While we’ve admittedly raved about Google’s first official entry in the smartphone race back then, it seems that the “purest” Android phone in existence isn’t without its flaws. For some Google Pixel owners, sadly, they found out about it the hard way.
What problems are users having so far with Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL? Here are a few of the most annoying ones along with possible quick fixes:
A Buggy Mic
Several people who own Google handsets have been hounding support forums for a while now. Many have come forward in recent months complaining about their Pixel phone’s malfunctioning microphone. Common complaints we’ve read so far includes total audio input block or an erratic performance.
It may seem to be minor problems at first glance, but a dysfunctional microphone keeps you from using Google Assistant’s powerful voice recognition feature or even making phone calls.
The Quick Fix: We suggest you open an app that requires using a microphone, returning to the Home screen, and then returning to the app. It may seem like a very unorthodox method, but a few swear that it sort things out for the buggy Pixel mic. Doing a factory reset is another viable option, too. We don’t personally recommend you go down this route if you haven’t stored a backup of personal files and app library.
Wi-Fi and Data Mix-up
Ever noticed your Pixel phone randomly switching between data and Wi-Fi? You could blame this on Google adding a ‘Smart network switch’ feature on the Pixel. Designed to provide your phone with a stable Internet connection at all times (even in the absence of Wi-Fi connections), this feature may be why your Pixel suddenly switches from using data to Wi-Fi and vice versa without warning.
The Quick Fix: To keep your data from skyrocketing right under your nose, turn the said feature off. Go to Settings > Wireless and then toggle the ‘Smart network switch’ setting off.
If it still switches after you’ve turned off the setting, you may have to do a factory reset (again).
A Blurry Camera
What happened to the “best smartphone camera ever” that Google and digital photography experts declared upon Pixel’s public release? Well, it just got uncharacteristically blurry.
Google luckily offers a few good options to sort out your Pixel’s camera’s problem.
The Quick Fix
To begin with, there’s restarting your handset. It’s as simple as that. In case that doesn’t have any effect, go to Google Play Store and then tap the Menu icon. Go to ‘My Apps & Games’ after. Once you’re in, see if the camera app requires updating.
In case your camera was perfectly fine in the beginning before it started acting up, try wiping the lens off. That, or you can try running your Pixel on Safe Mode and see if another app may be causing the issue.
To do this, restart your phone first. When you see Google’s logo, hold down the volume button until you see the home screen. You should now try to see if the camera has returned to normal. If it is, a recent app you’ve downloaded may be the cause of the dilemma.
After you recall what the last app you downloaded is, restart your device to exit from Safe Mode. Uninstall the most recent third-party app you just downloaded afterward and you should be seeing an improvement.
In the midst of these shocking surprises, Google openly admits that these hardware issues aren’t baseless.
Google Comes Clean
After facing a long line of grumbling Pixel owners, Google representative Brian Rakowski confirmed to news sources that the issues appear to be hardware-related. He even reassures the public that the firm has been taking steps to ensure the glitch won’t happen again with refurbished handsets.
“It’s possible that some replacement phones were not properly qualified,” Rakowski reveals. “But that’s no longer the case.”
He adds that devices manufactured in recent months won’t likely have the same issues.
Google Replacing Your Pixel?
Rakowski mentions about replacement phones because Google has apparently come forward with a plan to replace defective Pixel phones. If your life has been made miserable by the fact that your Pixel XL’s mic doesn’t work, Google may send you a replacement handset. Your device has to be covered by warranty to be eligible for the replacement, though.
Confused how to go about seeking a replacement? You can reach out to Google through its round-the-clock online support. Simply open Settings and then tap on the Support tab. From there, you may already be in touch with your phone carrier or Google to discuss what your next steps would be.
Even the best Android phone on the market aren’t fail-proof, it turns out. Fortunately, the Big G values your loyalty and they’re willing to go all-out just so you won’t be tempted to look at the latest Samsung Galaxy 8 leaks or iPhone 8 rumors.