When it comes to the Google Pixel, the following often come to mind: unique design, powerful cameras, and a clean Pixel UI.
All of these are rightfully worthy of attention. However, if you’ve used one of Google’s recent devices, whether a flagship or a mid-range model, you know that the Pixel offers a lot more than just that.
Here at Cuke, we’ve highlighted five underrated Google Pixel features that are worth checking out.
Taking panoramas on the Pixel 9 is easy
The Pixel camera is certainly a good one. But there are some new features that many people still don’t know about. One of them is Google’s reworked approach to taking panoramas.
The company reconsidered the old method, in which the camera moved from side to side along narrow horizontal lines, and finally admitted that it was inconvenient. It was almost impossible to hold the phone level.
Now Google has abandoned these parallel lines, inspired by the interface of the Night Sight mode. In the new version of panoramic shooting, you no longer need to hold the phone perfectly level – you just need to line up a row of points and briefly pause at each one to take a photo.
When you’re ready to finish the panorama, just press a button, as if stopping a video recording, and the Tensor G4 processor will begin stitching the image. Then you can use Google’s familiar editing tools. The results of such panoramas look truly impressive.
The spam detection system works well
+Caller ID and spam protection are turned on by default, so you have to work hard to get away from unwanted calls. With protection enabled, your Pixel automatically sends incoming numbers that aren’t in your contacts to Google, where they’re analyzed to see if they’re legitimate or potential spam.
And it’s incredibly fast. The Pixel 9 Pro, for example, rings once and, by the second ring, decides whether to answer or send the call straight to voicemail.
If the call is marked as spam, you won’t even get a notification. If it’s an important call, you’ll receive it as a voicemail or see it in your call log without having to confirm it as spam.
Plus, if Google identifies the number as legitimate, you can leave feedback by opening your recent calls, tapping “Feedback on number,” and following the prompts to mark it as a business contact.
Google Pixel has top-notch haptics
Some of the Pixel’s most underrated features aren’t software-related. For example, Google’s excellent haptic engine delivers some seriously good vibrations.
While you probably wouldn’t buy a phone solely for its haptic feedback, you’d be surprised at how much of a difference it makes when the feedback is clear and reliable.
When you’re typing a message without looking at the screen, how do you know that each keystroke worked? If your phone’s haptic feedback is weak, you can easily miss a letter or accidentally add an extra space.
On the Pixel, the haptic feedback is clear and immediate, so you’re always sure you’ve pressed the right key. The same goes for incoming calls—the vibrations are so precise and expressive that you immediately know someone is calling.
Adaptive Charging on the Pixel is truly adaptive
A feature that has become a hot topic for the Pixel is the charging settings. There’s a lot of talk about it, as Google typically advertises 45W charging with proprietary chargers, even though those speeds aren’t available with current Pixel models. However, Google’s other battery-saving features have proven to be far more useful, especially Adaptive Charging.
Leaving the Pixel 9 Pro to charge overnight and looking at the charging graph in the morning shows that the phone quickly charges to 80%, then slows down, and then recharges the rest just before waking up. Adaptive Charging may not be a unique Pixel feature, but Google’s approach seems to be quite effective among its peers.
Of course, the Pixel has other great features like Pixel Weather, Now Playing, and Magic Editor, which are all compelling reasons to pick up the phone on their own. These features have become so beloved that it would be unfair to include them in a list of underrated ones.
