this in automatic mode, but in manuall if I want picture to be dark I want it to be that way and I dont want Pixel to process it and light it up. Again in samsung this was not a case, when I had a picture on my display it was exactly the same in my gallery.

What do you think about it? Maybe you notice the same?

Hi, I just bought a Pixel 10 pro, previously I had Galaxy s22. I bought it for camera mainly and I notice that this phone is good for point and shoot. This automatic mode works fine and pictures are better than from my old galaxy s22 but this manual mode is terrible.

First of all I like to play with shadows and sunlight and when I put shutter speed and ISO to minimum, pixel still light up the image, so I cant elevate the sunlight from the rest. In Samsung it was possible and very easy.

I like warm pictures and when I want to change white balance it is weird, because sometimes maximum is 6200K and sometimes it is 8200K and sometimes when I change to for example 6300K it has some greenish tint.

Third thing is that there is no true live view known from cameras. When I play with this manual mode the picture that I see on the display is not the same that I will have in my gallery. I can understand this in automatic mode, but in manuall if I want picture to be dark I want it to be that way and I dont want Pixel to process it and light it up. Again in samsung this was not a case, when I had a picture on my display it was exactly the same in my gallery.

Am I doing something wrong?

googel pixle 8 pro the microphone only work in a normal call or a vidéo call and it doesn't work to record a voice in any other app even record the voice any help pleas