Has The Pixel 6 Finally Solved Google’s Recurring Pixel Problem?

Google’s Pixel 6 has arrived to a lot of excitement and for good reason, the new flagship looks like the high-specification phone Pixel fans have been waiting for. But for those with long memories, they will know that almost every Pixel phone has launched with a device-defining issue. It’s one of the reasons why you should wait before buying. 

There’s an embargo on full reviews that lifts on October 25th and reviewers have had the phone for a week or two (stay tuned for my thoughts after the device goes on general sale). What I’m hearing from colleagues and others reviewing the device is positive so far, but it is early days and the Pixel curse may take some time to announce itself. Previous issues, like the Pixel 5’s screen gap, didn’t become apparent until a few weeks after the device officially launched and started landing in the hands of consumers.

Google has a bad track record when it comes to phone and earbud launches, with much of its tech struggling with at least one major issue after it was released. For the uninitiated, here is a breakdown of every Pixel issue since 2016.

Pixel 5 - screen gap

Google’s budget 2020 handset received hundreds of complaints from users about a gap between the screen and the body, which raised concerns about the phone’s IP rating. Check out my video about it below, but some of the examples were extreme and collected dust according to affected users.

One of the main threads on Google’s support forums reached 1000 upvotes and tens of users contacted me directly about the problem. Google ultimately said it wasn’t an issue, but a repair expert I spoke with said “being able to separate the display with a fingernail should never be part of any design choice”. He followed up by pointing out that because the gap only appears on some devices, it isn’t intentional - rather it’s likely a manufacturing flaw. 

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Pixel 5a - overheating

Users on Reddit and reviewers at Android Central discovered that the 5a ran hot during some processes. Android Police reported overheating when using the camera, both for videos and still images, which resulted in the camera app shutting down. Pixel 5 owners on Reddit also found the phone got unusually hot during regular tasks like using Google Maps. Google said at the time that it was looking into the issue, but a support thread has yet to be updated. 

Pixel 4XL - battery life

The Pixel 4XL had unusually bad battery life. In my long-term review I noted that I had to charge the device twice a day, or it would be close to dead by 7PM. I wasn’t the only one unhappy with the phone’s lasting power, Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, reportedly wasn’t happy about the Pixel 4’s battery life either. Google eventually offered a one-year extended warranty program for owners of the Pixel 4 if their device was experiencing excessive battery drain, or other power-related issues. 

Pixel 3 - memory management

The Pixel 3XL had serious memory management issues. Apps would restart if too many were open at once and the device suffered from poor performance in general, with the camera app being particularly slow. Google eventually released some updates to solve overly aggressive app management. 

Pixel 2 - blue tinted display

Google’s highly anticipated follow up the original Pixel suffered from poor viewing angles and a distinct blue tinted display, which was very clear on my review unit. There were also issues of screen burn-in, where a faded imprint of a previous activity on the display can be seen. Google defended its P-OLED display, arguing that the blue-tint complaints were because “some people prefer more saturated colors” and that the screen burn-in was in-line with other OLED smartphones. To rectify both the company released updates to offer more display colour options and a fix for screen burn-in. Similar to the Pixel 4 the company also offered a two-year worldwide warranty. 

Pixel Buds 1 & 2  

Google’s original Pixel Buds suffered from an overly sensitive capacitive area, which resulted in frequent unintentional touches. They also struggled with connecting to phones right out of the box, which several reviewers noted. After a disastrous outing Google didn’t try making earbuds again for three years, releasing the revamped Pixel Buds in 2020. But the updated earbuds had serious connectivity issues, with hundreds of owners complaining about persistent audio drop outs. Google eventually released stability updates that fixed issues for some, but not all. Check out my coverage here, which includes an interview with a product manager at Google about the Pixel Buds connectivity issues. 

Google’s poor track record with launches doesn’t necessarily mean history will repeat itself, the company has also released devices - like the Nest Hub Max, Nest cameras and the inaugural Pixel phone- without any major issues. But it might be wise to wait until the device has been user-tested by real-world users on a large scale before you buy. It’s also smart to wait until Black Friday to pick up the latest Android or Samsung phones, which are typically discounted heavily during the holiday shopping period.