Google just paid me $13 to upgrade my Pixel 8 Pro to a 9 Pro
There's never been a better time to buy a Pixel 9 than right now. Between all the freebies, credits, and bonuses floating around, you can cobble together one hell of a deal. And if you play your cards right, you can effectively get a new phone for cheaper than free.I bought a Pixel 9 Pro on launch day, but my wife decided she'd wait for a good deal before upgrading. That purchase came with a free year of Google One AI Premium, which itself comes with 10% back in credits for all Google Store purchases.Then last week, Google started an enhanced trade-in deal, bringing the value of my wife's old Pixel 8 Pro up to $700. We debated jumping on it then, but I'm happy we dragged our feet, because another deal was spotted yesterday (full details at the link to the right): If you have enough Google Play Points from app and game purchases, you can get an extra 30% off any Pixel 9 device right now.With the Google Play Points coupon applied, the Pixel 9 Pro's price cratered to $700. Subtract
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-play-points-members-can-get-30-off-pixel-9-series/
Dallas Thomas
26
29
If you could only have one would you choose telephoto or ultrawide?
Let's imagine for a second that you can only choose one type of secondary camera lens for your phone. The choices are either a telephoto lens or an ultrawide lens; you can't have both. Which do you choose?For me, I'd go with telephoto, as I have pets and enjoy taking pictures of them from a distance so that I can capture their excitement without interrupting their fun. Of course, ultrawide is handy if you enjoy taking images of landscapes and the like. So it's a tough call all around. Still, you can only choose one, so which will it be? Hit the comments to let us know, as I have a feeling one will be more popular than the other.
Matthew Sholtz
12
12
What do you want to know about the Google TV Streamer?
Google's released a boatload of new products this summer, including four phones, two watches, and a smart thermostat. But we've still got more look forward to. The Google TV Streamer, heir apparent to the Chromecast legacy, is set to hit store shelves next week. Judging by what we know about the $100 set-top box so far, it's essentially a souped up Chromecast with Google TV, featuring updated hardware and a new form factor, more storage space, and a built-in Thread radio for smart home hub functionality.But with the release date less than a week away, we wanted to ask: what do you want to know about the Google TV Streamer? Drop your questions in the comments here, and we'll do our best to answer them over the coming weeks.
Taylor Kerns
37
41
Now that Google canceled the Pixel Tablet 2, will you ever buy a tablet from Google again?
I've lost count of how many times Google has supposedly quit making tablets. I know it quit making Android tablets after the Nexus 9. But we did get the Pixel C and Pixel Slate. After the Pixel Slate, Google announced it would not be making more tablets, instead it would concentrate on laptops. But we eventually got the Pixel Tablet, which launched overpriced with an unnecessary dock. And now that the Pixel Tablet hasn't sold well (surprise, surprise), Google is supposedly canceling the follow-up. Despite many years of making tablets over the last two decades, Google apparently can't find any success with them, and tends to exist the market swiftly when sales tank. At this point, it will be very hard for me to take Google seriously if it ever plans to release a tablet again, be it ChromeOS or Android.But what about you? Are you sick of Google repeatedly giving up on tablets, or are you somehow willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt the next time it decides tablets are t
Matthew Sholtz
14
14
My Pixel camera visor is worse for wear, what about yours?
The Google Pixel camera visor has become a staple of Google’s design language since the Pixel 6. Unfortunately, it has some durability issues. Such a large, flat surface housing the cameras makes it susceptible to micro scratches, which can cause unsightly blemishes and potentially cloudy photos.In addition, whatever materials Google uses to construct the visor show wear within days. My Pixel 8 Pro’s visor looked like I ran it through my dryer after only two or three days in my pocket, and that was with being careful. I don’t abuse my phones, but that doesn’t matter. Drop a photo of your battered Pixel visor if you’re similarly frustrated with Google's lack of build quality and how it makes your shiny new phone look beat up in the first days of ownership.
What do you want to know about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold?
Our reviews of the Pixel 9 trio might be live, but we're far from done with talking about new Google hardware. Next up, we're focusing our attention on Google's second-gen foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. New name, new design, same overwhelming focus on AI that wound up receiving some mixed feelings from all three of our previous Pixel 9 reviews. We'll have plenty more to say about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in the weeks to come — including a full review — but in the meantime, let us know what you're most curious about, and we'll be sure to address it just as soon as we can say more.
Will Sattelberg
14
14
What do you want to know about the Pixel Watch 3?
We've had ample time with Google's latest Pixel phones, and the general consensus here at AP is that they're all quite good, but Google hardware season isn't over yet. Personally, I'm pretty excited about the Pixel Watch 3, which is set to hit store shelves next week. It's the first Pixel Watch to come in two sizes (the 41mm we're used to and a new, larger 45mm variant), and both sizes feature brighter displays with slimmer bezels than previous generations. So far, it's looking like Google's newest wearable is going to tick a lot of our boxes.We'll be writing all about it in the coming weeks and months, but I wanted to ask: what do you want to know about the Pixel Watch 3? Drop your questions in the comments and we'll start answering them as soon as we're able.
Taylor Kerns
15
15
ICYMI: Verizon just got slightly more expensive
You know how your carrier bill has a bunch of hidden fees, like "administrative" costs? Well, Verizon just raised a few (read more by clicking through), which means subscribers will suddenly need to pay more. Personally, I find it annoying enough that hidden fees exist in the first place, but their random raising sure doesn't warm me up to their existence. What about you? Did you know Verizon just upped a few fees? Even if you didn't, now that you do know, how do you feel about it?
https://www.androidpolice.com/verizons-hidden-fee-just-went-up-without-anyone-noticing/
Matthew Sholtz
What is your least favorite smartphone you've owned?
Out of every smartphone you've ever owned, which is the one that stands above the rest as the worst? For me, that would be the Pixel 4. That forehead was ridiculous, and the reason it existed was for movement tracking that never really amounted to much beyond waving to change tracks in a music app. While the Soli Radar lives on in the newest Nest Learning Thermostat, boy, was that hardware useless in a smartphone. I quickly moved on to something else.But what about you? What stands out in your memory as the worst smartphone you've owned? Hit the comments to let us know; perhaps the same devices will come up again and again. Let's see.
Matthew Sholtz
12
12
When is the last time you used a Chromebook?
Google used to push Chromebooks pretty hard, but nowadays, without any Pixelbooks in the mix, it feels like interest has died down. Sure, schools still use them, and I'm sure there are corporations that hand them out to their workforce. But at the end of the day, you have to wonder what the consumer side looks like when there isn't much to get excited about anymore. Sure, Chromebook Plus is here to signify the higher-end models, but dose anyone actually care that their Chromebook came with free AI features? Can you even name any that come with Chromebooks? More or less, Chromebooks feel stale, which has me wondering how many readers out there are using them day to day.So, when was the last time you used a Chromebook, and what were you using it for? Let's see if these devices are still popular with the Android crowd.
Matthew Sholtz
81
84
What type of case do you normally buy when upgrading to a new phone?
I, for one, usually run my phones free of cases, but after a recent drop that obliterated my Redmagic 9s Pro, I decided to pick up a Pixel 9 as a replacement. With that new purchase came a strong sense that I should probably splurge on a case this time around. So I went all out. I wanted something that looked good, made of leather, so a Bellroy case is what I purchased. It wasn't cheap, but I'm pretty happy with it, so feel my money was spent well.But what about you? What kind of case do you normally go for when you purchase a new phone? What's your go-to? Is it leather, plastic, rubber, colorful, muted, expensive, or cheap?
Matthew Sholtz
18
19
Do you plan to buy Google's new USB-C to HDMI cable for your Pixel?
Did you know the latest Pixel 9s support video out over USB? Neither did I, but not that I know I am eager to get my hands on Google's USB-C to HDMI cable so I can output video from my phone. As a matter of fact, the cable come from Cable Matters, and is also available on Amazon for less than Google's pricing, which looks to be the place to snag one (read more about this in the linked coverage).So here comes the big question. Have you ever needed to output video from your phone to the point you'll go out of your way to buy a USB-C to HDMI cable? Hit the comments to let us know, as I can confidently say I'll be ordering one shortly. After all, you may not need to output video from your phone frequently, but the one time you need to, it sure would be handy to have a cable on hand to do so.
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-launches-usb-c-to-hdmi-cable-pixel/
Matthew Sholtz
47
55
What was your first phone?
Everyone remembers their first phone. It's the first time you can call your friends from wherever you are, take pics on the go, and play Angry Birds (depending on your era). What was your first phone and what do you remember about it? Do you remember it fondly? Share your memories about your first cellular experience!
Stephen Barton
24
24
What dealbreakers are still keeping you from switching to iOS?
Now that Apple is starting to offer more and more of the features that made Android unique, like the recent addition of RCS messaging, it's getting harder and harder to tell the two systems apart. Where using one operating system over another is becoming less about features and more about looks and branding. Still, there are some areas where Android excels and others where iOS comes out on top. For me, I choose Android because it is still more open than iOS, allowing me to easily sideload whatever I want, and I can even dip into ADB if I really need to change something, like remove a default app. I've used iOS plenty, but overall, it just feels locked down, and most workarounds often cost money.But what about you, what is the major dealbreaker that holds you back from mainlining iOS? Hit the comments to let us know.
Matthew Sholtz
16
18
What do you want us to focus on in our upcoming Pixel 9 reviews?
This week has been an absolute whirlwind. After flying across the country to experience Made By Google in-person, I'm back home and ready to hunker down for the incoming storm that is the Pixel review period. With the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL set to launch in just a week — and with the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold following soon after — we want to know what you want our reviewers to focus on by leaving a comment on this very post.Our Pixel reviews tend to be some of the longest on the site — and considering I tend to write long reviews as it is, that's saying something. Google's focus on rolling out countless new software features can make it a real challenge to hit every change in-depth, though I'm always aiming to make sure our readers are as familiar with the experience as possible before they decide to upgrade. After all, the best reviews can help make up your mind for you.Whether you're curious about Gemini
Will Sattelberg
11
13
Will you buy a Google TV Streamer remote for your Chromecast?
We recently learned that the new Google TV Streamer remote works with older Chromecasts (read more about this in the linked article). So now that it is clear the new remote will work with older 4th gen devices, do you plan on picking up a replacement for your aging Chromecast? Sure, the Chromecast 4K and HD came with a remote, but perhaps it stopped working or is showing its age.But this got me thinking: how many Chromecast owners actually want a replacement remote? So, hit the comments to let us know if you are planning to purchase the Google TV Streamer remote for your 4th gen Chromecast.
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-tv-streamer-voice-remote-works-with-older-chromecasts/
Matthew Sholtz
26
32
Do you care your Pixel 6 won't get more version updates?
The Pixel 6 made it to Android 15 with its promised three years of Android version update support. But now that it has hit the end of the road when it comes to new Android versions, will you miss receiving these updates? You'll still get security updates, which means the phone will be plenty useable for the foreseeable future, but Android 15 is still the last stop when it comes to versions.Sound off in the comments below what you think of this end of support. Thankfully, the Pixel 7 and beyond offer seven years of support, so we have some time before the Pixel 7 meets the same fate as the 6.
Matthew Sholtz
17
19
Do you use a third-party launcher on your Pixel?
Recently, we discovered a survey that revealed Google Pixel Phones have issues with third-party launchers, which sure lines up with my experience, where swipe navigation still suffers for some reason. Basically, if you are going to use a custom launcher, a Pixel Phone isn't a great choice. This is why I stick with the stock launcher on my Pixel and why many more Android users will recommend the same. That's not to say it's impossible to use a third-party launcher on your Pixel; it's just not always the best experience.So, do you use a third-party launcher on your Pixel, or do you prefer stock like me? Hit the comments to share and we'll see what everyone is using.
Matthew Sholtz
25
25
Do you plan to purchase the OnePlus 13?
It would appear the OnePlus 13 will be going global, which means anyone who wants one should be able to get their hands on the smartphone. So, now that we know this, are you planning on getting one? OnePlus has made a name for itself, making quality phones at acceptable prices, and since we can expect top specs like a Snapdragon Elite and a 6,00mAh battery with the OP 13, it'll likely be challenging to find a more competitive phone. So hit the comments if you plan on splashing out; I know I'm considering it.
Matthew Sholtz
24
27
Pixel owners, why do you choose Google over other brands?
I only recently switched to a Pixel 9, and I have to say I love the experience. Android feels more polished, the user experience more cohesive, and I appreciate that. But Pixel's don't always have the best reputation, with bugs and other issues typically cropping up after release. But this year seems different, partly because Google has held Android 15 back, which means Pixel 9 users are on a more stable and tested system, at least for the time being. This has certainly worked in Google's favor, but for some, I'm sure the reputation remains lacking.So, I have a question for all you Pixel users out there. Why did you choose to buy a Pixel over any of the other OEMs? Is it brand loyalty, do you simply prefer the experience Google offers, or is there another factor why you choose Pixel over the competition?
Matthew Sholtz
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