Google Pixel: Testing Reddit’s 10 Favourite “Hidden” Features

Google’s Pixel telephones have been within the information for all of the unsuitable causes recently.

The rollout of Android 17 has been a little bit of a nightmare, with reviews of connectivity points, touchscreen malfunctions and even a very bricked cellphone. Even for those who haven’t up to date, damaged name rings and bizarre speaker sounds seem like widespread.

Rumours of value rises throughout the upcoming Pixel 11 sequence isn’t serving to issues, even when that doesn’t inform the complete story.

To seek out some solace, I turned to an unlikely supply: Reddit. The Google Pixel subreddit is thought for its brutal value determinations of {hardware} and software program, which is why a current thread caught my eye.

“What’s your favorite “hidden characteristic” in Google Pixel?”, asks consumer ‘normally_abnormal7’. On the time of writing, they’ve obtained 247 replies, a few of which declare life-changing results.

However that are legit and which do you have to ignore? As somebody who’s extensively used the final three generations of Pixel flagships, I used to be very eager to search out out. Right here’s my verdict on the ten hottest, as examined on the Pixel 10 Professional XL.

1. Stay climate

A climate widget is a mainstay of my house display, however I by no means knew that you can make the entire house display match the present circumstances!

That’s most likely not stunning – it requires a customized wallpaper somewhat than one of many defaults I normally use. From there, you’ll be able to select which kind of climate to imitate (not simply the present circumstances in your space) and even the depth.

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There’s no doubting that it appears cool, however I used to be disillusioned to be taught that it solely shows for just a few seconds once you unlock your cellphone, earlier than returning to the usual model. It’d most likely tank your battery life in any other case.

Total, it seems like one thing you’d exhibit to mates after which disable as quickly because the novelty wears off. Which, for me, was about 10 seconds. It’s a gimmick which you’ll safely do with out.

Verdict: Waste of time

2. Clipboard in Gboard

Right here’s one which I already use, although it’s not unique to Android. You’ll be able to obtain and allow Gboard on any Android cellphone, however the iPhone model is lacking one in every of its finest options: Clipboard.

Reasonably than being restricted to no matter you’d simply copied (as I was), it permits you to preserve an in depth library of all textual content and pictures that you just copy, prepared for use in a few faucets.

To keep away from litter or unintended copies build up, Clipboard routinely deletes something that you just haven’t pinned inside an hour.

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Whereas I’d argue that this isn’t actually a hidden characteristic – the Clipboard icon is actually proper there everytime you use Gboard – it’s a legitimately glorious one.

In case you’re nonetheless copying all the things instantly earlier than pasting, embracing the Clipboard is a straightforward method to save plenty of time and trouble.

Verdict: Not hidden or unique to Pixel, however an excellent characteristic

3. Name Display

I’m beginning to suppose Redditors simply ignored the phrase “hidden”. Since you’d should have been dwelling underneath a rock in recent times to have missed listening to concerning the Pixel’s Name Display characteristic.

For the uninitiated, Name Display is a characteristic that goals to scale back the variety of time-wasters you find yourself answering the cellphone to. Each time an unrecognised quantity calls, you’ll be able to choose to display it, with an AI-generated voice asking who the caller is and why they’re calling. You’ll be able to then select whether or not to just accept or reject it.

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Within the US, Name Display is much more highly effective, working within the background to routinely decline calls from suspected bots or spammers. Within the UK and different international locations, this course of is completely guide.

Even so, I discover it to be extremely efficient – most dodgy callers merely grasp up once they hear the AI voice. Nonetheless, it’s not distinctive to Pixel – Samsung has an identical characteristic generally known as Name Screening, which might additionally display routinely exterior of the US.

Verdict: Once more, not hidden or unique to Pixel, however genuinely helpful

4. Fast Phrases

Okay, right here’s one I by no means knew existed. I hate it once I’m cooking or have my palms full, then should fumble round on my cellphone to reply a name or dismiss a timer. Usually, by the point I’ve washed my palms, the caller has stopped ringing.

Certain, you’ll be able to allow “Hey Google” on the lockscreen, however Fast Phrases goes one step additional. It’s particularly designed for incoming calls, alarms and timers, opening a brief listening window which makes responding to them completely seamless.

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You should use it to reply, decline or silence calls, dismiss timers, and snooze alarms. As soon as I lastly bought it sorted out (make it possible for each the cellphone system language and Gemini language are set to US English), it labored brilliantly.

Now it’s arrange, I can see myself utilizing Fast Phrases frequently. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that Samsung has an identical characteristic generally known as ‘Discuss to Bixby with out wake-up’. It’s one of many few issues that Bixby is definitely helpful for.

Verdict: Not unique to Pixel, however a superb characteristic

5. Flip to Shh

Flip to Shh has been a factor on Pixel telephones since again in 2018, however to be trustworthy, I’d forgotten it existed. It’s been a really helpful rediscovery.

Because the title suggests, placing your cellphone face down on a desk or different flat floor will routinely allow Do Not Disturb mode, silencing incoming calls and notifications. Then, once you decide up your cellphone once more, all the things returns to the best way it was.

After all, there’s no method to realize it’s really been activated except you have got haptic suggestions. As somebody who usually hates haptics on my cellphone, I used to be reluctant, but it surely was a nice shock.

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The delicate vibration you get is simply sufficient to place your thoughts comfortable, and I can see it being helpful in so many alternative conditions. Conferences are the apparent one, however for a session of targeted work, a visit to the cinema or mainly any time I don’t need my cellphone distracting me. It’s extremely straightforward to make use of and extremely efficient.

Now, I simply have to recollect to not by accident put the cellphone face down once I’m anticipating a name!

Verdict: Hidden, Pixel-exclusive and extremely helpful. Hurrah!

6. Now Taking part in

One other characteristic that has been very well-publicised through the years, so not precisely hidden. However Now Taking part in is turned off by default, so I suppose you can miss it.

Primarily, it’s a extra seamless model of Shazam that routinely identifies songs enjoying within the background. Any time a tune is recognised (in idea), it’ll inform you what it’s and add it to a chronological checklist, permitting you to pay attention once more simply.

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The massive benefit in comparison with Shazam is that it attracts from an area database, that means it really works completely offline. It additionally lives in your lock display, that means you’ll be able to simply see what’s enjoying at a look.

Each time I swap away from Pixel to check one other cellphone, Now Taking part in is the characteristic I miss probably the most. Shazam requires you to be far more intentional and it is advisable be someplace with a great web connection. Nonetheless, Now Taking part in does nonetheless miss songs at instances, so don’t depend on it to precisely document a tune you’re loving.

Verdict: Not essentially hidden, however a killer Pixel-exclusive characteristic

7. Fast Faucet

Okay, Reddit is de facto onto one thing now. I had no concept that the Pixel had its personal model of the iPhone’s Again Faucet characteristic, although different Android cellphone makers have additionally copied Apple.

Fast Faucet, as Google calls it, is impressively versatile. A double faucet of the again of the cellphone to activate the flashlight could be very helpful, however it may well take screenshots, entry Gemini, play/pause media, open the current apps display or present notifications for those who’d want. It’ll even open any app you have got put in in your cellphone.

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In case you’re fearful about by accident triggering it, Google has an choice to require a stronger faucet. However I had the other subject – the precise location on the again of the cellphone will be laborious to find. After all, it additionally received’t work except you utilize your cellphone and not using a case.

However when you get used to it, it’s a real game-changer.

Verdict: Not unique to Pixel, however each hidden and really helpful

8. Overview Choose

I can’t inform you what number of instances I’ve struggled to repeat textual content from inside an app. Many apps aren’t notably user-friendly, and a few even forestall you from copying at instances.

Enter Overview Choose, or “regardless of the characteristic’s known as the place it’s going to override any app and allow you to copy textual content from it letter by letter within the appswitcher mode”, as consumer ‘namerankserial’ describes it. That is truthfully an ideal description – it dramatically simplifies what is commonly a serious ache level.

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Previous to researching the article, I’d by no means even observed the characteristic. Now, I can’t cease attempting it out for all types of issues. One Redditor mentions that many apps disable it, however I haven’t discovered one which isn’t working but.

Verdict: Pixel-exclusive, hidden (to me anyway) and really helpful

9. Take a Message

I can’t actually get on board with a characteristic that’s on by default being described as ‘hidden’. Within the case of Take a Message, that is the expertise all current Pixel house owners in eligible areas could have.

However as somebody who hates the normal voicemail course of, it’s an enormous improve. Often, to entry voicemail, you’d should dial a selected quantity, wait ages for recordings to really begin enjoying, then keep in mind what they’ve stated as you determine whether or not to name again.

With Take a Message, you get a real-time transcription and audio recording that’s saved straight inside the Google Telephone app. Once I used a Pixel cellphone each day, it was a large time-saver, and I’d forgotten how a lot I missed it.

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It’s nonetheless a Pixel unique on the time of writing, however appears set to roll out extra broadly quickly.

Verdict: Not hidden, however a superb Pixel-exclusive characteristic

10. Direct My Name

Till I noticed this thread, I hadn’t totally explored all the Pixel’s calling options. I (wrongly) assumed that the majority of them have been solely obtainable within the US, that means I used to be lacking out on some nice instruments.

Amongst them is Direct My Name, although admittedly, it’s restricted to the UK and US and the English language. It’s designed for these lengthy, tedious menus once you name a enterprise or organisation and are taken via a seemingly endless checklist of choices.

In idea, Direct My Name makes issues a lot simpler, all of the choices in actual time and producing buttons so that you can simply faucet every one.

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Nonetheless, my expertise was underwhelming. Admittedly, the British accent dictating to me wasn’t the simplest to know, however transcription was patchy, and two of the eight choices have been left off completely. To be trustworthy, the old school technique of tapping a quantity on the keypad would’ve been simpler.

Direct My Name might be simpler with different accents, however you’ll be able to’t count on a very clear voice each time you name an organization. For that purpose, I can’t see myself utilizing it frequently.

Verdict: Not dependable sufficient to be helpful

An antidote to the anti-Pixel sentiment

In case you learn most posts on the Google Pixel subreddit, you’d suppose that Pixels have been the worst smartphones that ever existed.

Within the case of the Pixel 10 Professional XL, the fact is the precise reverse – it stays Tech Advisor’s really helpful finest cellphone you should buy, nearly a yr after launch. There’s a powerful chance that one of many 4 upcoming Pixel 11 handsets may substitute it.

That’s to not say that they’re good, and I don’t doubt that any of the individuals complaining on Reddit have had a nasty expertise. Nevertheless it’s an essential reminder that Google is getting quite a bit proper with its smartphones – together with together with loads of nice options that you just received’t discover elsewhere.