5 Google Pixel features I miss every time I use another Android phone

I’ve been on the Pixel train for almost nine years, ever since the Pixel 2 XL launched. I’ve owned almost every Pixel since then (minus the Pixel 3 series) and used them as my main phones all year until it was time to upgrade again.

But the Pixels have not been my only phones. I have got my hands on Samsung, OnePlus, HONOR, realme, Nothing, Fairphone, Poco, Nokia and other phone brands. However, every time I try another brand, there is something that keeps me coming back to my Pixel.

Those features change over time, with my digital usage and needs, and with the different features that are implemented on non-Pixel devices and are no longer exclusive to Google phones. Right now, these are the five features I miss most when I’m away from my Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Of all the Pixel-exclusive features, the one I return to most often these days is the Free Pixel VPN. I used to avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks and rely on my SIM card, which offers free roaming throughout Europe, or a prepaid eSIM outside the continent. But recently I found myself in several situations where I needed to connect to public networks.

From uploading photos in hotels to having terrible signal reception on trains, I’ve had to accept the dangers of connecting to public Wi-Fi, and the only mitigating factor that has made me feel safe and calm is the VPN on my Pixel 10 Pro. It’s free, works everywhere I need it, and is very easy to activate from the Quick Settings options.

Plus, thanks to a bunch of more granular settings, I can choose exactly when the VPN works and where it automatically turns off. For example, I can set my home Wi-Fi to be secure so the VPN doesn’t activate there and exclude apps that misbehave on VPNs. Of course, there are more powerful VPN services, but as something free and built into the phone, Pixel VPN is sufficient for my needs.

Rarely a day goes by without some random number calling me about energy deals in France. I don’t know what this spam/scam is about, but it is immensely annoying, especially on days when I’m waiting for a delivery or a call from a company. My Pixel 10 Pro XL’s call detection has saved me from all this and for that reason alone my SIM card cannot leave this phone.

It took me a while to adopt call screening, but now I immediately hit the button when I see an unknown number, even if I’m not expecting deliveries or other calls. Scammers typically take five seconds at most to hang up. They never call back, never send a message, never try to contact me again. And that tells me everything I need to know about that number, so I report it to Google and move on.

I also appreciate that the Pixel has robust spam management, with auto-dialing and spam archiving. In the US, Pixel users get even more calling and messaging features, and while I’m a little jealous of them, I find that these two already represent huge improvements to the quality of life of using my phone.

Several Android brands now include voice recording apps in their software, with many highly marketed AI features, but I keep coming back to the simple efficiency of Pixel Recorder. For several years now, my Pixel’s built-in recorder has been my go-to tool for recording voice memos during work meetings or for my personal memories. It works offline, on the device, and now recognizes different speaker voices and tags them. But my favorite features of Pixel Recorder go beyond that.

For me it is essential that all my recordings are synchronized on all devices with my Google account. I also love the web link you provide for each recording, so anyone can listen to the live voice memo and see the text transcript at the same time. The options to export the text file or voice recording separately are also fantastic.

To be honest, I don’t need more than this, and the more AI features and other apps they add, the less likely I am to use or trust them. The only feature I wish Pixel Recorder would add is the ability to manually edit some words to help me export a cleaner version in case of misinterpretation.

My Pixel phone tends to sit on a charger for a couple of hours every day. Sometimes, that’s at night; other times it is noon. And while they’re not as advanced as the iPhone’s standby mode (which I’m a little envious of), my Pixel’s screen protector options get the job done.

Depending on my mood or current circumstances, I can have it rotate between my favorite Google Photos, let it show the weather on particularly changeable days, or even show my smart home controls. There’s also a basic watch screen saver that comes in handy at night. But if I had to choose a favorite, it would always be Google Photos. I love seeing my best moments or my favorite people when my phone is on the charger, and it’s an integration I always miss when using non-Pixel phones.

For several years now, the Security features of Pixel phones They have been an absolute must-have and the only reason I choose a Pixel over any other phone. I can’t imagine moving my SIM card to another phone and losing my Pixel’s car crash detection, theft detection, satellite messaging, crisis alerts, and fall detection. No other Android phone offers a similar set of protection features; some may have one or two, but not all.

A younger version of me may not have cared about any of this, but as I get older and have more responsibilities, these safety features have become essential to me. I want to have peace of mind that I can connect and send messages in areas with poor reception and that my phone will detect potential car accidents and call emergency services if I am not conscious to do so.

Of course, there are plenty of other Pixel features that I appreciate every day, like selecting text or images from the app switching screen, or Now Playing, Top Shot and Photo Unblur from the camera, the new contact calling cards, and more. But today, the five features I mentioned above are what keep me firmly in the Pixel camp. What about you? What Pixel features can’t you live without? And which ones do you feel good about giving up?