Google Pixel phones produce no longer promote in the identical numbers as the ideal Samsung phones. But over the closing couple of years, Google’s smartphone lineup has viewed a resurgence, with the firm prioritizing its hardware efforts in 2023. With the upcoming Pixel 8 sequence rumored to pack some distinguished changes, the firm’s 2023 flagship Pixels might well well also be a huge hit among customers. As an extended-time Pixel fan and a pissed off Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 user although, it’s mandatory that Google addresses some longstanding components with the upcoming Pixels.
1 A cooler Tensor G3
Despite all its AI and ML prowess, the main-gen Tensor chip powering the Pixel 6 sequence used to be a hot mess. The scenario improved with the Tensor G2 internal the Pixel 7 sequence, as Google made several efficiency-focused changes. But these enhancements are no longer sufficient. The Pixel 7 can greatly warmth up under moderate to heavy load, making it practically unusable.
The scenario is even worse in case you stay in a self-discipline with a hot native weather. There had been a bunch of occasions where the Pixel 7 Expert has overheated whereas I used to be shopping the procure or clicking photos under recount sunlight in India’s brutal summer. And I’m no longer alone with these complaints. Online forums (2) are stuffed with reports from Pixel 7 users about their phones overheating to the level of turning into unusable.
With native weather substitute wreaking havoc globally, vulgar temperature events are anticipated to become a typical incidence. And it’s mandatory that our phones remain handy in them. I can understand when phones warmth up whereas taking half in heavy games when temperatures are high, but no longer at some level of standard use.
The Pixel 7’s overheating components sting even more when when in contrast with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely and OnePlus 11. These phones lift solid battery life and remain rather cool under heavy workloads.
With the Pixel 8’s Tensor G3 chip rumored to make use of Samsung’s 4nm fab and more contemporary and more efficient CPU cores, it have to with any luck no longer face the identical overheating components. And admittedly, it’d be unacceptable if the Pixel 8 sequence suffers from them, especially when the ideal Android phones maintain gotten greatly better in this division this year.
2 Random battery drain
Battery life has never been the strong level of Pixel phones. Whereas the Pixel 7 made some distinguished enhancements over the 2021 Pixel 6, its battery life is life like at ideal. But random battery drains, which maintain become a commonplace subject with Pixel phones, made the scenario worse. In April 2022, a pesky Google Messages bug used to be the perpetrator in the motivate of Pixel users experiencing excessive battery drain. More no longer too long previously, a bug in the Google app in Could perchance presumably also 2023 brought about Pixel phones to wander hot. Then, the June 2023 Characteristic Topple brought about excessive battery and heating components on the Pixel 6 and 7 sequence.
These are no longer exceptions but the norm. Quiz any long-time Pixel user, and they are going to attest to their phone randomly draining more battery than standard all of a sudden. Every so often, the recount might well well also be resolved with a restart, but in other cases, it requires an OS or a Google Play Services replace from Google’s end.
Whereas a sub-par chipset or modem plays a role in high battery drain, Google’s sad instrument QA can’t be denied right here. With the Pixel 8, the firm wants to step up its game and produce particular that these random battery drain components produce no longer ground as soon as in a while.
3 Better network reception
Overheating used to be lawful considered one of the distinguished components with the Pixel 6’s Tensor G1 chip. Its Exynos 5123 modem used to be infamous for sad network reception and gradual download/add speeds. With the Pixel 7’s Tensor G2, Google switched to a more contemporary Exynos 5300 modem. It performs mighty better in practically all eventualities than its predecessor, but the modem’s efficiency is still no longer as correct as the opponents. Google’s pink meat up forums and Reddit are stuffed with complaints from Pixel 7 users about sad network provider.
You can face network and make contact with fall components in inspiring scenarios. Worse, there is a elevated-than-standard battery drain when the utilization of mobile recordsdata, and the phone can catch warmth, which shows how inefficient the Exynos modem is. Phones with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon modem provide better network reception, especially in areas with sad signals. It be 2023, and we mustn’t ever wish to complain about phones having sad network efficiency, but right here we’re.
Rumors level to Google will stick with the identical Exynos 5300 modem internal the Tensor G3 chip. Alternatively, it have to ship with more contemporary firmware and pink meat up the most contemporary 5G standard. Coupled with an even bigger antenna structure and other enhancements, one can hope the Pixel 8 sequence performs better than the closing two generations in the network reception division.
4 Originate day bugs
Originate day bugs maintain become commonplace in smartphones. Most companies free up a instrument replace on the phone’s begin day to resolve many bugs. But Pixels are buggier than standard at begin, with Google taking its time to address them. For instance, the Pixel 7 sequence launched in mid-October 2022, alternatively it took Google a number of months to unravel the janky scrolling components that were reported since day one.
The scenario used to be even worse with the Pixel 6’s begin in 2021. There used to be a contemporary ghost-dialing bug, a subject that prevented the utilization of exterior DAC, Wi-Fi components, and more.
Bugs are a fraction and parcel of smartphone launches at the 2d. But what’s valuable is how hasty a manufacturer can step up and unravel these components. Here’s hoping with the Pixel 8 sequence, Google tightens its instrument QA extra and might well well well perchance motivate begin day bugs to a minimal.
5 Wider availability
Samsung’s phones are accessible in in practically all main markets worldwide. It is the identical for iPhones. But for causes ideal known to Google, Pixel phones are accessible in ideal in a handful of markets. This used to be graceful earlier when the firm seemingly gave up on its ambition to be a key participant in the smartphone market. But that would now not seem just like the case now. And for its Pixel lineup to succeed, the firm wants to bring them to more markets.
The Pixel 7 sequence launched in 17 worldwide locations, a huge bounce from the Pixel 6’s nine begin markets. With the Pixel 8, Google have to produce on that momentum and extra prolong the lineup to more worldwide locations.
But market availability is lawful one difficulty. Even in worldwide locations where they’re accessible, the Pixels are accessible in with chosen stores. In India, as an illustration, that probabilities are you’ll well perchance additionally ideal devour the Pixel 7 by scheme of Flipkart. That is with out reference to the Google on-line retailer reliable’s presence in the country. Worse, that probabilities are you’ll well perchance additionally catch the Pixel 7 with ideal 128GB storage. The 256GB variant used to be never positioned on sale in the country. Similarly, the 512GB Pixel 7 Expert never made its capacity to the European market.
Time for Google to step up
Google is now the one stopping Pixels from reaching their corpulent skill. The firm managed to outdo itself with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 sequence, alternatively it has left some components to linger for long. With the Pixel 8 this year, right here’s hoping the firm will get its act together and might well well well perchance nail down the skills by addressing these longstanding complications.
