Pixel xl speaker quality: Speaker Evaluation — The Google Pixel 3a XL Review: Does Mid-Range Make Sense?

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The Google Pixel XL is full of innovation, but how does its audio and video stack up against the competition?

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The Pixel XL impresses with innovation, exclusive features and a pure Android experience, even if the sound quality isn’t the best

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Pros
  • +

    Debuts latest Android Nougat OS

  • +

    Clean, slick and efficiently stripped-back interface

  • +

    Google Assistant is impressive

  • +

    Sharp, punchy and detailed screen

  • +

    Comprehensive, high-quality camera

Cons
  • Sound quality is uncompetitive

  • Not fully waterproof

For years, Google has employed other mobile brands – LG, Motorola and HTC to name but three – to help design and manufacture its Nexus smartphones and tablets.

But the time has come for the global tech giant to go it alone with two new smartphones: the new Pixel and the bigger and (supposedly) better Google Pixel XL.

Pixel

Or at least, that’s what its ‘Made by Google inside and out’ strap line would have you believe.

  • Google Pixel XL (32GB Silver) for £9.99 upfront with 1GB of data for only £33.99 per month from Carphone Warehouse

In fact, although the Pixels sport Google’s branding on the back (unlike the Nexus devices), the brand hasn’t erected its own smartphone-manufacturing factory overnight, for it’s actually HTC behind the Pixels’ hardware.

However, everything from the handsets’ industrial design to the user experience is Google’s own doing, making the Pixels the first true bona fide ‘Google phones’.

There’ll be no more Nexus, by the way. The line has been usurped by Pixel. But the Pixels aren’t merely a more Google-heavy replacement.

Whereas the Nexus’ offered premium, flagship-worthy specs at a slightly lower price than the top-dollar Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and LG G handsets, the Pixels have decided to rub shoulders with the giants of the mobile world.

Their price speaks volumes: the cheapest 32GB Pixel handset is £600, and the most expensive 128GB Pixel XL is £820. Yes, that’s some serious cash.

Trying to muscle in at the top is a tall order for any newcomer. Considering the market leaders are the long-established Apple and Samsung, even a company with the resources and reputation of Google enters as an underdog.

To stand out in such company, Google has to offer something different.

Not only are the Pixels the only smartphones with the company’s new virtual personal assistant service, Google Assistant, but Pixel users also get free, unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos.

Screen

Ironically, considering the name (‘Pixel’ is now a product series that includes the Pixel C tablet and Chromebook laptops), the Pixels don’t have the industry-leading Ultra HD screen (3840 x 2160) heralded by the likes of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium.

While the standard Pixel has a modest 5in Full HD AMOLED screen, the Pixel XL takes up where the Nexus line left off (in the 6P model), featuring a Gorilla Glass 4-protected AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 – or QHD (Quad High Definition) as the industry has coined it.

It’s a healthy 5.5in; sharp and bright with a refined colour palette and penchant for nuanced detail.

The Pixel XL is neither pixels nor quality away from the LG G5. Lines are concise and contrast punchy, and while it doesn’t quite have the Samsung Galaxy S7’s eager vibrancy and high contrast, it’s hardly a washout either.

MORE: Samsung Galaxy S7 review

The ‘XL’ part of the name holds more relevance.

Dimensions-wise, it sits comfortably between the Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6 Plus – an XXL version would cross into ‘phablet’ territory – but the curvaceous corners of its aluminium unibody and the subtle wedge around its side panel help with ergonomics.

The Google Pixel XL’s relative slimness means it can be operated one-handed, and the fact that everything – the buttons, the fingerprint scanner and camera lenses – is flush or inset means there’s no bumps or bulges to contend with.

It’s every bit the sleek and trim construction we’d expect of a smartphone this pricey, and that’s only helped by the glass panel on the back where the Pixel Imprint fingerprint scanner sits, and the classic choice of colour finishes: ‘Quite Black’ (apparently to Google, that’s grey) and a more decisive ‘Very Silver’.

No matter how nice, it probably shouldn’t accompany you in the shower.

With an IP53 waterproof, it’s only safe from slight water spray – officially ‘spray at any angle up to 60 degrees from the vertical’. In other words, buy a case or try not to get it too wet.

MORE: Best smartphones 2016

Features

You don’t even have to browse for one online. Just ask the Pixel to do it via Google Assistant, essentially a more conversation-based extension of Google Now.

Out to rival Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant lacks a personal nickname, which is a missed trick in our opinion.

For now, Google Assistant is exclusive to the Pixels and other Google products like the Home wireless wi-fi speaker, although we’d be surprised if this didn’t turn out to be windowed exclusivity.

A long press of the home button, or the utterance of “OK Google” (even when the phone is locked), launches the service, and any voiced interaction is presented in a chat layout.

You know the drill; ask a question and it recites the most relevant answer on Google. Ask it to open Spotify and play a tune, WhatsApp a friend, or take a selfie, and it obliges.

MORE: Amazon Echo review

More impressive is the Assistant’s willing to keep chatting.

For example, ask ‘what is the weather tomorrow?’ and underneath the answer, Google second-guesses your next question with ‘what about the weekend?’ Ask it the time and it’ll also give you the option to set a timer or alarm.

That’s not all that makes the Pixels special. Users can wave goodbye to wretched ‘storage is full’ notifications as they’re entitled to unlimited cloud storage for videos and photos, which is good as Google has packed performance into the Pixel XL’s snapper.

The front camera snaps at 8MP and records in 1080p, the rear 12.3MP and 4K/60fps. On paper, that’s similar to the Nexus 6P (albeit that could only shoot 4K at 30fps).

It also features an improved and instant version of the HDR+ multi-image capability built into some Nexus models, and the results are impressive.

With HDR+ activated, the camera combines several images in real time to produce one photo with less noise and better dynamic range. It manages to combat the discrepancies in lighting and dig up detail in every area of the shot.

While we find its detail and clarity preservation in dark conditions most impressive, daylight shots are just as pleasing: crisp, detailed and brimming with subtle colour tones.

Even with the zoom stretched there’s very little discernible noise. Snapping feels instant, with rapid shutter speed and no autofocus lag.

Video stabilisation is one of the camera’s most valuable bits of software. The effect can sometimes look overdone, but generally it does a good job of eliminating judder and smoothing out action clips.

Performance

Of course, Pixel XL users also have the wider all-inclusive Google terrain to tread.

While Google is buried away working on Android-Chrome hybrid operating system ‘Andromeda’, the Pixels stick to the familiar Android format and are the first to show off the latest 7. 1 Nougat version.

Using the Pixel XL is as pure an Android experience as you’ll get; there’s no second skin layer applied over the top as with so many other Android-powered devices, instead the interface is stripped-back, bloatware-free Android, and all the cleaner and more intuitive for it.

Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, the Pixel XL is clutter-free, and speedy. Everything from screen responsiveness to launching apps and performing tasks is prompt.

Fast charging means the 3450mAh battery can be topped up for seven hours of use in just 15mins (through the USB-C connection).

Like the Marshmallow Android version before it, Nougat is as sweet an operation as you could wish for.

Of the new features here, the most useful is split-screen – by dragging an app on top of another in the recent app menu, you can keep on top of messages and emails while following directions on Google Maps or video calling your mum, or don’t have to interrupt your live video stream of the football.

A new ‘Night Mode’ tints the screen amber for easier reading in dim light; the Google Keyboard now supports GIFs; and Google Doze, the battery-saving idle mode launched as part of Marshmallow now works on the go and not just when you’re stationary. It also promises even more effective power saving.

While there’s still a pull-down toggle notification bar for accessing shortcuts, the app drawer is now summoned by a swipe up on the home page.

Pop-up notifications from the same apps are now bundled together, and there’s now an option to reply directly to messages within the notification window without having to launch the app.

A quick tap of the Google logo on a homepage launches a pop-up search for speedier web surfing too.

There are also three shortcuts that Google calls ‘move gestures’: swiping your finger down the sensor pulls down the notification bar; a double tap of the power button launches the camera; and twisting the phone swaps between front and rear cameras.

Google has also introduced long-press shortcuts – a spin on the 3D Touch that was brought to Apple devices in iOS9 – available for most Google apps.

It’s all about getting more options from fewer presses; holding down Messenger, for example, brings up recent conversations without having to launch the app.

You can compose a message directly from holding down the Gmail icon, or choose whether to set an alarm or timer by doing the same with the clock one too.

Audio

But when it comes to sound, it’s like Google’s engineers ran out of steam; there’s no hi-res audio support and the sound quality is nothing special.

We plug a pair of B&W P5 S2s into the 3.5mm headphone port located at the top and instantly find a smooth, tonally even sound, with enough body to prevent it sounding thin or shrill.

Play Chromatic’s Ceremony and the presentation is as lax as the shimmering synths rippling calmly behind the guitar.

MORE: Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2 review

But you don’t need a particularly upbeat song to know that something’s missing. The Apple iPhone 7 and even the Samsung Galaxy S7 throw more drive and conviction behind the track’s guitars, making the Pixel sound soft and restrained in comparison.

The two rivals are clearer and more insightful too, providing greater space for the electronica to evolve around the vocal, and surfacing enough subtlety to communicate the discrepancies between each guitar twang.

Through the Pixel, there’s not really much in the way of dynamic activity to get across the interest or emotion in the recording, and as a result it sounds a bit flat. It’s alright, but sadly that’s about as emphatic as we can sound.

MORE: Listen to the What Hi-Fi? playlist

Verdict

Thankfully for Google’s mobile team, that’s a million miles from how we generally hold the Pixel XL in regard.

The uncompetitive sound quality and lack of sufficient waterproofing is a shame, but usability and innovation is high on the list of pros.

The organic Android experience, now slicker and more user friendly than ever, is a joy to use, and with Google Assistant, its future looks bright indeed.

But it all boils down to the million-dollar question: is that enough to tear people away from LG, Samsung or perhaps even Apple? We aren’t convinced.

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Google Pixel 4 Audio review

Released in October 2019, the Pixel 4 is Google’s latest flagship smartphone, running the latest Android 10 OS powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6GB of RAM. In the imaging department, the device offers a dual-camera setup with dedicated tele-lens, and the 5.7-inch P-OLED display comes with Full-HD+ resolution.

For audio, the Pixel 4 comes with dual stereo speakers and a dedicated microphone for noise cancellation. On the software side of things, the Pixel 4 comes with Google’s new Recorder app that is currently specific to Pixel devices and uses AI to transcribe your audio recordings (it’s not covered by our test protocol, though).

We put the device 4 through our rigorous DXOMARK Audio test suite to measure its performance both at playing audio back through its built-in speakers and at recording sound using its built-in microphones. In this review, we’ll break down how it fared in a variety of tests and in several common use cases.

Audio specifications include:

  • Dual stereo speakers
  • Separate amplifiers for each speaker
  • Dedicated microphone for noise cancellation

About DXOMARK Audio tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone audio reviews, DXOMARK engineers perform a variety of objective tests and undertake more than 20 hours of perceptual evaluation under controlled lab conditions. This article highlights the most important results of our testing. Note that we evaluate both Playback and Recording using only the device’s built-in hardware and default apps. (For more details about our Playback protocol, click here; for more details about our Recording protocol, click here.)

Test summary

68

audio

70

playback

63

recording

The Google Pixel 4 achieved an overall DXOMARK Audio score of 68, putting the device in our list of the top 5 smartphones tested so far by the DXOMARK Audio team, and making it the third best Android phone in our ranking, after the Huawei Mate 20X and Asus ROG Phone II. It outperformed the Samsung flagships Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and S10+, but ranked below Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro Max and XS Max.

In terms of audio hardware, the Pixel 4 has two speakers and three microphones. One speaker is at the top center on the front of the phone, and the other speaker is at the bottom on the phone’s edge. One microphone is at the top, slightly to the right of the phone, and another microphone is at the bottom on the device’s edge. The third microphone is placed to the right of the LED flash on the back of the camera.

In a breakdown of the overall audio score, the Pixel 4 scored higher in Playback than in Recording. The Pixel 4’s Playback result was decent and quite impressive, considering its smaller size when compared with many other flagship smartphones on the market today, and it holds up reasonably well against Huawei’s Mate 20X, the best device we’ve tested so far. Music playback was the Pixel 4’s strong suit when compared with movie and gaming uses. But bass still lagged behind other high-end devices, and that led to lower dynamics scores, particularly in the sub-attributes of bass precision and punch performance.

Voice recording during meetings isn’t one of the Pixel 4’s strengths, but the device performed very well for recording rock and electronic music concerts.

The Pixel 4’s overall Recording score, however, showed some weaknesses when compared to the Huawei Mate 20x. While the Pixel 4’s timbre performance was good, and just slightly lower than the Mate 20x’s, the sound had a tendency to have too many unwanted resonances in the bass region, resulting in a boomy effect.

On the plus side, the Pixel 4 demonstrated good volume performance and recording levels were coherent. The Pixel 4 stood out in loud environments, such as electronic or rock concerts, because the device is capable of recording without distortion. The phone’s envelope, or the measure of sound dynamics, was correctly rendered as well. Good spatial performance was evident in our life video use case, but spatial performance could be improved in other use cases. Artifacts were quite noticeable and sometimes distracting. Unnatural-sounding background noises and other artifacts affected a faithful recording.

The Pixel 4’s audio recording was tested in five controlled typical use environments: an electronic concert, life video, selfie video, meeting room, and memo taking.  Of these five use cases, the Pixel 4’s weakest performance was in meeting-room voice recording, but the device excelled in video recording of an electronic concert.

Sub-scores explained

The DXOMARK Audio overall score of 68 for the Google Pixel 4 is derived from its Playback and Recording scores and their respective sub-scores. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at these audio quality sub-scores and explain what they mean for the user.

Playback

Timbre

Google Pixel 4

66

89

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (89)

Timbre tests measure how well a phone reproduces sound across the audible tonal range and takes into account bass, midrange, treble, tonal balance, and volume dependency. The Pixel 4’s overall performance was good, delivering an impressive bass sound for a device of this size, even though there is room for improvement. Midrange was dominant, whereas treble was slightly missing and only small resonances were detected. Timbre tuning remained coherent, while gradually changing with volume.

The timbre of music playback scored slightly higher in landscape mode than for portrait orientation. Treble performed exceptionally well when watching movies, and tonal balance was noticeably good at maximum volume when playing games.

Music playback frequency response

Dynamics

Google Pixel 4

67

81

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (81)

DXOMark’s dynamics tests measure how well a device reproduces the energy level of a sound source, and how precisely it reproduces bass frequencies. With a Dynamics sub-score of 67, the Pixel 4 achieves a good overall result, but falls behind Huawei Mate 20X’s 75, which is the highest score we’ve seen for this category.

The Pixel 4’s attack was sharp and maintained percussion fidelity, but became distorted as volume increased to its maximum level. The lack of bass affected the scores for Bass precision, particularly when volume was soft and nominal. Bass tuning contributed to an average punch performance for the Pixel 4, but music mode, particularly when listening to hip-hop, scored higher than movie and game modes.

Spatial

Google Pixel 4

64

88

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (88)

Spatial tests measure how well a device accurately portrays the original location of instruments or other sound sources used in a recording. The Pixel 4’s spatial sub-score of 64 reflects a decent performance, but falls behind the 75 achieved by the top performer for this sub-attribute, the iPhone XS Max.

In particular, the movie app’s spatial sound did not seem to be well-centered, with balance, distance, and wideness showing mixed results. In music mode, the Pixel 4 had some difficulty in conveying the location of instruments. Wideness scored well in landscape and inverted landscape modes, and distance performance was good.

Volume

Google Pixel 4

67

91

Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro

Best: Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro (91)

Volume tests measure both the overall loudness a device is able to reproduce and how smoothly volume increases and decreases based on user input. With a sub-score of 67, the Pixel 4 showed that volume consistency was coherent, but its maximum volume falls behind that of other high-end devices. Minimum volume was low, with some musical content lost at that level, especially when listening to classical music and pop rock.

You can see the effect of the range of volume settings in this chart showing the actual loudness (acoustic power) generated for each of the device’s volume steps. While the volume consistency is coherent, the last three steps are nearly level.

Music volume consistency

We carried out objective measurements in our laboratories using recordings of both hip-hop and classical music played at the maximum user volume step:

Hip-Hop Classical
74. 2 dBA 69 dBA

Artifacts

Google Pixel 4

84

113

Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming

Best: Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming (113)

Artifacts tests measure how much source audio is distorted when played back through a device’s speakers. Distortion can occur both because of sound processing in the device and because of the quality of the speakers.

The Pixel 4 scored well in this attribute and came close to the top performer, the Honor 20 Pro. Still, there’s room for improvement: on some tracks, background noise was present, but not enough to interfere with normal everyday listening. Our testers detected some pumping of sound, and while on some tracks the volume adjusted after a few seconds, tracks with significant bass content showed some distortion. Reducing these artifacts would improve this device.

The Pixel 4’s compact size makes it more easily susceptible to occlusion, but even in those in cases, the phone’s sound remained decent in all positions.

Distortion can occur in audio playback.

Recording

Timbre

Google Pixel 4

76

91

Honor Magic3 Pro+

Best: Honor Magic3 Pro+ (91)

With a score of 76, the Pixel 4 showed decent overall tonal balance in timbre, compared with the highest score of 81 achieved by the Samsung Galaxy S10+,  but excessive low-end frequency gave the impression of booming voices. Both perceptual and objective tests in the memo app revealed high-frequency resonances and increasing hissing.

Life video frequency response

Dynamics

Google Pixel 4

56

81

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (81)

Dynamics in recording showed average performance compared with the top performer, the Huawei Mate 20x. The sound-to-noise ratio, measured at 50, has room for improvement, especially in urban use cases. When we tested the Pixel 4 on a city street, a loud low-frequency background noise was evident. An indoor meeting use environment did not particularly improve the sound envelope, as the test resulted in the perception of a loud hissing noise.

Overall sound dynamics performed well on the main camera, but performance decreased in selfie camera and memo modes.

Spatial

Google Pixel 4

49

78

Black Shark 4S Pro

Best: Black Shark 4S Pro (78)

Spatial results were average compared with the Huawei Mate 20 X. The Pixel 4 performed well in capturing wideness, especially in life-video use, but less so when taking selfie videos and when recording meetings. However, the weak wideness result in selfie mode is pretty much in line with other smartphone results. Directivity is generally good, but memo files, which are recorded in mono, affected the measure of wideness.

Good spatial directivity in most use cases.

Volume

Google Pixel 4

76

99

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (99)

Volume performance was good, with a score of 76 matching that of the highest performer, the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The Pixel 4 handled the recordings of loud scenes very well, but memo app recording levels were lower than those from camera recordings. This can be seen in our test results, measured in LUFS (Loudness Unit Full Scale):

Meeting Life Video Selfie Video Memo
-24.8 LUFS -17.4 LUFS -16.4 LUFS -21.1 LUFS

Artifacts

Google Pixel 4

59

97

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (97)

The Pixel 4’s artifacts score of 59 was significantly below the 82 achieved by the best performer to date, the Asus ROG Phone II. Slight pumping and distortion were audible, especially for shouting voices. Significant distortion was evident in words containing “s” in memo use. Occlusion affected the stereo sound, particularly in portrait mode. Even the movement of a finger at the bottom of the phone created a distracting noise.

You can hear some of the artifacts for yourself in this sample recording:

Background

Google Pixel 4

44

60

Black Shark 5 Pro

Best: Black Shark 5 Pro (60)

Smartphones often rely on their small microphones for everything, and suppressing background noise relies on the device’s audio processing. In the case of the Pixel 4, background performance was low to average when compared to the Apple iPhone XS Max, which outperformed all the phones we have tested so far for this attribute.

In the Pixel 4’s case, excessive low-end frequency affected tonal balance and created booms. As with most devices, directivity remains a weakness. In a meeting use case, background noise included a distracting hiss.

Background directivity is poor.

Background sounds are distorted.

Conclusion

While there’s still some room for improvement, the Google Pixel 4 delivers a decent performance in our DXOMARK Audio tests, earning itself a place among the three best Android devices and outperforming such heavyweight competitors as the current Samsung flagships and the OnePlus 7 Pro. For music lovers and avid videographers of family and friends, the Pixel 4 should deliver more than satisfying results. For other uses, spatial performance could be improved, especially in movie and memo playback modes, as well as in memo and selfie camera recording modes.

Playback
Pros
  • Decent overall performance
  • Quite impressive bass for a small device
Cons
  • Lack of bass compared to the best in class
  • Overall results a little canny
  • Not as loud as other high-end phones
Recording
Pros
  • Good performance for timbre
  • Coherent recording levels and no distortion when recording loud sounds
  • Correctly rendered envelope
  • Good spatial performance when recording video
Cons
  • Recorded sound is a bit too boomy
  • Noticeable artifacts
  • Unnatural background noise and artifacts

Google Pixel XL Loudspeaker Replacement

Written By: Arthur Shi
(and one other contributor)

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  • Completions: 4

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

28

Time Required

40 minutes — 2 hours

Sections

3

  • Display Assembly
    10 steps
  • Google Pixel XL Opening Procedure
    6 steps
  • Loudspeaker
    12 steps

Flags

1

In Progress

This guide is a work in progress. Reload periodically to see the latest changes!

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Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the loudspeaker module for the Google Pixel XL.

The Pixel XL’s unreinforced display panel is fragile and is attached to the frame with strong adhesive, making repairs difficult. There is a considerable chance of breaking the display, especially if it already has micro-fractures. Be sure to apply plenty of heat and be extremely careful during the prying stage.

    • iFixit Opening Tool

    • Suction Handle

    • T5 Torx Screwdriver

    • Spudger

    • iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6)

    • Tweezers

      • Heat an iOpener and apply it to the top edge of the display for two minutes.

      • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

      • Take note of the following regions before you begin prying:

      • Thin adhesive lined against the display panel

      • Thick adhesive

      • The OLED display panel, which is very prone to damage

      • The display cable, which can be damaged during prying

      Edit

      • Once the edge is warm to the touch, apply a suction cup close to the edge.

      • Lift on the suction cup, and insert an opening pick into the gap.

      • Do not insert the pick more than 13 mm (0. 5 inches), or you will damage the display assembly.

      • If you have trouble creating a gap, reheat the edge and try again.

      • You can also try to use a playing card instead of an opening pick to help make the initial entry.

      Edit

      • Slide the opening clip across the top edge to slice through the adhesive.

      • Be sure not to cut deeper than 13 mm (0. 5 inches) or you will damage the display.

      • There’s a mesh covering the earpiece speaker on the top edge of the screen. If you don’t have a replacement mesh, take care not to damage or lose this component.

      • Leave an opening pick in the edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

      Edit

      • Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the phone for two minutes.

      • Insert an opening pick near the top edge of the phone, where you have already sliced the adhesive.

      • Slowly guide the pick around the right corner.

      • Carefully slide the pick down the right edge of the phone to slice through the adhesive.

      • Do not insert the pick more than 1 mm (1/32″) along the edge, or you will damage the display assembly.

      • Repeat the step for the left edge of the phone.

      Edit

      • Heat the bottom edge with an iOpener for two minutes.

      • Insert a pick near the right edge where you have already loosened the adhesive.

      • Carefully guide the pick around the corner.

      • Slide the pick along the bottom edge to slice through the adhesive.

      • Do not slice deeper than 8.5 mm (1/3″) or you will damage the display cable.

      Edit

      • Once you have sliced around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the display assembly up slightly by the right corners.

      • Do not attempt to remove the display assembly. It is still attached by a flex cable.

      • Use an opening pick to slice through any remaining adhesive.

      Edit

    1. Tool used on this step:

      Magnetic Project Mat

      $19. 99

      • Remove the two 4 mm T5 screws securing the display cable bracket.

      • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

      • Remove the display cable bracket.

      Edit

      • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display cable from its connector.

      • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

      Edit

      • Remove the display assembly.

      • For comprehensive instructions on how to reinstall the Pixel XL display, follow this guide.

      • If your replacement display did not come with a speaker grille, use tweezers to gently peel the adhesive grille from your old display, and transfer it to the replacement.

      • Before installing a new display, be sure to remove all traces of adhesive from the frame. Use a spudger or an opening tool to scrape it off, and use high-concentration isopropyl alcohol to remove any residue.

      • If you are reinstalling the same display assembly, be sure to remove all adhesive residue from the panel and the frame before applying new adhesive.

      • Be sure to turn on your phone and test your repair before installing new adhesive and resealing the phone.

      • During the boot-up process after reassembly, the screen will go through a calibration sequence. Do not touch the screen during this process, as it could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.

      Edit

      • Remove the following screws that secure the midframe to the back:

      • Seven black 4 mm T5 screws

      • Two silver 3 mm T5 screws

      Edit

    2. Edit

      • Insert a separate opening pick into the right edge of the phone, near the bottom.

      • Slowly push the pick upwards along the seam until the first clip pops free.

      • Due to the tight tolerances, this may be difficult, requiring a substantial amount of force. If you are having trouble, try inserting and sliding a playing card.

      • Once you’ve released the clip, leave the opening pick in place to prevent the midframe from resealing.

      Edit

      • Insert an opening pick into the right edge of the phone and slide it upwards towards the top right clip.

      • You do not need to insert the pick more than 2 mm into the edge. If you insert the pick all the way in, you may risk damaging flex cables.

      • Slowly slide the pick past the clip to disengage it from the frame.

      • At this point, the right edge of the midframe should be free from the case. If it isn’t, slide an opening clip up and down along the right edge.

      Edit

      • Grasp the right edge of the midframe by the corners and slowly hinge the edge up.

      • When the left edge feels loose, stop hinging and lift the midframe upwards.

      • Remove the midframe.

      • To reinstall the midframe, align it to the case, then squeeze around the perimeter until all the clips snap back into position. When properly done, the midframe should lie flat.

      Edit

      • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the interconnect cable from the motherboard.

      • To reconnect during reinstallation, align the cable with the socket and use your finger to press down on one side, followed by the other. If done correctly, the cable should be firmly held in place by the socket.

      Edit

      • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the interconnect cable from the bottom daughterboard.

      • Continue peeling the interconnect cable from the bottom daughterboard.

      • Remove the interconnect cable.

      Edit

      • Use the edge of an opening tool to carefully push the vibration motor connector out of its socket.

      • Do not pull the connector by the wires. Doing so will most likely break the connector.

      • To reinstall the connector, use the opening tool and the tip of a spudger to help align the connector, then gently push the connector in with the opening tool while using the spudger to brace against the socket.

      Edit

    3. Edit

      • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and loosen the right edge of the daughterboard.

      • Swing the daughterboard to the left to move it out of its recess.

      • Do not attempt to remove the daughterboard. It is still attached to the frame.

      • During reassembly, be sure to route the white antenna cable through the daughterboard notch and wrap the black antenna cable around the screw post.

      Edit

      • Slowly lift the left edge of the daughterboard up, pulling the antenna patch off of the loudspeaker.

      • You can insert an opening pick under the antenna patch to help separate it from the loudspeaker.

      • If the antenna patch begins to rip, stop pulling. Heat an iOpener, apply it to the corner for a minute, and use an opening pick to help remove it from the loudspeaker.

      Edit

    4. Edit

      • Insert the point of a spudger under the loudspeaker flex cable and pry gently to loosen it from the frame.

      • During reinstallation, make sure that the loudspeaker flex cable is properly seated using the alignment notches. If it is not properly aligned, the loudspeaker will not work.

      Edit

    Almost done!

    To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

    Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Google Pixel XL Answers community for troubleshooting help.

    Conclusion

    To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

    Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Google Pixel XL Answers community for troubleshooting help.

    Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

    4 other people completed this guide.

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    Not up to HTC standards…

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    If HTC is manufacturing the Pixel, that means it should have good audio right? Let’s Listen! Here’s our full Google Pixel XL Real Audio Review!

    When it was announced that HTC would be manufacturing Google’s newest phone, we smartphone audio snobs were all hoping we’d see (hear) the same great sound quality we’ve come to expect from HTC. Recently revisiting the HTC 10 in an After the Buzz review, that phone produces some of the highest audio quality we’ve ever tested here at Pocketnow. It really is a joy to listen to, so we had fingers and toes crossed that the Pixel and Pixel XL would perform similarly.

    Unfortunately, it would seem that Google had their own designs on what would be acceptable for audio reproduction on a premium priced smartphone, and those designs fall quite a bit short of what we would consider the “HTC Standard”.

    We’ve been testing the phone for a week now, and we’re ready to report what we’ve seen (heard) on the Pixel XL!

    Real Audio Review playlist on Youtube

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    About The Author

    Juan Carlos Bagnell
    (91 Articles Published)

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    One of the Pixel 3 XL’s front-facing speakers is (much) louder than the other

    By
    Ryne Hager

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    Earlier today we reported that Google’s latest Pixels had some low audio quality when recording videos, but that isn’t the only issue to have appeared since the pair of phones launched. There are also widespread reports that the Pixel 3 XL’s two stereo front-facing speakers have drastically different volumes. According to a statement made by Google on Reddit, this profound difference in sound balance is intentional.

    It’s hard to call that stereo.

    Reports of the behavior are widespread, so much so that it seems to be a universal hardware problem. The issue manifests as an audible difference in volume between the top and bottom/left and right front-facing speakers resulting in imbalanced stereo output. For some perspective, Google’s Nexus 6P was well-known for having the same behavior manifest as a latent defect, and there are reports that the OG Razer Phone has the same issue. Some have claimed last year’s Pixel 2 and 2 XL had a similar problem, but it was much less pronounced. Reaching further back, the Nexus 6 may have had its own balance issues, and even the iPhone and Galaxy S9 — which combine the earpiece with a bottom-firing speaker for stereo audio — suffer some degree of imbalanced audio.

    We reached out to Google for comment on this story, and were directed to a response by the official Google account PixelCommunity to a relevant post on /r/GooglePixel, which is included just below:

    Hi all, This is by design. We specially designed speakers that allow for louder sound (40% louder than last year) and better low frequency response.  We use new amplifier technology with advanced speaker protection algorithms to push these speakers harder and really get every last bit of performance out of them. We also worked closely with the expert tuning of a Grammy-award winning music producer to enhance the audio in a way that plays to the strengths of the hardware system.

    Google’s comment directly states that this imbalanced audio output was «by design,» and therefore a conscious decision, perhaps something like Xiaomi’s Mi Max 2, which tunes the bottom speaker for bass. What makes that explanation strange is that the smaller Pixel 3 doesn’t have the same problem. In our tests, the Pixel 3 also has slightly imbalanced audio, it’s nothing compared to the difference between speakers on the Pixel 3 XL.

    Obviously, there’s going to be a difference in available space between the top and bottom bezels given the Pixel 3 Xl’s sizable notch and cameras. This difference in volume could easily be explained by differently sized drivers. Teardowns don’t seem to have focused on the subject, but the driver on the bottom appears to be quite chunky, while the enclosure for the top speaker is a good deal smaller.

    Still, it’s unfortunate that the stereo front-facing speakers on the Pixel 3 XL have such a drastic difference in volume. If their output couldn’t be balanced, the purpose for having both the phone’s speakers be front-facing seems to have been lost. Two-channel stereo sound isn’t really that useful if the two speakers don’t sound similar, and if Google wanted to do a dual-driver setup with each tuned to different frequencies, the compromises made in design to offer a stereo-optimized experience could be a bit pointless.

    Source: YouTube, Reddit, Twitter

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    About The Author

    Ryne Hager
    (3103 Articles Published)

    Ryne was ostensibly a senior editor at Android Police, working at the site from 2017-2022. But really, he is just some verbose dude who digs on tech, loves Android, and hates anticompetitive practices. His only regret is that he didn’t buy a Nokia N9 in 2012.

    More From Ryne Hager

    Google’s Pixel 3 has a pretty serious design problem that no one’s talking about

    We published our full in-depth review of Google’s new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL flagship smartphones on Monday, and we got a ton of great feedback via email. If you missed it or if you don’t have time to read the whole thing, here’s the TL;DR version: they’re really, really good smartphones with really, really good cameras. Google did an all-around fantastic job with these phones, packing top-notch performance into the company’s best overall design so far. “Pure” Android runs like a dream on the new Pixel phones, and Google’s AI-driven Assistant brings in a bunch of useful extras.

    All in all, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are indeed great phones and most of the emails we got were from people who couldn’t wait to get their hands on one. But the new Google phones are not without their flaws, of course, and many of the people who emailed us wanted more information about one annoying flaw in particular that we discovered — especially since other reviewers apparently didn’t dig deep enough to find it.

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    While the bulk of our review was overwhelmingly positive, there were a few things we didn’t like about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. For example, the huge bezels on the smaller Pixel 3 are better suited to a phone from 2014 or 2015 than a modern smartphone that will be on sale in 2018 and 2019. The larger Pixel 3 XL’s gigantic notch and wide chin bezel aren’t much better, though at least there was some effort made there to modernize the phone’s display design. But those were all intentional design decisions on Google’s part, and our biggest problem with the phones pertains to an unintentional design flaw.

    Here’s an excerpt from yesterday’s in-depth Pixel 3 review:

    As good as the overall design is, and as much as I love the fit and finish of Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, there is a serious design flaw that has really bothered me while I began testing the phones.

    Google’s new Pixel phones have front-firing stereo speakers that sound great and are wonderfully loud. Unfortunately, using them means dealing with an unwanted side effect: an insane amount of vibration on the back of the phone. All phones vibrate to an extent if you turn their speakers up loud enough. It’s the nature of sound waves. But I’ve never felt anything like this.

    At low volumes, it’s really annoying. The back of the phone vibrates with each and every beat of whatever music you’re playing. Even during dialog in a video, you can still feel the back of the phone vibrate constantly. If there’s sound, it’s vibrating.

    Then if you turn the volume up to about 50%, the vibration goes from annoying to aggravating. At 80% or higher, it’s downright horrible. The back of the phone vibrates as hard or even harder than the vibration motor inside the phone that Google uses for notifications. Imagine playing music and having your phone’s notification motor vibrating the entire time. It’s so violent that Google’s fabric Pixel cases barely dampen it at all.

    The whole point of the great stereo speakers on Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL is so that you can watch videos or play music with the volume turned up nice and loud. If you plan to actually use the speakers though, be prepared to either hold the phone with your fingertips by its aluminum edges, or to be very annoyed by all the vibration you’re going to feel.

    If this was an iPhone, it would absolutely be a “gate” — probably “Vibrationgate” or something like that — and the tech press would lose its collective mind over the issue. Let’s see how bloggers react to the problem on a Google phone.

    Now, we haven’t taken the time to read other Pixel 3 reviews out there, but we did skim a few. We also received emails from some people who said they read many of the reviews that were published on Monday, and they didn’t find any other mention of the issue. It’s easy for tech bloggers to stick to a specific procedure when reviewing phones, so we’re not very surprised that other sites didn’t catch it. Loud speakers simply aren’t a big focus when people are testing phones. People who buy the new Pixel phones, however, will definitely notice this issue.

    We live in a mobile first age when people spend so much time on their smartphones. And mobile video has never been more popular than it is right now. People watch YouTube videos on their phones, they stream Netflix to their phones, and plenty more. Many people spend more time watching video on their phones than they do on TVs. In fact, I know people in their 20s and people with children in their teens who don’t even have TVs. All of the content they watch is streamed to a smartphone or computer.

    Smartphone makers know how much time people spend these days watching content and playing music on their phones, and that’s why loud speakers have become such a big focus in recent years. Google even went as far as to talk up its new dual front-firing stereo speakers on stage during its big Pixel 3 event last week. This is a big, annoying problem that users are definitely going to take issue with, and I doubt there’s anything Google can do to fix it short of redesigning the phone.

    UPDATE: A Google spokesperson supplied the following comment via email:

    Both the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3XL feature front firing stereo speakers driven by powerful built-in amps, tuned by a Grammy-winning music producer to keep you entertained all day. You may feel the bass while holding your phone given the combination of these powerful speakers plus the necessary sealing to achieve IP68 dust and water resistance. Feel the power and hear the detail while listening or watching your favorite jams! This doesn’t cause any impact to performance.

    Of note, we found the vibration issue to be far more intense then anything we’ve experienced on similar phones with loud speakers and water-resistance. We also found that vibrations occur across a wide range of frequencies, not just bass.

    review and comparison with the flagships 2016-2017

    Google Pixel review … for a long time it did not reach his hands, but that’s even good. Today we have the opportunity to do more than just walk through the characteristics and test results of the display, battery or speed. We can compare the Pixel with the new flagships introduced in the spring of 2017, which is both more interesting and more relevant!

    In the first part of the Google Pixel review, we talk about the following:

    • Battery and runtime from a single charge under different loads. Comparison of the autonomy rating with the main competitors.
    • Google Pixel display test. How good is Amoled in the first branded smartphone of Good Corporation?
    • Sound quality when headphones or an external amplifier are connected. Information for real audiophiles.
    • Google Pixel camera review, one of the best smartphone cameras of 2016.

    This is a Google Pixel review, but we will also remember its big brother — Google Pixel XL, focusing on the differences between the models.

    Battery and autonomy rating

    The decision of the developers to put a 2770 mAh battery into the Google Pixel smartphone is frankly surprising. They deliberately doomed phone buyers to a life “from socket to socket”, or to a nightly ritual of connecting the charger. Otherwise, the red zone of the battery cannot be avoided.

    According to the test results, Pixel became one of the worst representatives of the Flagship League. It has the lowest battery life rating of 64 hours. This is even worse than the much larger HTC U Ultra. By the time of work on the Internet, he also loses to everyone.

    The only decent indicator — 11 and a half hours of video playback. The good result is explained simply: in video mode, Google Pixel is saved by a small display diagonal (5 inches) and an economical Amoled matrix.

    12:27

    1

    2 Google Pixel XL with a 3450 mAh battery looks more confident. The smartphone holds a charge well in all modes, demonstrating autonomy at the level of other flagships.

    Fast charging supported, but not Quick Charge 3.0 from chipset supplier Qualcomm. A proprietary charger with 5V / 3A current characteristics charges the Google Pixel battery from 0% to 53% in 30 minutes. This is enough for about half a day of intensive work. Pixel XL charges from 0% to 46% in half an hour.

    Google Pixel and Pixel Xl battery life. Autonomy rating
    Google Pixel Pixel XL LG G6 Huawei P10 HTC U Ultra
    08:31 11:47 08:39
    video 11:27 11:09 10:27 07:44 0.00 563 ~
    HTC U Ultra 0.284 520 1831
    Huawei P10 0.416 592 1423
    LG G6 0.228 468 2053
    LG G6 (Max Auto) 0.277 564 2036
    iPhone 7 0.35 561 561 561 9001 160052
    iPhone 7 (max auto) 0.40 656 1640

    Color accuracy is average. The average color accuracy ratio is 4.9, the maximum DeltaE value is 11.6, which is not very good. You can fix the situation, but for this you need to enable the sRGB screen calibration mode in the developer tools and tinker with the settings a little. If you do everything right, you can reduce the average color accuracy factor to 2. 2, and the maximum to 4.5 in the red zone of the spectrum.

    The readability of the display in the sun is good, and for reading in the dark there is a special «Night light» mode. In this mode, the blue part of the spectrum is suppressed with the help of filters, and the picture becomes yellowish (perhaps too much). The idea is that blue color negatively affects the synthesis of melatonin, a neurotransmitter that is produced in the brain and regulates the circadian rhythms of sleep and wakefulness. The Good Corporation makes sure that smartphone owners sleep like a baby).

    Google Pixel sound quality: audiophile page

    The Pixel is famous for its excellent camera, but it rarely appears in the smartphone ratings with the best sound. The built-in speakers of the Google Pixel smartphone deliver 77.8 dB, which will definitely appeal to those who need loud sound when playing games or watching movies / video clips. When connected to an amplifier, the sound is very clear with good range and detail. But we rarely connect the phone to the amplifier, we connect headphones much more often.

    With headphones, the Google Pixel’s sound performance sags a little in the area of ​​harmonic and intermodulation distortion (IMD). An increase in intermodulation distortion has an extremely negative effect on sound quality, and in this respect, Google Pixel really loses to smartphones with a dedicated audio chip, for example, ZTE Axon 7 or LG V20. Even the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 produce clearer sound.

    92.1

    Google Pixel. Sound quality
    CHO 0.0044 0.063

    Still, don’t throw stones at the Google Pixel. The sound is good, quite at the level of flagships, although it lacks arguments to compete with the best representatives of the “audiophile smartphone” category.

    Five-Inches Note:
    FR: frequency response. It characterizes the differences in the amplitude (gain) of the output signal at different frequencies. The closer the OR is to zero, the better.
    Signal/noise ratio: ratio of useful signal power to interference and noise power. Less is better. (In other words, the higher the absolute value, the better.)
    DD: dynamic range. The difference in decibels between the quietest and loudest sound. The higher the range, the better.
    THD: THD. A measure of the degree of non-linearity in an audio system. The lower the better. Read more in the material «Smartphone audiophile: harmonic and intermodulation distortion.»
    CII: intermodulation distortion factor. Intermodulation distortion greatly degrades the sound quality. The smaller the CII, the better the sound. More details in the same material at the link for KGI.

    Google Pixel Camera

    In the Google Pixel review, the camera section occupies a special place. All experts agree that the smartphone camera is one of the best on the market. The pixel easily competes with the iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7, and it does not lose in direct comparison with the hot new products of 2017.

    On paper, the Google Pixel’s camera specs seem average, at least for the Flagship League. There are no Leica optics here, like the Huawei P10 camera. Resolution 12.3 megapixels, no optical stabilization, aperture f / 2.0 — standard, nothing outstanding. The real magic starts in HDR+, which is enabled by default. Not to mention the increased pixel size on the IMX377 sensor — 1.55 microns. For comparison, the pixel size in the LG G6 is only 1.12 microns (LG G6 Review).

    What does HDR+ do? When the camera is turned on, it takes 9 preview frames. These are not full-fledged photos with sufficient exposure yet, but during the subsequent software processing of the photo you took, they are layered on top of each other, adding the missing details. The result is a clear, contrasting and rich picture with amazing detail and realistic colors.

    With its HDR+ mode, Pixel captures great pictures in any light. There are several comparison reviews posted on Five-Inches with photos galore, so this Google Pixel review won’t include examples. We recommend that you read the material Google Pixel and LG G6 camera test. We also recommend the article Smartphone with the best camera — it compares the cameras of the Pixel, iPhone 7, LG V20 and Galaxy S7. There are more than enough examples!

    For video lovers, Google Pixel offers several formats to choose from. You can shoot in 4K at 30 frames per second with a bit rate of 42 Mbps. You can choose Full HD at 21.6 Mbps and increase the frame rate to 60 — the picture is incredibly smooth, detailed and with realistic colors.

    There is a slow-motion mode at 120 fps for Full HD or 240 fps for 720p. Yes, it’s not fantastic 960 frames per second, like the Sony Xperia XZ Premium concept, but not bad either. Let’s add the camera application to its merits — it’s extremely simple, it’s easy to switch between video recording modes, which distinguishes Pixel from HTC U Ultra. The only serious drawback is the mono sound. There is no possibility to write video with stereo sound.

    Ask what’s wrong with the camera Google Pixel XL ? Exactly the same — smartphones received identical modules, cameras are no different.

    First results

    Let’s summarize the first part of the Google Pixel review. The smartphone has a weak battery, a good display and a great camera. The sound quality in the headphones is normal, although inferior to the best smartphones with a dedicated audio chip. But the strengths and weaknesses of the Pixel are not limited to this. In the second part of the review we are talking about:

    • Performance and benchmark results.
    • Design, body materials and build quality.
    • Interfaces and software.
    • Key advantages and main disadvantages.

    Stay tuned, comment and stay tuned for more posts on Five-Inches!

    Google Pixel review based on materials from GSMArena.

    Google acknowledged a fatal hardware defect in the Google Pixel

    smartphone

    Technology

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      Google has recognized the hardware nature of sound distortion in Google Pixel smartphones. This means that the vendor will not be able to fix the problem with a software update. At the same time, the company stopped refunding defective models, instead offering a standard warranty service.

      Google revealed the nature of the problems with sound in Google Pixel

      The Google support team confirmed in response to a direct call that the problem with the speaker of the Google Pixel smartphone is not software, but hardware. The Google email with this message was posted by Reddit user Mark Buckman badmark .

      It follows that the problem cannot be fixed by releasing the appropriate update or changing the firmware on the device. Audio distortion only appears at full speaker volume, and all the update can do is limit the device’s maximum volume.

      Previously, Google promised to solve the problem and offered a refund to owners of defective smartphones. Now the company advises to simply use the warranty service, as reported in the same letter. Service involves replacing the device with exactly the same one that may have the same problems.

      Google Pixel speaker defect

      The problem with the Google Pixel speaker became known in December 2016, when Reddit user Mark Buckman posted a video testing the speaker using the Perfect Piano app. The application displays keys on the screen of the smartphone, similar to the keys of a piano or synthesizer, which should make musical sounds when pressed.

      When pressing keys quickly on the Google Pixel screen, the smartphone makes musical sounds mixed with loud crackling and static noise. In the video, several devices were tested, and the problem was found in everyone. It occurs only at maximum volume and does not affect sound playback through headphones. The problem was not found in the tested Apple and Samsung smartphones for comparison.

      Google Pixel speaker defect was found on several devices tested in a row

      Backman’s test results have been confirmed by independent research by various IT publications, including Mashable. The same resource reported complaints about static noise and interference when playing sound on Google Pixel, which have been received from device owners since October 2016. Pixel XL user Ryan Lestage (Ryan Lestage) claimed on the official community of Pixel owners that interference occurs when audio playback in Chrome, Facebook, TuneIn Radio, YouTube, and more.

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      Safety

      Initially, the problem was considered a software flaw, but updating Android, for example, from version 7. 1 to version 7.1.1 did not fix it. To a direct request, Google replied that it was «actively working to fix the problem.» In addition to a defective speaker, Google Pixel smartphones have problems with the camera, as well as when connecting to car multimedia systems. Also, some users complain about periodic device freezes.

      Google Pixel features

      The

      Google Pixel is the first smartphone released under Google’s own brand. The device was introduced in October 2016. It is positioned as a serious competitor to the latest models of Samsung and Apple smartphones. Notable features of the model are the presence of the Google Assistant voice assistant, outstanding camera performance and advanced virtual reality capabilities.

      The Google Pixel

      features a 5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), the flagship Pixel XL has a 5.5-inch screen with Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels). Both devices are based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and are equipped with 4 GB of RAM, as well as built-in storage, depending on the model, 32 GB or 128 GB.

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      Industry innovation

      The main camera of smartphones has a resolution of 12 MP with «large» 1.55-micron pixels and is equipped with an optical system with an aperture of f / 2.0, phase detection autofocus and an optical stabilization system. The front camera has a resolution of 8 MP. The battery capacity of the Google Pixel is 2770 mAh, while the Pixel XL has a more powerful 3450 mAh battery.

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      Valeria Shmyrova

      Google Pixel XL Lower Speaker Replacement

      Google Pixel XL Lower Speaker Replacement

      Sound not working on phone

      Speaker problems are a common smartphone problem, regardless of quality, brand, cost, age of use. Is it possible to replace the bottom Google pixel speaker by yourself?

      What causes the speaker to malfunction:

      • The owner has set the sound incorrectly;
      • Installing a program that is incompatible with a smartphone;
      • Silent mode enabled;
      • Application programs conflict;
      • Clogged lower speaker;
      • Headphone jack not working;
      • Phone got wet, moisture got inside;
      • Parts of the apparatus of the device broke: the speaker burned out, the contacts “departed”.

      It does not matter when the question arises — nothing is heard during a call or playing audio files, it should be concluded that the device needs to be diagnosed, the lower speaker may need to be replaced with a Google pixel XL. Before rushing to a technical service to fix it, check the factory settings, the speaker volume may be turned off or a failure has occurred.

      Volume settings

      What should I do if there is no sound? You can check the settings yourself, open the menu, then select «Settings». Then the «Volume» function. Next, a list of parameters will appear: stereo speaker, conversational, call volume, messages, next to the sliders that adjust the sound. If you see that the indicators are reduced to a minimum, add. Then check if the speaker is working. If the sound could not be restored, then you need to replace the lower speaker with a Google pixel.

      Regulator failure

      The failure can be caused by turning off the sound, minimizing it. Why this happens: the volume control «sinks» in this position, the sound cannot be added.

      Debris gets into the mechanism and interferes with free volume control, causing the buttons to stick. A master will help to fix it, who will disassemble the case, assess the condition of the contacts. Will make a soldering, in case of their disconnection. If necessary, replaces the module with a new one, replacing the Google pixel XL speaker is not needed. If the failure repeats, the volume control on the side should be replaced.

      Temporary option to restore the sound yourself

      Go to phone settings, increase the volume manually. The volume will be restored, but this will not solve the problem of a broken regulator, and there is also no need to replace the Google pixel speaker. If necessary, it will not be possible to adjust the sound with the buttons.

      Audio card failure

      The audio card is installed inside the smartphone. It amplifies certain frequencies. The causes of failure provoke the following consequences — the sound disappears, the frequency range narrows, the sound quality decreases. You can’t fix a broken audio board on your own. Contact the repair of equipment, they will diagnose, repair, the price of the service depends on the model.

      Damage

      Impacts on a hard surface during a fall lead to breakage of the device as a whole, individual parts. What happens to the audio system: loops break, contacts crack finely. The lower Google pixel speaker needs to be replaced.

      Moisture and phone are a pain for all smartphone users. Your actions: let the smartphone dry, remove the back cover, remove the battery. Lay out the parts of the phone on a dry cloth so that the moisture can drain off instead of getting deeper into the phone. Leave to dry for 2-3 hours. Assemble, turn on the phone, it didn’t work — the need to replace the lower speaker with a Google pixel is obvious.

      Factory defect

      Communication means warranty is 1 year from the date of purchase, if the period has not expired, contact the store where you bought it, specify the address of the branded service center. Take your passport, payment receipt, warranty card, broken phone with you. The service appoints an examination. Instead, they give out another smartphone, for the duration of the examination. The results are reported by phone, if the reason is a factory defect, you decide whether to replace it with a new copy or replace the Google pixel speaker. If the results of the examination show that the cause of the breakdown is mechanical damage, there will be no warranty replacement. You will pay for the repair cost.

      Faulty audio jack

      The contacts in the headphone jack are broken. The system sends a signal to the faulty pins of the jack, which are not able to reproduce the sound. The connector is a recess where dirt collects over time. Try to clean the connector from the accumulation of dust, dirt particles. Turn on the audio to test the speaker.

      Program level failure

      Software side conflicts only appear when using 2-3 applications at the same time that correct the playback of audio files. Choose one app you like, delete the rest. Reboot the phone, the sound will be restored if the bottom speaker is working.

      The above are the causes of audio problems. Problems have a different nature of occurrence. Replacing the lower Google pixel speaker is not an activity for amateurs, and most often you can’t do without the help of a master. To prolong the life of the lower smartphone speaker, it is recommended to set the optimal menu settings, use one profile, do not “overload” sound-correcting applications, and clean the dust once a month.

      Hard to hear Google Pixel XL

      Hard to hear Google Pixel XL

      Sound quality is a common user problem. And although the programs and equipment are from the time of the first cell phones (it was good luck to get through to the subscriber), sometimes even in google pixel it is hard to hear the interlocutor.

      Interruptions in the network

      A person begins to “hear” the difference between a metropolis and a suburban area, as soon as he leaves the city. This reason — the presence of areas not covered by cellular operators — causes the signal to behave inappropriately. At the same time, the voice of the interlocutor in the receiver disappears and appears unexpectedly.

      Not in every case, choosing the right network operator will help to deal with the fact that the google pixel XL has become hard to hear the interlocutor. The feedback base on the transition from MTS to Beeline, and from Beeline to Megafon is compiled subjectively and does not take into account the critical factor — the map of coverage areas. Only when considering such a card, the decision on the price of changing the mobile operator will be correct.

      The company offers the user information about supported frequencies depending on the region of the Russian Federation. Flagship models include a radio module operating in an extended range in the cost, but budget versions of phones cannot boast of such an upgrade.

      And an easy way to fix the network is to get out of the shielding room (eg basement) into fresh air.

      Interference during a call

      Bubbling, echoing and clicking are eliminated using standard phone functions. You need to go to the «Sound and vibration» section and turn on the «Noise reduction» option. If the reason that the interlocutor has become hard to hear in the google pixel lies in the external environment (extraneous noise), then noise reduction will improve the quality of the call.

      There are other reasons why the cell phone suddenly started acting up:

      • the other party turned on the loudspeaker, and the sound wave echoed back. In this case, turning off the speakerphone helps;
      • the body of the device is confirmed and blocks the direct path of sound to the microphone, adding repetition;
      • Cover similar to sound blocking.

      Microphone overlap

      If your Google Pixel is hard to hear the interlocutor, ordinary dust can be a commonplace problem. The holes on the cover are clogged with dirt, because of which the subscriber does not hear sound from the speakers.

      Another case is the deliberate absence of holes on the case. In this case, you need to be careful at the time of purchasing the accessory and check whether the case fits the phone and whether there are exits to the outside.

      Squelch option

      If the surrounding sound is quiet, the Squelch may overdo it and muffle caller voices. If the option is not turned off through the settings, then the method of editing system files can help, which is not recommended for ordinary users and is an emergency way to fix the problem of “it’s hard to hear the other person on the google pixel phone”.

      Using root rights and a file manager, the following actions are performed:

      • Go to /system;
      • Open build.prop;
      • Change persist.audio.fluence.voicecall= true to persist.audio.fluence.voicecall= false;
      • Restart device.

      In order not to risk getting root-rights, you can download the program Quick Shortcut Maker. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

      • run the program;
      • go to «Actions» — «Other settings»;
      • enable the «View» option;
      • turn off noise reduction;
      • check if the interlocutor is hard to hear on the phone google pixel XL.

      Faulty microphone

      The microphone itself is also causing problems. If the interlocutor has become hard to hear in google pixel and none of the methods above improved the sound, then you need to check the health of the equipment.

      Programmers use two methods of verification. The first is to record and listen to sound on a voice recorder. The second is the audio engineering test. In the dialing menu, *#*#6484#*#* is dialed, redirecting the user to the service menu. And then the tests are sequentially launched:

      • checking the conversational speaker;
      • standard speaker test;
      • headsets;
      • headphone jack;
      • playback test.

      If the test results reveal errors, then the microphone needs to be replaced — it is the reason that the interlocutor on the google pixel phone is hard to hear.

      Software failure

      A software error causes the user to ask a legitimate question “What to do?”. The answer is to change the firmware of the device.

      For advanced users who are familiar with unlocking the bootloader and pre-installed program recovery, specialized sites contain modem archives available for download.

      But before that, you need to establish whether the flashing will fix the fact that the google pixel is hard to hear the interlocutor. This is checked by turning off the Internet and trying to make a call. The connection quality fix indicates that a new firmware is needed with Hard Reset Xiaomi.

      Enable Pixel 5 Adaptive Sound on older Pixel devices (Guide)

      The Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G) have recently received a new Adaptive Sound feature that adjusts and improves the sound quality of your phone based on your surroundings. In this tutorial, I will show you how to enable the Pixel 5 adaptive sound feature on older Pixel phones. These include the Pixel 4/XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3/XL. This new feature can be enabled on both rooted and non-rooted phones using the Magisk module or ADB commands respectively.

      Back in December 2019, Google announced the Pixel Feature Drop concept, with the company’s own Pixel line getting major updates in terms of new features. Google communicates these features to users through the official Pixel Google Blog.

      This is the fifth and released the latest Pixel Feature Drop in December 2020. This has brought a host of exciting new features such as Hold for Me, Extreme Battery Saver, the ability to export a Now Playing playlist, and more to all supported Pixel devices.

      These included certain features that were exclusive to the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G) devices. We’re here for the Adaptive Sound feature. According to Google, this feature improves the sound quality of your phone’s speaker depending on your surroundings. It uses the microphone to judge the acoustics around you and then adjusts the audio equalizer settings in certain apps. «.

      Adaptive sound in settings menu on Pixel

      While this feature is optional, it would be nice to have it on your Pixel phone. And that’s what this lesson is about. Below you will find instructions on how to enable the adaptive sound feature on older, rooted or non-rooted Pixel devices.

      Credits are from a recognized XDA developer. Freak07 who posted about this method on the XDA forums. Be sure to visit the thread and give it a thumbs up!

      How to Enable Adaptive Sound on Older Rooted Pixel Phones

      If your Pixel phone is rooted, enabling your Pixel 5’s adaptive sound feature is as easy as installing a Magisk module.

      Device Personalization Services installed on older Pixel phones does not include adaptive audio. As such, you will need to install the one designed for the Pixel 5. So, start by downloading the Pixel 5 Device Personalization Services app on your device from APKMirror. Then launch the file manager app and install the APK on your device (information: how to install the APK).

      Then download the Magisk Adaptive Sound Enabler module (Adaptive_Audio_Settings_Enabler.zip) on your device. Then open the Magisk Manager app and navigate to ‘ Modules ’ by clicking the icon in the top right corner of the navigation bar.

      Select ‘ Install from repository ’ and navigate to the location where the module was downloaded. Click on the module zip file and wait for the module installation to complete. Finally, click ‘ reload ’ at the bottom right corner of the screen.

      Module works in installed and forgot so you don’t need to configure anything. Once your Pixel boots up, go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Adaptive Sound and turn the feature on.

      Note : You may have to wait a few minutes after rebooting your phone before the settings for this feature become visible.

      How to enable Adaptive Sound on older unrooted Pixel phones

      You can also enable Pixel 5 adaptive sound on non-rooted Pixel devices using the ADB command set. All you need is a computer, a USB-C cable, some basic command line knowledge, and, of course, a Pixel phone.

      The only downside to this method is that the feature will be disabled after the phone is rebooted. In this case, you will need to re-run the specified command to enable this feature again.

      1. First you need to install ADB on your computer. If you really want to install ADB locally, you can also run ADB from a web browser using WebADB.
      2. Then enable USB debugging on your Pixel smartphone.
      3. Next, download the Pixel 5 Device Personalization Services app and install the APK on your phone. This is because the version of this app currently installed on your phone does not have the adaptive sound feature.
      4. Once this is done, connect your phone to your computer via USB and launch a command prompt window. Then run the ADB Shell by typing the following command:
         adb shell 

      5. Finally, run the following shell commands to enable the Adaptive Sound feature on your Pixel phone:0975

      After executing the commands, close the command prompt window and turn off the phone. Then go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Adaptive Sound and turn on the toggle.

      This is it! You just learned how to enable the Pixel 5 adaptive audio feature on older and non-rooted Pixel phones.

      It’s hard to say exactly why Google decided to push older Pixel phones into the background and make this feature exclusive to newer phones. If this feature uses the microphones on the device to analyze the sound and the software to evaluate it, then it doesn’t make sense to turn it off for older supported Pixel phones (I could be wrong).

      Anyway, now that you can enable Adaptive Sound, give it a try. Let me know if enabling this feature affects the sound quality as your environment changes.

      Via: XDA Developers

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      Install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL (Guide)

      Boost your phone’s audio system with the industry’s most famous audio module. Follow this guide to install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

      The 2017 Pixel 2 series includes many exciting features, including Pixel Visual Core, Always On display, Now Playing, unlimited Google Photos storage, and more. But the Pixel 2 phones don’t include powerful sound enhancement systems like those found in devices from ZTE, LG or Nokia. Well, the idea itself sounds good, and it would be great if Google decides to bring it to life. Either way, if you’re really looking forward to getting past those beats, then you should consider installing a third-party audio mod on your phone. When we talk about «audio mods», ViPER4Android tops the list. This allows you to manually tune each audio tone on your device. The following steps will help you easily install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL .

      How to install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

      How to install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

      ViPER4Android is one of the most powerful and powerful audio equalizer for Android. The mod was first introduced in 2013 by Eife Wong (known as ViPER520) and Jasper Lu (known as Zhuhang) and quickly gained popularity in the community. The tweak has since been applied to Android devices to improve audio quality on the device. Over the past 2 years, ViPER4Android has undergone enough changes and improvements in its features to be awarded « Best Sound Mod for Android ‘.

      Although I’m not an audiophile, I still love music, especially the way it reaches my ears. When I like the sound in my Sony home theater system, I am equally annoyed by the sound system in my car. Well, ViPER4Android fixes that for me, right from the device side. Not only that, the mod often made some of my crappy headphones sound good. So pair it with your Google Pixel 2 and you will get the best sound quality on your device. Many thanks to arion for creating a simple Magisk module that will help us install ViPER4Android on Pixel 2 .

      ViPER4 for Android Features

      Before proceeding with the instructions for installing ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, please review the list of suggested features.

      • Playback Gain Control: This option will allow you to maximize or minimize your device’s audio output.
      • FET Compressor: This setting is extremely useful for those who find that overly wide sound settings can seriously damage the instrument. In fact, this is the best audio compressor.
      • ViPER-DDC: When enabled, balanced low, mid and high frequencies are output for optimal listening experience. The application has built-in DDC profiles for a long list of manufacturers and models of headphones.
      • FIREqualizer: A basic equalizer system for your Android device with low, medium and high frequencies ranging from 31Hz to 16,000Hz in that order. It also includes 12 different preset modes for fast switching.
      • Convolver: Allows you to play using the characteristics of the Input Response Sample (IRS) being used. You will find Zhuhang’s personal IRS kit. Here.
      • Differential Sound: Also known as the Haas Effect, it delays the time it takes for sound to reach your ear. Simply put, this setting creates a depth effect.

      This is just a highlight. You will experience a wide range of options when installing ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

      Background

      We could find the easiest way to help you install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and XL. So instead of shirking the hassle of manual installation, we’ll just use a dedicated Magisk module to get the job done.

      Instructions for installing ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

      1. Download the ViPER4Android FX module : v4afx_v1.1.zip
      2. Connect Pixel 2 to PC and copy the Magisk module to your phone’s internal memory.
      3. After transfer, go to the app drawer and run ‘ Magic Manager ’.
      4. Click on the menu icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
      5. Select ‘ Modules ’.
      6. Click on the plus sign «+».
      7. Go to internal storage and select ‘ v4afx_v1.1.zip ’ to install ViPER4Android on Google Pixel 2.
      8. The installation screen will appear.
      9. When prompted to enter ‘ Select version ‘, press the volume up button for version 2.5.0.5 or the volume down button for version 2.3.4.0.
      10. Then press Volume Up or Volume Down if you want to install the Material UI V4A app or the original app, respectively.
      11. Once you do this, the module will instantly install ViPER4Android on your Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL.
      12. After installation, click on the icon RESET button.

      The above method works flawlessly and automatically disables any other audio equalizer available on your device. After successful installation, you can open the ViPER4Android app and customize your phone’s sound system for better performance. If you’re not sure which settings fit best, you can start here and explore the endless V4A profiles posted by users from all over the world.