What's the one inch hole in the top of my cases for?

[diesel97]

Not needed! I have the Google pixel Bellroy leather case. No cutout no problem! My GP7P gets great cellular reception and that was definitely an Achilles heel with my GP6P! Where you can tell that the cellular signal has improved dramatically on the GP7P is under battery usage for mobile networks in settings. On my GP6P the usage was always at 20% or higher. The GP7P is always under 10% and mostly sits at about 7%. I never saw that with my GP6P.

From what I understand it is for the WWwave reception.

 

[Beachboy63]

The 2 I bought from Amazon didn't have the MMwaze cutout, probably 20 other ones I have looked at on Amazon don't have it either. I think I have 3 out of 10 in my cart that have the cutout.

I've purchased 3 cases for my P7P and none of them have the cutout. I have the Casemate clear from Google, which I don't like and am returning, the Spigen Ultra Hybrid, which I do like, and a fake leather case from Binceen, which I also like.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Chex313]

No cutout on mine and zero cellular issues on T-Mo. Battery life to me seems fine...By the time I hit 40% its 11 Pm and I am sitting by a charger. By the time I go to to sleep 30 minutes later its in the 90's. Rinse and repeat.

 

[PaulQ]

I also wonder if this might be part of the reason some Pixel 6 Pro users noted worse battery life than others, especially when 5G was turned on. I can imagine a situation where a person with a Verizon or AT&T variant of the Pixel 6 Pro was using a case without any kind of cutout at the top (the mmWave antenna for this phone spans the entire top edge of the phone). If 5G was turned on, and if the case were impeding mmWave reception, then maybe that would increase battery use as the phone worked to boost the signal. Of course, if the same degree of battery drain were still happening without a case, then that theory would go out the window.

Interesting.

I still have my P6P cases. None of the five of them have a cutout.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember AT&T doesn't let you turn off 5G on the 6. I don't see how on the 7 either...? I see where I can toggle 2G on/off.

 

[diesel97]

No cutout on mine and zero cellular issues on T-Mo. Battery life to me seems fine...By the time I hit 40% its 11 Pm and I am sitting by a charger. By the time I go to to sleep 30 minutes later its in the 90's. Rinse and repeat.

It's for the MMwave only I think

 

[J Dubbs]

I've purchased 3 cases for my P7P and none of them have the cutout. I have the Casemate clear from Google, which I don't like and am returning, the Spigen Ultra Hybrid, which I do like, and a fake leather case from Binceen, which I also like.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using AC Forums mobile app

You make a good point, if Google's own cases don't come with a cut out I'd assume one isn't needed?

 

[diesel97]

You make a good point, if Google's own cases don't come with a cut out I'd assume one isn't needed?

Why would the other cases have it? Extra money for them in the manufacturing process I would guess. Google doesn't design these cases they just sell the name rights to the highest bidder that fits their needs (leather, clear, etc)

 

[B. Diddy]

Interesting.

I still have my P6P cases. None of the five of them have a cutout.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember AT&T doesn't let you turn off 5G on the 6. I don't see how on the 7 either...? I see where I can toggle 2G on/off.

You're probably right about AT&T not letting the user turn off 5G. I'm on T-Mobile with an unlocked 6 Pro, so I can choose to be on 4G only.