If you went by many reviews, Pixel phones would reign supreme if Google simply upgraded their spec sheets: faster chips, newer cameras, and larger batteries. And those do need updates, as Google has been held back by sub-par Tensor performance and tech that sometimes hasn’t changed for years.

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Google Tensor G5

The real problems lie much deeper, however. While there have been excellent designs, some of the issues stem from Google’s institutional approach to the Pixel: it’s frequently more of a vehicle for the company’s services than a great device in itself. That needs to change if tbe phones are going to rival the best that Apple and Samsung have to offer. Thankfully, the fixes are clear — here’s what Google needs to do to ‘save’ the Pixel and make it the go-to choice for Android fans.

The Pixel needs to be more reliable

Glitches are all too common

Ask Pixel owners about their experiences and there’s a good chance they’ll complain about reliability. Hardware issues are commonplace, including overheating and flaky Samsung modem connections. While no brand is immune to technical headaches, they’re virtually expected with Pixels.

Some fixes are either here or on the way. Google is using vapor chamber cooling in Pixel 10 Pro models, and is reportedly switching modems for the Pixel 11. However, Google needs to improve hardware quality across the board, even if it means using batteries and modems that focus on consistency over performance. Apple, Samsung, and other top-tier brands succeed in part because their hardware is highly trustworthy — Google needs to achieve that same level of rock-solid design.

The reliability issues extend to the software. Pixel phones have developed a reputation for buggy code, such as excessive battery drain or even problems calling 911. In some cases, previously-fixed flaws are reintroduced months later. Smartphones are complex projects, but these are core flaws that testing should catch — they’re not acceptable for a technology giant with ten phone generations under its belt.

More rigorous testing is clearly necessary, but this also suggests that Google needs to slow down on developing both Android and Pixel-specific software. It might need to take a breather and focus more on baseline stability than adding new features or shipping quickly. A late launch could be worthwhile if it leads to a polished Pixel you’re more likely to buy.

Don’t lean too much on AI

AI isn’t a substitute for hardware updates

Credit: Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

Google is making AI more central to the Pixel than ever before, and that’s an understandable way to rise above a crowded field. Pixels had useful AI-driven features like call screening years before they reached competitors, and it’s likely that the Pixel 11 will serve as a showcase for Android 17’s agentic Gemini Intelligence. Why give up those advantages?

But there’s a difference between highlighting AI and using it as a crutch, and Pixel phones are increasingly relying on Gemini to make up for a lack of hardware improvements. Take the Pixel 10 Pro series’ 100X Pro Res Zoom as an example. It sounds impressive, but you’re still shooting with a very familiar 5X telephoto camera — Google is just using AI to produce a usable shot, and then in such narrow conditions that you likely won’t use it often.

In some cases, Google is even using AI to provide capabilities that rivals manage on-device. Video Boost does make footage look great, but a rival like the iPhone 17 Pro records better video out of the box, no cloud processing required. It’s hard to imagine a YouTuber or movie studio waiting hours just to get production-worthy clips.

I’m not asking Google to relegate Gemini to a single item on the feature checklist. Rather, Google should focus its energy on areas where AI will be widely appreciated, and recognize when only a hardware improvement will do. Gemini Intelligence addresses that first part well, provided it works as advertised — let’s hope future Pixel models address the second.

Fewer gimmicks, please

Temperature sensors are not must-haves

Credit: Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek

Pixel phones frequently have solid fundamentals, but Google also has a habit of introducing hardware gimmicks that you use once to show off your device… and never touch again. Squeezing the Pixel 2 to launch Google Assistant. Using hand gestures over radar to skip tracks on your Pixel 4. And, of course, a temperature sensor in recent models that might detect a fever but not much else.

It’s not just that these features are of questionable utility. It’s that Google is investing effort and consuming physical space that could be put to better use, like larger camera sensors and batteries. Phone giants like HTC and LG fell in part because they were too busy exploring exotic ideas that, while clever, didn’t click with buyers who just wanted better cameras and larger batteries. I don’t want Google suffering the same fate.

Google might tone things down with the Pixel 11, which is rumored to swap temperature checks for Pixel Glow lights that effectively modernize notification LEDs. This wouldn’t strictly be novel (Nothing says hello), but it would be more practical in an era when some people are eager to reduce screen time.

Remember why the Pixel exists in the first place

It should show what Android phones can do

Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

Google released the first Pixel phones in 2016 to go a step beyond its originally developer-focused Nexus line: the hardware was meant as the ideal vehicle for Android and services like Google Assistant. It theoretically inspired partners like Samsung to do better — and, of course, rely more on Google products.

The software-and-services focus is still there, but the phones themselves don’t push boundaries anymore. You’re better off buying a third-party phone like the Galaxy S26 if you want to run Gemini Inteligence faster, or make the most of Google’s AI photo editing features. Even my favorite Google device of all time, the Pixel 9, was more of a polished upper-mid-range phone that just happened to get new Google services first.

This doesn’t involve chasing better specs for their own sake, and it certainly doesn’t entail introducing another gimmick. Instead, it’s more of a mindset. Google should want the Pixel to shine all around, to have hardware that does full justice to the software on top.

That means never coasting. Tensor should be more than a good-enough vessel for AI; cameras should get more frequent upgrades to stay with the pack; if there’s an emerging standard, Google should be one of the first to adopt it. Apple and Samsung roll out minor phone revisions as well, but they have the class-leading hardware and market share to keep interest high. Google doesn’t have those luxuries.

Simply put, Google should be as excited about the Pixel as its most loyal enthusiasts. I want to be a rabid Pixel fan who can’t wait to get the latest phone, even if I know my existing model is just fine. I never want to excuse significant flaws; I want a company that makes even Apple and Samsung a bit nervous. If Google can capture that energy, the Pixel has a bright future.