You get all the same software features as the Pixel 9 series, but there are some extras to take advantage of all the screens. Made You Look, for example, plays a cute animation on the outer screen to make sure your kiddo stares at it when you’re trying to capture a photo. When you’re on a Google Meet call, you can now utilize all the screens so that everyone around you can see the person you’re speaking with, and that means using all the cameras too, so the person on the other end doesn’t have to see just your face.
At the end of the day, this is still a $1,799 smartphone, and that’s just too high a price to pay. But if you have the cash and love folding phones, especially when paired with a Pixel’s smarts and camera prowess, this is one of the best options available.
How Long Is Your Pixel Supported?
The Pixel 10 series, Pixel 9 series, Pixel 8 series, Pixel 9a, and Pixel 8a will get seven years of Android OS upgrades and security updates. The 2023 Pixel 7a will receive three years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates from the date of launch, the same as older Pixels. Google has a page you can check to see exactly what month your Pixel phone will stop receiving updates. Security updates reduce the risk of malware, keep your phone bug-free, and make it more secure. Android version updates introduce new features—cosmetic and functional—that improve the OS as a whole.
Pixel phones also happen to be the first to receive any kind of Android update, so as soon as Google releases a new version, like Android 16, you can download it immediately by heading to Settings > System > System Update > Check for Update. You can also test beta versions of Android, but you’ll need to enroll your device. (Make sure to back up your phone first!) Pixels are also privy to the feature drops Google issues every few months, which include features from newer Pixels coming to older models and brand-new features for the latest devices.
There are a few other Pixel phones worth considering if you don’t want any of the above choices. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are available through official channels and third-party retailers (until supplies last). The key is to not pay more than $500 or $600 for either of them; otherwise, you may as well put that money toward the Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 series.
I do not recommend you buy any older Pixel devices. Several Pixel A-series phones have been put under a battery performance program to mitigate the risk of overheating or swelling batteries. These software updates have crippled the battery life on those phones, and Google has provided customers with battery replacement options or Google Store credit for a new Pixel phone. These potential issues mean it’s just not worth the risk of buying a Pixel 7a or Pixel 6a. The Pixel 8a (8/10, WIRED Recommends) doesn’t seem to show problems yet, but I’d still throw caution to the wind.
Pixel A-Series Battery Issues
In 2025, some Google Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a owners have received mandatory updates that purposefully degrade the performance of the battery to prevent overheating. Your phone may have been working fine before, but Google issued these updates as a preventative measure, and not every device was affected. Similarly, some Pixel 7a devices may encounter battery swelling issues.
If your phone has been affected, you have two options. You can get a free battery replacement—Google has a registration page for the Pixel 4a, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 7a. If that isn’t going to work for you, you can get Google Store credit for the Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a to put toward a new Pixel phone.
These issues seem to have only affected some batteries in the A-series phones, suggesting it’s likely a supplier issue. What about the newer Pixel 9a? Here’s a statement a Google spokesperson provided to WIRED: “Google continuously improves Pixel testing based on user feedback and thoroughly investigates reported incidents for all components, including batteries. With Pixel 9a, we delivered the largest and longest-lasting battery of any A-series yet. We’ve been encouraged by its reception so far and are confident in the phone’s longevity and durability.”
Ideally, this battery issue has been rectified in the latest model, but we’ll be monitoring it over the next few years.
What Does Pixel Care+ Include?
When you purchase a Pixel from Google, you’ll see the option to add Pixel Care+ for protection. It’s only available in the US through the Google Store and Google Fi. The monthly option can run for up to 60 months, whereas the fixed pricing is for a 2-year term. Here’s what you get.
Pixel Care+ starts at $9 per month or $179 and includes unlimited accidental damage protection, $0 screen and battery repairs, replacements that ship in a day, and priority support from Pixel experts. That pricing is for the Pixel 10, and it goes up for the pricier devices. For example, the Pixel 10 Pro will cost $13 per month, or $239 for the 2-year term. There’s no Pixel Care+ option for the Pixel 9a.
Pixel Care+ with Loss and Theft starts at $10 per month or $199 and includes the same protections as mentioned above but includes two claims of loss and theft every 12 months. Weirdly, Loss and Theft coverage is not available in New York state.
You Can DeGoogle Your Pixel Phone
Love Google’s Pixel phones but want to get away from using Google services? It’s a little ironic, but you can actually use a different operating system with the Pixel instead of the built-in Android. We’ve tested and really like /e/OS, a privacy-first operating system that’s based on the Android Open Source Project. While you can install it yourself, it requires a bit of technical know-how, you can buy a refurbished Pixel from Murena with /e/OS installed already. If you’re interested, we have more details about /e/OS here.
The Best Pixel Cases and Accessories
I’ve written a broader guide on the Best Pixel 9 Cases and Accessories here, but here are a few selections for your perusal. We’ll be testing cases for the Pixel 10 series soon.
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This silicone case lets you match your Pixel phone’s color. It’s durable and nice to touch, with raised edges on the front to protect the screen. It’s made with recycled plastics, and while the older cases attract lint and dust easily, this revamped case does a better job of resisting them. I also like that it keeps the back flush, so the camera bump isn’t so obvious. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold case is made of a hard-shell polycarbonate, but it’s fairly slim and lightweight compared to third-party cases I’ve tested. Access to the buttons is open, and I like how it gives you an easier way to unfold the phone.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
This is our favorite case overall for the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8A series. It has clicky buttons and incredibly grippy edges (hence the name). It feels robust yet fairly slim, and you can choose a snazzy design. Just know that you have to apply this “skin” to the back of the case. There’s a lot of room for error here, so be careful, and watch Dbrand’s installation video for tips. There’s MagSafe support so you can use your Pixel with MagSafe accessories, and it worked exceptionally in my testing.
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This is hands-down the best case if you frequently attach your Pixel to the handlebars of a bike or an electric scooter. Peak Design’s mounting system lets you magnetically affix the phone to its Universal Bike Mount ($50), and it stays put. After nearly a year of testing, I’ve yet to have a phone fall off my ride using this mounting system. It makes use of Apple’s MagSafe system, so it works with plenty of MagSafe accessories, even wireless chargers. The company also has several other magnetic accessories, like a car vent mount. The case itself is nice; I just wish the edges were raised more for better screen protection. It comes in more colors than ever.
This charging adapter is all you need to recharge your Pixel, whichever model you have. The newest high-end Pixel phones don’t come with chargers in the box, so if you don’t have any spare USB-C chargers, it’s worth picking one up. This one’s prongs fold up, so it’s great for travel too.
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Dbrand gives you two screen protectors in this package, and when I initially tested it, there was no application tool, so I had to freehand the installation. The current Prism 2.0 version thankfully now comes with a tool, so it should be much easier to align. You get all the other tools in the box to wipe down your phone and ensure there are no specks of dust on it before you install the protector.
Our Favorite Pixel Software Features
Pixels have many great software features, but some need to be toggled on. It can also be hard to remember that all these features exist, so here are most of the top ones.
There are some key features on Pixels that you won’t find on any other Android phone. Some of these are available only on select Pixels—the Tensor chip started with the Pixel 6, and currently, the Tensor G4 is in the Pixel 9 range. Here’s a breakdown:
Call Screen: When you get a call from an unknown number, Google Assistant will scan and flag it if it’s suspected spam or a robocall. If it’s simply a number you don’t recognize, you can have Assistant take the call. You’ll see a real-time transcription of what’s happening, so you can end the call right away if it’s a telemarketer or answer if it turns out to be a long-lost high school friend. If it’s someone important, you can give Assistant responses to recite if you’re unable to take the call—it offers up contextual replies now, too. Remember to turn it on by opening up the dialer app and heading to Settings (three dots on the top right) > Spam and Call Screen.
Wait Times and Direct My Call: When you call a business in the phone app, you’ll see an estimated wait time until someone real picks up (it doesn’t work with every business). Google’s Direct My Call feature also transcribes the entire call and separates the menu options so you can see them without having to listen intently to the call. More recently, for some numbers, Direct My Call will cache responses so you’ll immediately see menu options without needing to wait for the automated response to go through every number. You can turn this on by going to the phone app’s Settings > Direct My Call.
Hold for Me: If you’ve been placed on hold with a business number, you can ask Google Assistant to take over. It will play a loud chime when the person on the other end is back. No need to listen to hold music! Toggle it on in the phone app’s Settings > Hold for Me. This feature is available on most Pixels but only works in select countries, including the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, and Canada.
Clear Calling: If you have a Pixel 7 or newer, you can turn on this feature to enhance the other caller’s voice and reduce their background noise. Head to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Clear Calling to toggle it on. It also works on Google’s Pixel Buds Pro.
Call Notes (Tensor G4 and newer; with 12-plus GB RAM): You can enable this in the dialer app by going to Settings > Call Notes and making sure the toggle is on. This doesn’t activate every time you’re on a call. Rather, you have to tap the More button when you’re on a call and tap Call Notes to start it. It more or less records the conversation (it notifies the other person that the call is being recorded), and at the end, it’ll give you a summary of important points from the call right in the call history log, such as price quotes, phone numbers, or addresses. Sometimes it gets information wrong, as the accuracy of the transcription depends on the call quality, but you can play back the entire recording yourself to double-check.
Scam Detection: This feature detects conversation patterns as you are on the phone with a suspicious number to warn you when someone is deploying a classic scam tactic. It also works in Google’s Messages app. You can turn it on by going to the phone app, then tapping the three-dot menu icon at the top right, and hitting Settings > Scam Detection.
Reverse Phone Number Lookup: Don’t recognize the phone number from an incoming call? In the call app, you can now quickly look up a number without having to manually run a search yourself.
Take a Message (Tensor G5): Google is revamping voicemails with Take a Message. It’s similar to transcribed voicemails, though that feature doesn’t always work and may depend on your carrier. Take a Message bypasses the standard voicemail (your normal voicemail will only kick in with missed calls when your phone is off or out of network). The caller will be told to leave a message, and this recording will be auto-transcribed, visible right in the call history of the phone app. It’ll even offer actionable steps, like adding a reminder or an event to your calendar.
Pixel VIPs: This is a new widget that gives you one-tap access to your favorite contacts. But it’s more than that. Tap on one of your contacts and you’ll see a beautifully designed page that offers quick access to call the contact and message them on various platforms. It’ll show the last messages between you two, share location, weather updates, and the time for their area, and you can add notes if you want to remember specific things. You can access this the same way you add a widget; it sits under the Contacts app.
Transcription and Translation Features
Translated Phone Calls in Your Voice (Tensor G5): You can translate a phone call in real time, but what makes Google’s approach unique is that the company will make the translated voice sound like your own (or the person on the other end). That way, it still sounds like you’re talking to someone you know, rather than a robotic voice. No audio is recorded, and data isn’t stored (it works on-device). It’s only available for a few languages, like English, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
Live Translate: In select messaging apps, Pixels will automatically know when someone sends a message in a language other than your default. It’ll translate it (if you wish), and you’ll be able to respond in that same language. More than 50 languages are supported, though you’ll need to download the languages you want to see translated by heading to Settings > System > Live Translate.
Live Caption: Pixels can automatically transcribe any video playing on the screen. You can quickly toggle this on by tapping one of the volume buttons and tapping on the square button below the volume slider (or head to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Live Caption). If the video is in a different language, you can even see it translated (only on Tensor-powered Pixels), though you’ll need to download one of the supported languages. It can even caption phone calls.
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