Pixel 5 teardown video reveals the internals of Google’s flagship phone

The Google Pixel 5 is now available across the world, giving people plenty of time to see what the device is all about. While there are more than enough reviews out there, what really caught our attention is a new teardown video from YouTuber PBKreviews.

Right out of the gate, PBKreviews addresses reports about there being a gap between the Pixel 5’s display and body. Apparently, some owners have noticed that the display doesn’t sit flush with the chassis — and the issue doesn’t appear to be isolated to one color or storage size, which is very concerning.

However, PBKreviews attempts to allay those fears by explaining that even if your display is a little raised, it should still be protected from water and dust damage. The display uses a ton of adhesive and there are also little latches around the frame, making it difficult for stuff to get in. Having a raised display on your brand new phone isn’t ideal, but you can seemingly rest easy based on the video’s findings.

The video goes on to provide insight into other engineering decisions in the Pixel 5. Early on, we find that Google’s device was unable to fit a standard earpiece speaker inside the device, and instead used a module that produces sound by vibrating the display panel.

Google Pixel 5 Forums

We also get a look at the circular haptic motor, which doesn’t produce effects that are quite as premium as we’ve seen in other phones. If you have the desire to take apart the Pixel 5 yourself, or perhaps you want to fix something yourself, the video from PBKreviews is a good template for getting past all the screws, cables, and adhesive hiding inside Google’s latest device.

As for the larger problem plaguing the Pixel 5’s display gap, it doesn’t seem as bad as things might first appear, but better to ere on the side of caution. Better yet, you might consider contacting Google to see if you can get a replacement.

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Google supported calls from smart speakers to be axed in the UK

If you like to make Google supported calls from your smart speaker or smart display, and you live in the UK, we have some bad news: Google is pulling the feature before the New Year.

On its support page (via AndroidPolice), Google has quietly updated its policies, saying the feature is set to go away by mid-December.

Starting in mid-December 2020, if you’re in the UK, you won’t be able to make Google supported calls on your speaker or display. You’ll still be able to make audio or video calls through Duo.

The feature allowed users to pair an unlisted number or phone number (for caller ID) to their Assistant device. Users in the UK could then ring other folks in the UK at no extra cost. Users in the U.S. and Canada can do the same thing, allowing them to make regional calls over a speaker or display.

The change will limit how Google users in the UK can communicate over smart speakers and smart displays. Here in the U.S., in addition to making free calls, we can link a Google Voice or Google Fi number to a smart speaker or smart display and make calls to any number at carrier rates. Without the free call option, UK residents will have Duo as their only option.

There’s no exact date for when the feature will disappear, just a general timeline of mid-December. That’s unfortunate because it likely means you won’t be able to make Google-supported calls during the holidays — a time when you’d expect a lot more smart speakers and smart displays to flood the market.

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New Google Assistant’s keyboard dictation is starting to roll out for some

Last year, Google detailed a new Google Assistant, which included an improved keyboard dictation feature that promised to offer a more advanced way to communicate with your voice. After the feature showed up in app teardowns, it finally looks like a stable version is ready for the public.

XDA Recognized Developer argraur sent us a tip that their stock Pixel 4a running the October 2020 security patch has just received the Google Assistant’s keyboard dictation feature, which when enabled, provides a new UI for voice dictation in the Gboard app.

Here’s a video of the new feature, which promises to offer faster voice typing, enhanced voice typing, and auto punctuation.

We actually got the Assistant-powered dictation feature running on a Pixel 4 at the beginning of last month. It’s a much more seamless and powerful experience compared to the built-in keyboard dictation that was previously available. In addition to being able to dictate text, users can also send messages by saying send or delete. When the feature rolls out to your device, you should see a toggle, highlighted in the below screenshot:

Argraur has a completely stock Pixel 4a and got the feature without changing any settings, so it sounds like it’s a server-side rollout. As a reminder, the new Google Assistant is only available on the Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. We have seen the feature run on devices that don’t officially support the new Google Assistant, including the Pixel XL, but it takes some trickery to make that happen.

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The OnePlus Buds Z are now available at the OnePlus Store for just $50

With the holiday shopping season starting a little early this year, I’m sure you’ve already seen a ton of deals and articles about earbuds. In fact, the OnePlus Buds are still on sale! But the OnePlus Buds Z have just been released, and at only $50, they’re worth your attention.

The OnePlus Buds Z are wireless earbuds that will provide up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge. Impressive! If you forgot to charge them the night before, just 10 minutes will provide up to three hours of music on its own. The sound is on point too, with 10 mm dynamics drivers built-in and stereo support powered by Dolby Atmos. These are the perfect earbuds for your workout too, as they’re sweat and water-resistant.

On top of that, these earbuds come with the technology you’d expect. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures your OnePlus Buds Z will stay connected, and Quick Pair will ensure that the buds connect quickly to your phone, without any fuss. A lot of cheaper earbud developers might skimp on the technology, but OnePlus isn’t one of those companies, and they still manage to have a price that compares to other budget options.

The Buds Z don’t seem to come with active noise canceling, but if that’s not an important feature, then why pay extra for it? If I’m out and about, I personally like knowing what’s going on in my general surroundings, so the active noise canceling isn’t something I really look for in a pair of earbuds. If they were over-the-ear headphones, that would be a different story. It all depends on your audio priorities… but for $50, you can’t really go wrong.

OnePlus Buds Z

The OnePlus Buds Z are now available! For only $50, you can get yourself a quality pair of earbuds that will last for up to 20 hours. They have fantastic bass, too!

$50 at OnePlus

Right now, the OnePlus Buds Z are only available in white, but another color will become available soon.

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November 2020 Android security update rolling out for Google Pixel and some Samsung Galaxy phones

Another month is in the books, which means it’s time for the latest batch of Android security patches. Google has published the Android Security Bulletin for the month of November and is also rolling out the update to the Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 3, and the Pixel 3 XL. Samsung is also rolling out new updates to the Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 10, and the Galaxy S10 series in select regions, bringing in this same Security Patch Level (SPL).

This month’s Android security update includes the usual bevy of fixes along with some specific fixes for Pixel devices. In fact, there’s something for every Pixel from the Pixel 3 all the way up to the Pixel 5. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, unfortunately, have not gotten any of the fixes as per the company’s original calendar commitment, though a final update is planned for next month. Check out the chart below to see what fixes are in tow for your Pixel smartphone.

Pixel 3 Forums ||| Pixel 3 XL Forums

Pixel 3a Forums ||| Pixel 3a XL Forums

Pixel 4 Forums ||| Pixel 4 XL Forums

Pixel 4a Forums ||| Pixel 4a 5G Forums ||| Pixel 5 Forums

Build Numbers (Global variants)

• • Global:
    • Pixel 3 (XL): RP1A.201105.002
    • Pixel 3a (XL): RP1A.201105.002
    • Pixel 4 (XL): RP1A.201105.002
    • Pixel 4a: RP1A.201105.002

• • NA / US:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): RD1A.201105.003.C1
    • Pixel 5: RD1A.201105.003.C1
  • NA / US / Verizon:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): [Rolling out week of 11/9]
    • Pixel 5: [Rolling out week of 11/9]
  • NA / Canada:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): RD1A.201105.003.C1
    • Pixel 5: RD1A.201105.003.C1
  • EU:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): RD1A.201105.003.B1
    • Pixel 5: RD1A.201105.003.B1

• • APAC / AU:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): RD1A.201105.003.A1
    • Pixel 5: RD1A.201105.003.A1
  • APAC / Taiwan:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): RD1A.201105.003.C1
    • Pixel 5: RD1A.201105.003.C1
  • APAC / Japan:
    • Pixel 4a (5G): RD1A.201105.003
    • Pixel 5: RD1A.201105.003

The OTA files and factory images for the Pixel devices can be found at the links below. Find the Android security files for your device and click “Link” to start the download. To flash the update manually without losing all of your data, follow the steps outlined in this tutorial.

Download Factory Images ||| Download OTA Images

Android Security Bulletin ||| Pixel Update Bulletin ||| Pixel Functional Changes

Along with the Pixel devices mentioned above, Samsung is rolling out the November 2020 Android security update to a handful of Galaxy devices. The Korean OEM has yet to include the details about the update in their Mobile Security portal, but the build numbers are N98xxXXS1ATJA (Note 20 series), N97xFXXU6DTJ4 (Note 10 series), and G97xFXXU9DTJA (S10 series) for the global Exynos variants.

Galaxy Note 20 Forums ||| Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Forums

Galaxy Note 10 Forums ||| Galaxy Note 10+ Forums

Galaxy S10e Forums ||| Galaxy S10 Forums ||| Galaxy S10+ Forums

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Pixel Slate users complain some devices are being crippled by storage failure

A handful of Google Pixel Slate users are reporting a mysterious bug that is forcing their devices into read-only mode, where they stubbornly remain. The 2-in-1 flagship Chromebook has had a less than smooth ride on the technical side, and frustrating bugs are nothing new, but this is on another level entirely.

According to reports gathered by Android Police, a problem with the file system on some i5-based machines is causing them to unmount the SSD and remount in read-only mode. It appears that for some yet-to-be-established reason, the machine loses contact with the storage and remounts in a safe mode. That could be down to a fault with a connector port, or the drive itself — either way, this is not a software fault — it’s either a hardware fault or a manufacturing error.

Credits: /u/JeffHiggins

This Pixel Slate storage problem first surfaced in 2019, from where the above Reddit screengrab comes, but it was one of dozens of different issues with the firmware and thus was mostly ignored as yet another little Slate-niggle. More recently, however, the instances have grown and the results are getting worse.

The first hint comes from losing icons and favicons. The real problems start when the Android subsystem starts acting up and apps begin throwing out error messages when you’re trying to work. Eventually, read-only lives up to its name — anything which involves writing to the disc will fail. Whatever stage of the failure you’re at, there’s no user-serviceable solution so far. Rebooting will solve the problem temporarily, but it will re-manifest, sometimes immediately, sometimes a few days later. Powerwashing doesn’t help, and a hard reset is no more permanent a fix than a reboot. Even reflashing the Chrome OS operating system makes no odds, strengthening the conclusion that this is a significant failure of components.

Google has told Android Police that they are “actively working on finding the root cause” of this issue but have yet to reproduce or pinpoint its exact cause. In the meantime, users with Pixel Slate problems are directed to this page to +1 your own experience.

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Samsung Care+ may soon add Theft and Loss insurance coverage

The next time your Samsung phone is lost or stolen, the company’s Care+ service may cover it. Currently, Samsung Care+ covers things like accidental damage, including drops and cracked screens, but the terms say that any loss as a result of theft or burglary isn’t covered. However, according to strings we found in Shop Samsung Android app version 1.0.21465, that may change.

An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.

Here’s what Samsung currently says is not covered under Care+ and Premium Care:

Any loss as a result of: abuse, neglect, pre-existing conditions, rust, corrosion, theft or burglary, mysterious disappearance, damage from exposure to weather conditions, power fluctuations, and any loss covered under a manufacturer’s warranty. Please refer to the program’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of exclusions.

The new strings suggest that Galaxy owners who have Care+ can add a Theft and Loss Subscription, which will be billed on a monthly basis for 36 months or until canceled. Here’s what a Theft and Loss Subscription might cover:

<string name="phone_premium_care1">*Samsung Care+ and Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss Subscription: I understand that I will be billed on a recurring basis for 36 months or until canceled. The monthly charge will be a standard purchase with payment due in full every month and is not eligible for special financing.</string>
<string name="phone_premium_care2">*Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss Subscription: Insurance coverage for loss, theft, and damage. Service contract coverage for accidental damage from handling (ADH) and out of warranty mechanical breakdowns. $99 - $269 insurance deductibles and $29 - $99 service fees apply. Maximum of three (3) insurance claims within any consecutive 12-month period, with replacement product value maximum of $2,500 per claim. Maximum of three (3) ADH claims within any consecutive 12-month period. Claims may be fulfilled with new or refurbished product. You may cancel your optional coverage at any time and receive a prorated refund. Program coverage contains binding arbitration (express state exemptions may apply; please see your program terms and conditions).</string>

Samsung Care+ currently costs $3.99, $8.99, or $11.99 per month depending on your device. It’s unclear how much a Care+ plan will be with an added Theft and Loss Subscription, or when the new plan will be available to purchase. As we head into the busy holiday period, perhaps Samsung is looking to launch the service as the weather gets colder and our hands have a harder time holding onto our devices.

Shop Samsung (Free, Google Play) →

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