Some owners of Google's self-branded flagships, the Pixel and Pixel XL, have been enduring a slight malfunction with the devices, having to gnaw fruitlessly at audio distortions and popping associated with affected devices' speakers for quite some time now.
That was around December, and the snags have gone on unsorted, leaving many users upset.
Google Fixes The Pixel's Audio Issues
Fortunately, Google has come up with an update that'll smooth the issues out for good, although reports indicate that there could still be a slight problem.
This month's security patch brings, apart from the usual fare of vulnerability bolsters and such, a fix for a widespread Pixel issue, and many users have reported that their Pixel phones have indeed started normally outputting sound upon installing the February security patch.
How It Started
The issues were first brought on Reddit and the Google+ Pixel User Community a while back, affecting both the Pixel and Pixel XL, wherein the speaker outputted distorted and popping sounds when the volume is set at maximum. This problem wasn't exclusive to the speaker, too — outputting sound via Speakers or Chromecast also exhibited it, and it was present on some third-party apps as well.
Users, upset about the said issues, went ahead and got their handsets replaced with another Pixel, but that didn't amount to anything because the issues still persisted. On Jan. 17, Google informed affected users that it was in fact a software issue, and that it was currently working on a fix, advising users not to play their devices at maximum volume.
Google Pixel Volume Not As Loud?
Well, Google has now delivered on its word. But as informed by users who have installed the patch, the Pixel's volume might not be as loud as before. While the audio might now be clearer and crisper upon installation of the security patch, several users, particularly on Reddit, have noted a slightly noticeable drop in volume.
Be that as it may, the new security patch, which is rolling out now, should fix your Pixel's audio issues accordingly, dropped volume or not. Apart from this, the update also includes an increased "reliability of sending and receiving calls with the Honda Bluetooth Carkit," according to a report by 9to5Google.
Users on the Pixel Product Forums, however, note that audio issues still persist after the 7.1.2 Developer Preview released recently. The next preview will likely smooth this out once it's released.
Unfortunately, the patch appears to have not fixed every Pixel device. Some users have reported that hissing and popping sounds still occur even after the security patch, although the exact number of devices still can't be determined.
If your Pixel is bogged down by audio issues, it's best to try this fix and see if the issues are ironed out. To check if the February security patch has been installed on your phone, hit Settings, scroll down until you get to About Phone, and choose System updates.
Still having issues with your Pixel handset even after the update? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
