cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/56379851

TL;DR

• Google has started rolling out a new GPU driver for the Pixel 10 series with Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1.
• The update aligns with Imagination’s August driver release and brings Android 16 and Vulkan 1.4 support.
• While real-world performance gains remain unconfirmed, the update should reach stable builds in a future Pixel Drop

cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/55764543

TL;DR

• Google has kicked off a new Extended Repair Program for the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL.
• The program covers a limited number of Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL devices with vertical lines on the display or a screen flickering problem.
• Google is offering free display replacements for these phones for up to three years from the original retail purchase date.

Google just announced some unexpected and welcome news: Pixel 10 owners can now send and receive files with Apple devices over AirDrop. And equally interestingly, the company engineered this interoperability without Apple’s involvement. Google says it works with iPhone, iPad, and macOS devices, and applies to the entire Pixel 10 series. While limited to Google’s latest phones for now, Google spokesperson Alex Moriconi says, “We’re bringing this new experience to Pixel 10 first before expanding to other devices.”

In order to send a file from a Pixel 10 phone over AirDrop, the owner of the Apple device will need to change their settings to make their device discoverable to anyone — there’s an option to do this with an automatic limit of 10 minutes. Then, the Pixel 10 owner should be able to see the device using Quick Share and send it. On the other side, it seems that it’ll look just like any other AirDrop request that the user can approve to start the transfer.

Android Version: 16 (BP41.250916.015.A1)

Since the most recent November android beta update, my phone has been removing widgets that I've been using consistently to access Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Kagi search. Has anyone else in the community been having a similar experience? My gut sensation is that this is intentional behavior to push Gemini usage.

It bothers me that it feels like control over my behavior is being exerted on my device (similar to Windows), but I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid about it.

Thanks!

A Chromium engineer at Google posted the initial Device Tree (DT) files for being able to boot their latest-generation Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL devices with the mainline Linux kernel.

Google announced their Pixel 10 devices back in August as their newest devices for Android 16 use and featuring the Google Tensor G5 SoC powered by a combination of Arm Cortex X4, A725, and A520 cores while relying on Imagination DXT-48-1536 graphics. Outside the confines of Google's Android, out today is the initial Device Trees for being able to boo the Google Pixel 10 / Pixel 10 Pro / Pixel 10 Pro XL devices with these patches proposed for the mainline Linux kernel.

TL; DR

Basically pixel 6 series has not received an update for the past two months. The pixel 7 series missed out on this months update. If the Pixel 7 series does not get an update this month. Update strategy could be changing for older Pixel phones.

Expect quarterly updates for older Pixel phones. Based on number and timeline of updates being made available for older pixels.

The Pixel 6 series has not received an update in 2 months straight while missing 3 out of 5 months – the Pixel 7 series has (so far) only been left out in the most recent November update. Both should still be supported through 2026, 2027, and beyond, we’re just starting to question what the cadence for updates will be going forward. I bring this up because folks who own these devices are likely wondering where their updates are after seeing the November update drop today

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro update timeline, current build: The current Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro update you should be on is BP3A.250905.014.

June 2025 update: Received on June 10 as the first stable Android 16 build (BP2A.250605.031.A2) July 2025 update: Did not receive a July update August 2025 update: Did not receive an August update – received another June build in August (BP2A.250605.031.A5) September 2025 update: Received on September 3 as QPR1 and build (BP3A.250905.014) October 2025 update: Did not receive October update November 2025 update: Did not receive November update

NOTE: It’s really looking like Google has shifted the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to a quarterly update schedule. All Pixel 6 devices are currently scheduled to receive Android 16 QPR2, which will go stable in December.

If the Google Phone app’s speakerphone toggle has seemed buggy lately, you’re not alone. Pixel 9 owners have been reporting problems with the button for the past few months, and now the issue appears to be affecting Pixel 10 devices as well. Unfortunately, it appears that Google has no intention of taking action.