8 Pixel Features You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

Google Pixel phones are known for their legendary cameras and clean user interface. However, there are many other hidden features that set them apart from other Android devices. In this post, we have listed some of the best Pixel features you didn’t know existed.

Apart from their popular features, Google Pixel phones are packed with too many innovative features, including AI-powered capabilities, photography enhancements, safety tools, etc. No matter whether you are planning to switch to a Pixel device or discovering the unknown features of your own Pixel phone, read on to learn about these features and how you can enable them.

Pixel Features You Didn’t Know Existed

Direct My Call

It’s another best-calling Pixel feature that you didn’t know existed. Direct My Call, once enabled, shows you on screen what the automated voice says with the menu options you have to choose from through tappable number buttons when you call a business with an automated menu. The feature is available only in the US in English on Pixel 3 and later models.

Direct My Call

To enable the feature, just head over to the Phone app’s settings. Choose Direct My Call, and enable the toggle to turn it on.

Use Your Pixel as a Webcam for PC

Another good feature that you probably didn’t know is that you can use your Pixel phone as a webcam for your PC or computer.

For this feature to work, all you have to do is connect your Pixel phone to the computer via cable and then select the webcam option on your device. We have also made a dedicated article explaining how you can use this feature.

Video Boost

Video Boost is a feature exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro as of now, uses the phone’s Tensor G3 chipset and the powers of computational photography to improve the quality of the videos.

Using this feature, users can make videos on their devices in higher quality and with better lighting, colors, and details.

Video Boost

The feature employs cloud computing power, and clips are uploaded and processed; once they are ready, you can download them. Here’s everything you need to know about the video boost feature.

Pick a Best Shot

While some users may already know the existence of the feature, for those unfamiliar, the Pixel phone has a Top Shot feature, which, once you enable and take photos, saves frames from a motion photo. In which you can pick your favorite shot. The feature is available on Pixel 3 and above series phones.

To enable it, open the Camera app, tap on the gear icon, and select Auto or On next to Top Shot. Note that the feature will not work when flash, social media depth features, night sight, selfie illumination, or high-resolution are on.

After taking a photo with the feature, you can easily pick the best shot. For this, open the Photos app and open the photo. Swipe up on the image and pick the best shot under the Shots in this photo option.

Call Screen

This feature is very useful for you if you are dealing with spam calls. The Call Screen feature uses Google Assistant to answer unknown calls on your behalf.

It will ask callers who they are and the reason for the call. You can read a real-time transcription of the caller’s message and decide whether you want to answer, hang up, or even respond with a suggested message.

The feature currently works on all Pixel phones in the US. You can also use it manually in supported countries, which include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the UK.

To enable the feature, open the Phone app. Tap on the three-dot icon at the top and select Settings. Choose Spam and Call Screen or Call Screen, then select Call Screen. Finally, enable the toggle for Automatically screen calls.

Hold For Me

It’s one of my favorite features for Google Pixel devices, and you will like it too if you get tired of listening to on-hold music while on a call and want to skip it.

Hold For Me, once enabled, places your call on hold and notifies you when a representative comes on the line.

The feature works only for toll-free numbers, and sometimes it fails to detect when you are on hold. Also, the feature is only available in the US, UK, Australia, Japan, and Canada in Japanese and English on Pixel 3 and newer Pixel devices.

Hold For Me

To turn on the feature, open the Phone app, click on the three-dot icon, and select Settings. From the settings menu that appears on the screen, choose Hold For Me and enable it.

App Pinning

App pinning is another best feature of the Pixel phone, which becomes very useful when you want to hand off your phone to someone else. It lets users lock an app’s screen to keep it in view. Also, if someone knows how to unpin it and unpin the app’s screen, the phone will require a passcode.

To pin an app, you first need to turn on app pinning in your settings. Just open the Settings app. Tap on Security & privacy > More security settings > App pinning. Finally, turn on Use app pinning.

After turning it on, head over to the app you want to pin. Swipe up to the middle and hold to view the background overview. Click on the app’s icon at the top and select Pin from the available menu options. To unpin an app, swipe up from the bottom and hold.

Car Crash Detection

While you may be aware of this car crash detection as one of the most popular features for iPhones, the feature was first introduced on Pixel devices.

It’s a lifesaver feature that uses motion sensors, nearby sounds, and the phone’s location to detect a severe car accident. Here’s everything you need to know about the car crash detection feature.

Wrapping Up

So, these are some of the best Google Pixel features whose existence you might not know. While we have tried to list some of the best ones, do let us know if we have missed any other popular ones. Also, share the article with Pixel users to let them be aware of these features.

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AUTHOR.

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Harsh Saxena

Hi! I am Harsh and I write about technology on different websites. I frequently write about these topics and cover them. I am available on Twitter at @Harsh4saxena or Email me at harsh4saxena@gmail.com to send in your feedback and tips. Worked at GadgetsToUse, BrowserToUse, DailyTechByte, FreshFounder, and with many other websites as an author and researcher.

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