Tag: Pixel 6

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Some Pixel 6/6 Pro devices are randomly calling contacts

Google’s fancy Pixel 6 and 6 Pro only started arriving in customers’ hands last week (mostly a lucky few who managed to place pre-orders so far). However, in that short time, users have reported several strange issues. There’s been a screen flicker issue, problems with the Always-On display and now some claim their Pixel 6/6 Pro randomly called contacts.

Several users on Reddit (via Android Police) and Google’s Pixel Phone Help site (via Android Authority) report that Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices are placing calls to random contacts, sometimes in the middle of the night.

The main culprit so far seems to be Google Assistant. Some users report that the ghost calls appear in Assistant’s activity history page. Additionally, disabling Google Assistant on the lock screen has resolved the issue for some. What’s particularly concerning is that many users reported the issue happening when there wasn’t background chatter that could have mistakenly triggered Google Assistant (for example, people reported calls were placed while they slept).

The Pixel Phone Help user also reported that a call was triggered one time while they spoke Farsi, a language that Google Assistant doesn’t support.

Neither MobileSyrup staff reporter Dean Daley nor I have experienced this issue on our respective Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 devices. Daley confirmed to me that he has Assistant enabled on the lock screen. I do as well, but I keep the ‘Hey Google’ hotword turned off on phones (including the Pixel 6) because I hate when my phone intercepts a command I intend for one of my smart speakers.

For those that encounter this problem, it may be worth temporarily disabling Assistant on the lock screen (or the ‘Hey Google’ hotword). You can do that by opening the Google app > tapping your profile in the top-right corner > Settings > Google Assistant > then tap ‘Hey Google & Voice Match’ to turn off the hotword on your phone or tap ‘Lock screen’ to disable Assistant on the lock screen. Other users have avoided the issue by deleting contacts that Assistant calls.

Hopefully Google pushes out a fix for this problem soon.

Source: Reddit, Pixel Phone Help Via: Android Police, Android Authority

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If you purchased a Pixel 6 Pro from Bell, you’ll likely have to wait longer for your order

If you purchased a Pixel 6 Pro through Bell, you might be waiting a little longer than you initially expected to get your hands on your new smartphone.

MobileSyrup has received a tip indicating that many people who purchased the Pixel 6 Pro through Bell have received emails stating that their order is at the top of the priority list and is expected to ship by December 10th.

The issue at hand is that until today, Bell’s internal stock indicator displayed the Pixel 6 Pro as “in stock,” according to the tipster.

Additionally, the tipster said the device they purchased through Bell is the ‘Stormy Black’ 128GB Pixel 6 Pro.

Through the Google Store, this variant won’t be ready to ship until December 30th, 2021. It’s unclear if other colours Pixel 6 Pro variations purchased through Bell are also experiencing shipping delays.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of Pixel 6 and 6 Pro stock issues. For example, on the smartphone’s release date, Google’s website indicated that the ‘Sorta Sunny’ Pixel 6 Pro won’t ship until January 18th.

In a statement to MobileSyrup, Bell said the following:

“The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices are very popular and demand is high for these phones on the Bell network. We are working to fill customer orders as quickly as possible over the next few days.”

Thanks ‘Carolly’

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Google Pixel 6 series always-on display animation issue has an easy fix

If you’ve encountered an issue surrounding the Pixel 6’s and 6 Pro‘s always-on display animation, there’s a simple fix.

But first, here’s some background: if you change the Animator Duration Scale in the smartphone’s developer options, it causes the fingerprint print icon and battery level to disappear on the always-on screen, according to a Reddit user ‘Apk07‘.

To solve this problem you’ll need to return the ‘Animator Duration Scale’ back to its previous setting. To do this, navigate to the developer options in the ‘Systems’ menu, look for the ‘Animator Duration Scale’ option, and change it back to 1x speed.

While it’s weird this problem occurs, it likely has something to do with the smartphones’ always-on display, which switches to the lock screen once you tap on the screen or the power button. When that happens with the Pixel 6, the smartphone displays an animation that showcases a fingerprint outline on the always-on screen, which only works on the 1x animation setting.

Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are great devices but similar to other Pixel releases there seems to be at least a few issues with the devices. For example, some users have reported a flickering screen problem. Google has already said that it plans to fix this issue with its upcoming Pixel 6 December release update.

Source: Reddit Via: Android Police

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Google’s Pixel 6 is the phone you’ve been waiting for

When the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were officially revealed, one thing was immediately clear: Google is serious about their smartphones.

The company has listened to the criticisms from its users. It has delivered a smartphone that not only improves on the Pixel 5 but offers a true competitor to the top brands on the market.

Available for pre-order right now at Telus, the Pixel 6 Pro and its smaller sibling deliver the latest camera technology, a high-refresh-rate display, and Google’s proprietary Tensor chip. And thanks to the 5G Telus network, you’ll be able to take advantage of all of its features without being bottlenecked.

If you’ve been following the release of smartphone hardware this season, you’ll already know some of this, but let’s break down why the Pixel 6 is worth your attention.

The display is buttery smooth

One of the major advancements on the Pixel 6 is the faster display. The Pixel 6 Pro offers a refresh rate of 120Hz, while the Pixel 6 offers 90Hz. Both models use an adaptive refresh rate to accommodate media that use lower frame rates, but you’ll notice the difference when browsing the web, playing newer games, and scrolling through social feeds.

Gone are the days of stuttering text, bleeding shadows, and gameplay hiccups. You’ll feel the difference. This isn’t a device that’s just a little faster loading your apps. This is a device that’ll make your current smartphone feel sluggish to the touch.

And while it isn’t the first smartphone to feature a high-refresh-rate display, Google is offering one of the best available on the market. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.71-inch, 512ppi AMOLED display, outperforming many of the most expensive smartphones on the market. The Pixel 6 offers a 6.4-inch, 403ppi OLED display, which is easily one of the best displays in its price range.

Sorta Sunny is super stylish

Smartphone aesthetics largely come down to personal preference, but the Pixel 6 design has made some key changes to the traditional Pixel design that we can all appreciate.

The Pixel 6 Pro features a nearly bezel-free design, stretching its display from corner to corner. There is a very small bezel at the top and bottom, but otherwise the entire front of the smartphone is a bright display.

Pixel 6

The Pixel 6 also does away with the off-centre front-facing camera of years prior, instead opting for a symmetrical design with the pinhole placed in the middle of the top part of the display.

And we need to talk about the Pixel 6 colourway. From Sorta Sunny to Kinda Coral, the Pixel 6 continues the beautiful two-tone pastel colours that the Pixel line is known for. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate that they also offer a simple Stormy Black design.

Google is serious about power

The Google Pixel has long been a fan-favourite for offering one of the best cameras on the market, along with the stock Android experience, which eliminates the bloat of its competitors. But this is the year Google has thrown its hat into the ring against the top smartphones on the market.

For the first time, Google has designed its own proprietary chip. Though we don’t have any real-world experience with it yet, the Tensor chip is expected to offer performance similar to other flagship phones.

But the Tensor has one huge advantage: artificial intelligence.

What made the Pixel cameras stand out in the past wasn’t the lens or sensor, but the AI running behind the scenes to enhance your photos. And with the Tensor chip, that AI will be working across the smartphone to increase performance as it learns.

Pair the Tensor chip with the 5G capabilities of the Telus network, and you’ll be able to leverage the power of the AI and the Cloud in ways that haven’t been possible before on other smart devices. Whether streaming, working, gaming, or uploading, the Telus network offers peace of mind, allowing for nearly instantaneous uploads to social pages, and syncing to the Google suite. You can check to see if your area is part of the 5G network by visiting the Telus coverage map.

Showing off with the camera

I touched upon it earlier, but the camera has always been one of the Pixel’s standout features. And this year is no exception.

The Pixel 6 Pro offers four different lenses. It has a 50MP f/1.85 wide-angle lens, a 48MP f/3.5 telephoto lens, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, and an 11.11MP /f2.2 front-facing camera.

Pixel 6 camera

Pair this incredible detail with a larger sensor for better low-light performance, and you’re looking at one of the best cameras on the market.

But the most interesting features are on the software side. Google has said that the Pixel 6 captures darker skin tones more authentically, something that has been a significant problem across all smartphone cameras.

The depth-of-field features return, along with the ability to remove objects in the photo thanks to the Magic Eraser. It’s hard to oversell the Magic Eraser. While it’s not perfect yet, it’s getting better with every shot thanks to the Pixel’s AI learning. Being able to remove people in the background from a photo never fails to impress. It’s essentially Photoshop in your pocket, without the monthly subscription fees.

And the list goes on

I’ve touched on some of the biggest upgrades that the Pixel 6 offers, but there are many other aspects of the smartphone that are worth mentioning.

The Titan M2 security chip is paired with Google’s built-in security core to keep your information safe. The Pixel runs stock Android 12, and it usually receives updates faster than any other phone on the market. And with a bigger, faster-charging battery, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will get you through an entire day of work without needing a top-up on the ride home.

Available now

Best of all, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are now available to order at Telus. The Pixel 6 can be yours for $0 upfront plus taxes with the Telus Easy Payment program.

The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are two of the best phones on the market, both for their value and their performance. With the Bring-it-Back program, Telus is offering even more value with their lowest monthly price on the device.

Click here to get your Pixel 6 on TELUS’ award-winning 5G network today.

Sponsored by Telus

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships and publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

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Pixel 6/6 Pro buyers that missed out on the free Pixel Buds A-Series – Check your email

Google’s latest Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro pre-orders in Canada and the U.S. qualify for a free pair of Pixel Buds A-Series.

We recently shared that if you rushed through your order and forgot to add the free Pixel Buds, you don’t need to worry. Google said that customers who didn’t add the earbuds to their cart will still receive them via an email with a redeemable code. Well, those emails have started hitting Canadian customers’ inboxes today.

Simply click ‘Redeem Offer’ in the email, select the colour of A-Series buds you want (the ‘Dark Olive’ colourway is sold out), and proceed to checkout. A 100 percent discount coupon code will automatically be added to your order, changing the price from $139 to $0.

And that’s it. Once you’ve placed the order, you can sit back and relax. Your Pixel Buds A-Series will be delivered to your doorstep, hopefully, before your Pixel 6/6 Pro arrives.

For more on the Pixel Buds A-Series, check out our in-depth look at the wireless earbuds.

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It costs up to $200 more to buy a Pixel 6/6 Pro from carriers than from Google

Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are fairly popular, but it remains rather difficult to get your hands on these new smartphones. Estimated delivery times range from late November to early January depending on the model and colour you pick, if the version you want is even in stock at Google’s online store.

While it may be tempting to buy the phone from a Canadian carrier instead, it’s worth keeping in mind almost every carrier charges more for an outright Google Pixel 6 or 6 Pro than it costs to get it from Google.

Now, it’s important to remember that the above pricing is for buying the Pixel 6/6 Pro outright from a carrier. In most cases, customers who choose to get one of these phones on a plan from a carrier will end up paying about the same for the phone after two years (with some exceptions I’ll get into below).

For example, Rogers charges $936 for the Pixel 6 outright, but if you sign up for a Rogers plan and finance the Pixel 6 through the carrier’s device financing program, you’ll pay $33.29/mo (over 24 months, that works out to $798.96).

Interestingly, Rogers also advertises the $33.29/mo financing cost as a “discount” from the regular $39/mo financing cost for the Pixel ($39/mo over 24 months is $936). Bell similarly claims on its website that the financing cost is cheaper, but is a little less secretive because it clearly states that it’s cheaper than “our device full price.” I didn’t see similar claims on Telus’ website. However, the Vancouver-based telecom also had a slightly higher financing cost for the Pixel 6 that worked out to $828 over two years.

Watch out for bring-it-back “deals”

Another thing worth considering is that Rogers, Bell and Telus all offer some variation of a ‘bring-it-back’ program where customers can choose to pay a reduced financing fee if they give back the phone at the end of their two-year term, or pay the difference. Using Rogers as the example again, the monthly cost becomes $28.29/mo or $678.96 total over two years. Although Rogers doesn’t list the bring-it-back price on its website, based on the difference in cost between the two options it seems like customers would need to pay $120 at the end of their contract to keep the phone if they wish.

Although the numbers will be slightly different with each carrier, the general idea is the same — you’ll pay roughly the same for the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro on contract as you would buying it directly from Google. If you try to buy the phone outright from most carriers, you’ll end up paying significantly more. While this rule generally holds true, it’s almost always worth running the numbers before buying any phone and comparing the total cost to an outright purchase direct from the manufacturer.

For example, we did a similar look at iPhone 13 pricing, which interestingly was around $30 to $45 more at a carrier compared to direct from Apple (depending on model and some other factors).

Finally, some carriers actually do offer slightly better pricing than Google if you sign up for a two-year term. Namely, Freedom Mobile, Shaw Mobile and Vidéotron. We have a full breakdown for subsidized pricing available here, but in short if you choose to get a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro from any of those carriers on a two-year plan you’ll end up paying less for the phone than buying it directly from Google (depending on the plan you pick, which is an important factor in the overall cost).

As always, make sure to factor in the costs of the phone you want to get, the mobile plan you want and any other costs when looking at buying a new device. Sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra for a phone if you can score a great plan (or forking out for an outright device to keep one).

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How do you like your new Pixel 6 or 6 Pro?

Last week, I asked if you pre-ordered the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, and based on the response, it seems like a lot of people are interested in buying Google’s latest flagships.

However, now we’re interested in knowing your thoughts on the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro. If you are one of the people that were able to get your hands on a Pixel 6 series device, how do you feel about it after using the smartphone for a few days?

After about two weeks with the phone, I’m still really enjoying it, especially its fantastic camera, display, speed and overall user experience. For more on the Pixel 6 Pro, check out my review. MobileSyrup’s Jon Lamont also reviewed the Pixel 6.

Let us know in the comments below how you feel about the Pixel 6 series so far if you purchased the smartphone.

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Here’s a sneaky way to set up Pixel 6’s Magic Eraser on your last-gen Pixel

Those holding onto their older Pixels this year instead of upgrading to the fancy new Pixel 6 and 6 Pro might be feeling some FOMO over new camera features. But, it seems like there might be a way to get at least one new feature — Magic Eraser — on previous Pixel phones.

As usual, Google’s newest Pixel phone arrived with several fancy camera tricks, but many of them appear to be software-based. However, Google has indicated some of the new software features rely on capabilities built into the new Tensor chip, which suggests the company won’t port the features back to older models.

Despite that limitation, Android Police has found a way to get the new Magic Eraser feature onto other Pixel phones. In short, it involves installing a Google Photos APK file from a Pixel 6 device — APK files, for those not familiar with them, are the application files for Android apps.

How to get Magic Eraser on an older Pixel

We’ve included the instructions below on how to install the APK file and gain access to Magic Eraser, but before you rush into it, I’d advise that anyone not comfortable with installing APK files from third-party sources (or anyone not comfortable troubleshooting problems if something goes wrong) should not do this. Also, you’ll need to be running Android 12 for this to work.

With that said, let’s get into it:

  1. First, you’ll need the ‘Split APKs Installer’ (SAI) app from the Play Store — this app helps install multiple pieces of an APK file, which will be necessary for getting Magic Eraser working on an older Pixel. You’ll also need to download a zipped file with the necessary files from the Android Police website to your smartphone (other Google Photos APK files might not work).
  2. With everything downloaded, open SAI and tap ‘Install APKs.’
  3. Select ‘System file picker’ and grant permission for SAI to access files on your device.
  4. Select the ‘.zip’ file you downloaded from Android Police.
  5. You should see a list of APK pieces, including the base APK and configuration resources — tap ‘Install’ at the bottom.
  6. Next, you’ll see a pop-up asking you to grant SAI permission to install unknown apps. Tap ‘Settings’ and enable permission.
  7. Finally, you’ll see a pop-up asking if you want to update Photos. Tap ‘Update.’

Magic Eraser should work fine on most Pixel phones

Once that’s done, you can open Google Photos and start messing around with Magic Eraser. You’ll be able to find it by selecting an image > Edt > Tools > Magic Eraser. Android Police reported it works fine on the Pixel 5, 5a, 4 XL and 4a. I gave it a try on my Pixel 3 and it also worked fine, although the app crashed the first time I tried to use it (after that, I had no issues).

One final caveat worth considering is that while Magic Eraser is fairly easy to get now, that could change in the future. Android Police warns that a future Photos update could break or remove the functionality. But for now, if you want you can download it and try it out.

Source: Android Police

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Looks like Google will partner with uBreakiFix for Pixel 6/6 Pro repair

Now that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are officially available and pre-orders are starting to arrive, people have the phones. And that means there’s a risk someone will drop their new phone and break it (especially since the phones have glass on the front and back this time around).

If you are unlucky enough to break your Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, it looks like Google is once again partnering with uBreakiFix (which is in the process of rebranding to Asurion Tech Repair and Solutions) for same-day repairs. Google did this before with Pixel phones in Canada. 9to5Google reports uBreakiFix will handle same-day repairs for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in the U.S.

MobileSyrup has reached out to Google to confirm the same for Canada and will update this post with any additional information.

One of the benefits of going to a Google repair partner like uBreakiFix is that you know the company will use OEM parts, tools and training for the repair. That should bring a little peace of mind to the repair process.

Even if you don’t have the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, uBreakiFix’s website says it’s “Google authorized” and lists repair capabilities for Google phones including the entire Pixel lineup along with several Nexus phones (even the Nexus S, interestingly). The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro aren’t currently listed on the website, but that might change given how new the phones are. Also, the site humorously lists the Pixel 5a even though it’s not officially available in Canada.

Source: 9to5Google, uBreakiFix

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Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro release today, but good luck getting one

Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are the company’s newest and probably most anticipated flagships and because of that, the company seems to be struggling to keep up.

In the U.S. the Google Store put out a notice today saying that the Pixel 6 Pro may be out of stock or have long delivery times, according to 9to5Google. 

Canada, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have the same notice; however, when you’re buying a Pixel you’ll notice that delivery times aren’t anywhere close to now.

With the ‘Stormy Black’ Pixel 6 Google’s delivery time says November 23rd, which is almost a month out. Some of the other Pixel 6 models are just plain sold out, such as the Pixel 6 128GB in ‘Sorta Seafoam,’ or the ‘Kinda Coral’ model. The 256GB ‘Sorta Seafoam’ model seems to be the best bet as it’s starting to ship on November 8th.

The Pixel 6 Pros are another matter entirely. It. seems the earliest you can get a Pixel 6 Pro is December 14th for the ‘Cloudy White’ model. The 128GB ‘Stormy Black’ won’t ship out until December 30th and the ‘Sorta Sunny’ Pixel 6 Pro has a January 18th shipping date. Additionally, the 256GB ‘Stormy Black’ 6 Pro is just completely sold out.

It seems that the Pixel 6 is easier to get at Best Buy, though the device is sold out at stores, you can purchase it online. Further, the Pixel 6 Pro are all sold out it would appear.

It’s likely carriers will have similar stock issues. You can check out the Canadian carrier availability list, here.

Unless you pre-ordered a Pixel 6 series device it’s unlikely you’ll be getting any soon. Currently, MobileSyrup has a contest where you can win the chance to get the Pixel 6, if you weren’t lucky enough to obtain a pre-order.

To learn more about the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, check out our reviews of the devices.

Source: 9to5Google