The AC editors have a Pixel and Pixel XL — ask us about them!

[Ry]

I've forgotten that Allo exists, tbh. Nobody I know is using it, and even the folks at AC aren't using it. That's going to take a long time to catch on, if at all.

Is Allo the only way you can have a conversation with Google Assistant without using your voice?

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

Is Allo the only way you can have a conversation with Google Assistant without using your voice?

I can answer that one. The answer is yes. You can't type anything to Google Assistant when you hold down the home button. It was a complaint in at least one review.

 

[craigrn16]

Being that it only has bottom firing speakers, how are the speakers in loudness and sound quality?

 

[mhw100]

How is the screen brightness compared to the n7 or n7e?

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

How is audio performance? Both from the speakers and through the headphone jack. Does it use a beefier amp?

And any chance that you can use Manual Camera and see whether the camera supports the full range of shutter-speed and ISO options? I'm a shutterbug, so I'm curious in knowing if the Pixel allows third-party camera apps the full-range of controls from the Camera2 API.

 

[Clocks]

Does HD Voice, Wifi Calling, and simultaneous voice+data work on an unlocked Pixel used on Verizon?

(why does no one bother to check this?)

 

[taraji]

Hi,
I'm a bit anal and like no icons on my home screen/clean screen. Can the icons and dock be removed or moved to a different screen?

 

[Wiley_11]

Hi,
I'm a bit anal and like no icons on my home screen/clean screen. Can the icons and dock be removed or moved to a different screen?

I'm interested in this too.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

How does the Pixel XL compare to the HTC One M8 in terms of size, pocketability, comfort in the hand, ease of one-handed use, etc.? Afraid of the jump in screen size from 5" to 5.5".

Whoa, an M8? I'll have to dig that one out and get back to you. I know what you mean because the M8 had really large bezels and was a much bigger phone than the screen size would lead you to believe.

Also, is the Google Assistant able to be disabled, like any other shortcut attached to the home button? And the Google tab?

You can turn off Assistant altogether if you wish, but IDK why you would. You can't reassign the home button to anything else.

The Google "tab" on the home screen can't be turned off. You can just switch launchers, though.

Is Allo the only way you can have a conversation with Google Assistant without using your voice?

Yes. And the two aren't linked.

Being that it only has bottom firing speakers, how are the speakers in loudness and sound quality?

The speaker is maybe a step or two above average. It gets quite loud, and doesn't distort much at high volumes, but it isn't going to blow you away or fill a room with music. It passed my test of being loud enough to listen to a podcast sitting on the bathroom counter while I took a shower, but it isn't BoomSound.

How is the screen brightness compared to the n7 or n7e?

Pretty darn close to the Note 7, tbh. I'll be doing a full comparison to the Galaxy S7 edge soon.

How is audio performance? Both from the speakers and through the headphone jack. Does it use a beefier amp?

Daniel can speak more to this as he's a fancy pants audio guy, but I think it sounds good through the headphone jack. I've been trying to do more listening through Bluetooth lately, but the times I had headphones in sounded just fine to my ears!

Some people were asking if headphone volume was really low because they had heard about that issue ... I have to say that isn't the case at all.

And any chance that you can use Manual Camera and see whether the camera supports the full range of shutter-speed and ISO options? I'm a shutterbug, so I'm curious in knowing if the Pixel allows third-party camera apps the full-range of controls from the Camera2 API.

I'm going to assume it offers the same number of manual controls as the Nexus 6P does. The apps may have to update to a new version of the camera API though.

Does HD Voice, Wifi Calling, and simultaneous voice+data work on an unlocked Pixel used on Verizon?

When you put a Verizon SIM in the unlocked model, as I have done here, you get a toggle to turn on Wi-Fi calling (you have to go through the E-911 setup process) and one level deeper in the network settings you get a toggle for "Advanced calling features" which enables VoLTE and HD Voice.

(why does no one bother to check this?)

I actually have indeed bothered to check this, and reported in several places that it works

Hi,
I'm a bit anal and like no icons on my home screen/clean screen. Can the icons and dock be removed or moved to a different screen?

NO ICONS??? How do you live.

Yes, you can remove the icons from the "dock" portion of the home screen. You'll then just be swiping up on that blank area to open the app drawer.

 

[Clocks]

I actually have indeed bothered to check this, and reported in several places that it works .

Thanks! I hadn't seen anything 'official' since the blog post stating you lose HD voice if you buy unlocked.

 

[qfnol31]

How is the BT on the phone? Does it cut out as easily as Nexus devices are prone to do? I think I remember that in a recent Podcast the issue of matching Bluetooth came up. Any issues with BT devices?

I use a BT headset to listen to podcasts as I mow and BT in the car as I drive to Baltimore. The car has been fine, but occasionally the 6P will have trouble with my headset as it rests in my back pocket.

 

[JusticeCalibur]

i know my brother's nexus 6p works in my android auto vehicle. Does pixel work flawlessly with it? i figure it should work flawlessly since its a google phone. unlike the oneplus one that is always disconnecting

 

[Wiley_11]

How's the Call/Data/WiFi/GPS/Bluetooth reception?

 

[rockdrummersrock]

The Pixels have Google's "Ambient Display," which is clearly inspired by Moto's similar feature but isn't as fully-featured as that version. The Ambient Display lights up gently when notifications arrive, and pulses now and then, but doesn't instantly wake up with a hand wave or movement like Moto.

That should work I guess. Android Wear Watch to the rescue! Thanks for answering all these questions!

 

[Kayza]

I don't care about being able to throw a phone into a pool, or anything like that. But, I do want to know if I need to worry about using my phone in the rain, or being on the table when someone knocks over a cup of water.

Any experience with that?

 

[Kayza]

I tend to put my phone is a good case, which adds bulk. So, how slim is this phone. I can look at the specs, of course, but it's hard to get a sense of what happens when you get the case on. My Galaxy s3 wasn't, to the eye, THAT much thicker than my S6, but once you put the case (otterbox defender) you could see the difference very easily.

 

[mtucker]

Wifi hotspot: Does the Pixel let you turn on the wifi hotspot (1 with a Verizon bought phone, 2 with a Google bought phone)? I know some variants of the N6 would check the SIM card to see what carrier you were on and if you had permission. Other phones (N5) turned on wifi hotspot without restrictions.

 

[Daniel Bader]

With SMS/MMS and Allo separate, how cohesive is the experience?

(Or do you just forget Allo exists?)

I just forget that Allo exists; haven't used it since day two.

I tend to put my phone is a good case, which adds bulk. So, how slim is this phone. I can look at the specs, of course, but it's hard to get a sense of what happens when you get the case on. My Galaxy s3 wasn't, to the eye, THAT much thicker than my S6, but once you put the case (otterbox defender) you could see the difference very easily.

It's pretty chunky, especially up top. You're probably going to notice a big case like a Defender on any phone, even the thinnest one, but you may also be turned off by the thickness with a Commuter or equivalent.

I don't care about being able to throw a phone into a pool, or anything like that. But, I do want to know if I need to worry about using my phone in the rain, or being on the table when someone knocks over a cup of water.

Any experience with that?

It's IP53 certified, which means it should be fine for the occasional splash of water or getting stuck in the rain. It just can't be under a sustained amount of water for too long.

 

[Kayza]

So how sturdy is the phone? The Galaxy S6 is "premium" - and it's true that the construction feels far sturdier than the flimsy plastic of the s3 I had before it. But after about two weeks of use I saw scratches on the back. And I constantly worried about a drop. If it scratches that easily, it seems more likely that it will shatter in a fall. Hence, the Defender. How paranoid would it be to use that on this phone?

 

[elkriver]

Have you tried FM via the Nextradio app? I've read that it both does and does not have FM.