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I miss the features of the Pixel 6 Pro and Google's AI presentation makes me feel the attraction of the Pixel 9 series

Issues with the battery, the optical under-display fingerprint scanner, the crappy modem, and the poor battery life led me to stop using my Pixel 6 Pro last summer and replace it as my everyday device with my older iPhone 11 Pro Max and then the iPhone 15 Pro Max that I bought. While the Pixel 6 Pro was a fiasco, there were some pretty cool AI-based features on the phone three full years before the Gemini acquisition, which Google announced yesterday for the Pixel 9 line.

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One feature I immediately missed was Hold for Me. Isn't it annoying to have to stay next to the phone when you're on hold? With Hold for Me, the phone would detect when I was put on hold and would literally “hold for me.” I would get a notification when the other side of the call came back. Google would then play a short message to let the other person know that I was resuming the call. This feature worked beautifully and I wish my iPhone offered it too.

Gemini Live shines as a virtual assistant

Google has added a “bookend” to the Pixel Watch 3 called “Ask to Hold,” which is part of the Pixel’s Call Assist feature. With “Ask to Hold” PixelWatch 3 answers a call for you and puts the caller on hold until you find a quiet place to talk.
When did Apple go public? Siri gives us three websites to read (R), while Gemini Live only gives us the right answer (L). | Image credit: PhoneArena - Pixel 6 Pro features I miss and Google's AI showcase makes me feel the pull of the Pixel 9 lineupWhen did Apple go public? Siri gives us three websites to read (R), while Gemini Live only gives us the right answer (L). | Image credit: PhoneArena - Pixel 6 Pro features I miss and Google's AI showcase makes me feel the pull of the Pixel 9 lineup

When did Apple go public? Siri gives us three websites to read (R), while Gemini Live gives us only the correct answer (L). | Image credit: PhoneArena

Another feature I really missed when switching from Pixel to iPhone was Quick Phrases. Have you ever been in another room when your phone’s alarm or timer went off and you just didn’t feel like walking over to the device to turn the alarm off? With the Pixel 6 ProI could say “stop” and the alarm would turn off. As someone who suffers from severe spinal stenosis, I have found that shouting “stop” to turn off an annoying alarm is better than getting up, grabbing my cane, and walking to the phone to turn it off.

I was able to use Gemini Live on my Pixel 6 Proby long-pressing the power button to activate it. It's the best virtual assistant I've ever used. We won't know until next year if Siri can match the responses to queries that Gemini Live reveals. So far, the only changes to Siri in the iOS 18.1 Developer Beta are cosmetic. A glowing light on the edge of the iPhone lights up when Siri is activated, and the assistant has a more conversational tone when speaking.

But some things never change. If you ask Siri when Apple went public, you'll get three websites to read through to find the answer. Ask Gemini Live the question and you'll get one answer: “Apple went public on December 12, 1980.” I love it.

I feel the attraction of the pixel

If that sounds like I'm thinking about switching back to the Pixel, I'd probably wait until next year, when the Pixel 10 is expected to showcase the first application processor designed from the ground up by Google. In addition, the Tensor G5 is built by TSMC using its 3nm process node. The Tensor G4, which is the Pixels 9 The series is built by Samsung Foundry with its 4nm node. Nevertheless, I am even considering making this switch after seeing the Pixel 6 Pro tells you how impressive Google's AI was during Tuesday's event.

I feel the attraction of the Pixels 9 Series that draws me away from my iPhone. The Pixels 9 The series offers 20% longer battery life and the under-display fingerprint scanner now uses an ultrasonic sensor. It's the same one used in the Galaxy S24 range.

This is what happens when you feel like the grass is greener on the other side.

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