5 Pixel options I all the time change on instantly

Google not too long ago launched its new $500 mid-range cellphone, the

Pixel 9a
, providing a aggressive various to the

iPhone 16e
and different mid-range choices, such because the

OnePlus 13R
.

Google’s Pixel series is famend for its software program expertise and highly effective cameras, with the Pixel 9a working the newest model of

Android 15
, and

Android 16
quickly to reach.

In the event you’re trying to improve your expertise with any of Google’s Pixel smartphones working Android 15, there are a number of options you may activate that are not robotically enabled by default, which may considerably enhance your each day use of the system. Listed here are 5 settings I allow instantly every time I exploit a brand new Pixel smartphone to reinforce its efficiency and software program expertise.

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5

Charging optimization

Lengthen your battery’s lifespan

Charging optimization is without doubt one of the latest options in Google’s Pixel collection. It was launched with the December Pixel function drop final 12 months, permitting you to set your smartphone’s battery cost restrict to 80 p.c. Why would you need to do that? Most significantly, by not absolutely charging your battery on a regular basis, you assist protect it higher and lengthen its lifespan by decreasing the variety of cost and discharge cycles the battery undergoes. To activate Charging optimization, go to Settings > Battery > Charging optimization > Use charging optimization > Restrict to 80 p.c.

Enabling this additionally robotically prompts bypass charging. Which means after your Pixel cellphone reaches its 80 p.c cost restrict, it’s going to solely be powered by the DC energy coming from the charger, bypassing the battery solely to energy the cellphone. This protects the battery even additional, and the cellphone produces much less warmth because the charger is not continuously making an attempt to recharge the battery. All in all, it is a win-win to your Pixel. Whilst you may not get as lengthy of battery life as you’ll by charging to one hundred pc, your battery’s lifespan will final for much longer, which is vital if you wish to maintain your Pixel system for some time.

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4

Clean show

Reap the benefits of your Pixel’s excessive refresh charge on a regular basis

As soon as you employ a smartphone with a refresh charge greater than 60Hz, I discover it almost inconceivable to return to 1 with a decrease refresh charge. The most recent Pixel telephones boast a number of the most stunning Actua 120Hz OLED shows in the marketplace. Whether or not it is the costlier Pixel 9 Professional XL or the cheaper Pixel 9a, the OLED shows on each fashions look gorgeous, and one among my favourite facets is their excessive refresh charges.

Nonetheless, while you first get the cellphone, the show is ready to 60Hz by default to save lots of battery. In the event you activate Clean show by going to Settings > Show & contact > Clean show, it’s going to increase the cellphone’s refresh charge to a constant 120Hz always, permitting you to make the most of the elevated refresh charge repeatedly. It is effectively definitely worth the slight sacrifice to battery life, because it makes the cellphone’s display screen look buttery easy, particularly its animations.

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3

Fast Faucet

Double-tap the again of your cellphone to open any app

One among my favourite options to point out folks on my Pixel smartphone is the Fast Faucet possibility. This lets you faucet the again of your cellphone twice to entry an app or carry out a particular perform, equivalent to taking a screenshot, viewing your notifications, turning on the flashlight, and extra.

To activate Fast Faucet, go to Settings > Gestures > Fast Faucet to start out actions. You’ll be able to then select from the varied features I discussed above, or choose any app you’ve gotten put in. I’ve mine set to open Spotify, however up to now, I’ve had it set to open my digicam and the cellphone’s flashlight. This function is similar to the double-tap function the iPhone has beneath its accessibility settings.

There are additionally another helpful gestures you may try within the Pixel’s Gestures menu, equivalent to one-handed mode, which allows a gesture to drag the display screen all the way down to make it simpler to make use of one-handed, and in addition Rapidly open digicam, which helps you to double-tap the facility button to open the digicam.

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2

Notification historical past

By no means lose a notification once more

I’ve a foul behavior of generally clearing my notifications with out absolutely checking each notification that was in it. Up to now, I’ve missed a couple of essential notifications just because I by chance cleared them with out pondering. That is the place Notification historical past is useful. Because the title suggests, it saves your notification historical past, in order that for those who by chance swipe one and neglect what it was, you may rapidly pull it up once more.

To allow Notification historical past in your Pixel cellphone, go to Settings > Notification historical past > Use notification historical past. As soon as it is turned on, any time you dismiss a notification, it’s going to now seem on this menu beneath settings. To rapidly entry it with out navigating by way of all these settings menus each time, faucet the Historical past button within the notification heart. In case your notification heart is empty, simply faucet the display screen, and Notification historical past will pop up.

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1

Now Taking part in

Discover out what music is taking part in close to you

Likelihood is, you’ve got heard a great music taking part in round you as soon as and instantly questioned what the title is. Often, you’d must rapidly open the Shazam app or Google AI to establish it, however with this helpful Pixel function, you could find out what music is taking part in close to you simply by glancing down at your lock display screen.

The function known as Now Taking part in, and to allow it, head to Settings > Show & contact > Lock display screen > Now Taking part in > Establish songs taking part in close by. When you flip it on, it’s going to additionally ask you so as to add the widget to your lock display screen. I additionally advocate enabling Improve Now Taking part in. This can use Google Search to establish any songs it does not acknowledge and in addition present album art work.

Now, if a music is taking part in close by, you will see the music’s title and artist displayed beneath the fingerprint reader in your Pixel lock display screen. In the event you faucet it and unlock your cellphone, it’s going to deliver you to your Now Taking part in historical past, the place you may view all of the songs that performed close to you latterly. I’ve discovered Now Taking part in to be helpful for figuring out any of the songs I’ve heard on the radio whereas commuting.

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