TechPhonesAndroid PhonesGoogle Pixel 6a owners just got a major free Android upgradeAndroid 13 has rolled out for Google Pixel 6a customers, following the Pixel 6 & 6 Pro rollout earlier this monthWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechPhonesAndroid PhonesGoogle Pixel 6a owners just got a major free Android upgradeAndroid 13 has rolled out for Google Pixel 6a customers, following the Pixel 6 & 6 Pro rollout earlier this monthWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Android 13 has rolled out for Google Pixel 6a customers, following the Pixel 6 & 6 Pro rollout earlier this month
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
As aPixel 6auser, I received a most welcome email fromGoogletoday with the heading ‘Get even more from your Pixel’. So what’s that all about?
Following on from therollout of Android 13 for earlier Pixel devices, including thePixel 6andPixel 6 Pro, the operating system upgrade wasn’t initially available for the Pixel 6a (as Google attested). But that’s all just changed.
As I type this I’m watching my Pixel 6a ‘installing security update’ on anAndroid 13 updatepage, which details the promise of cool new features that Pixel 6a owners, such as myself, will be set to receive as part of the upgrade.
I should have checked sooner, but I’ve been too busy dabbling iniPhone 14andMotorola Edge 30 Ultralaunches, but theAndroid13 update on the Pixel 6a is likely to lure me back to thatgreat affordable phonein the near future (well, if thePixel 7 Prodoesn’t take over my world, which is even more likely come October).
So what exactly will the Android 13 update bring to the Pixel 6a? There are a whole host of features, so here’s five of the more prominent ones to look forward to:
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
1. Themed app icons
Personalisation is core to Android 13. Indeed it’s probably the biggest take-away of this version. It now includes expanded themed app icons to match wallpaper colours, including non-Google apps to ensure a unified look that’s not been possible before now.
2. New app notification controls
There’s more granular control over apps too, including the ability to state when a given app can send notifications. That’ll be ideal for downtime and periods of quiet.
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You can also stream messaging apps directly to a Chromebook, although this is one feature I probably won’t be using!
3. More security with photo selections
You no longer have to share your entire media library with your apps, meaning you can instead select only specific photos and videos. That’s great for privacy and additional security.
4. New media player!
AtGoogle I/O 2022this was one of the biggest visual features that Google showed off around Android 13: the all-new media player.
It includes album artwork and a new playback bar, the latter which Google describes as ‘fun’ – that’s because it now ‘dances’ to the beat.
5. Multi-lingual app support
There are new APIs for app developers in Androi 13, meaning better support for multiple languages. That means the ability to assign different languages to different apps, should you be multi-lingual and want to switch keyboard types and default languages in specific apps.
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