Android 13 Arrives For Pixel Devices With Significant Upgrades

It’s now official, Android 13 is now rolling out to Pixel phones, according to a Monday announcement from Google about the significant update to its mobile operating system. The news follows the release of Android 13 to the Android Open Source Project, which has been available to beta testers and developers since February and April, etc.

Google states that Android 13 will be available for phones built by its hardware partners. A few of the companies that are hardware partners with Google include Samsung, Asus, HMD, iQOO, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi.

The updated operating system by Google makes a number of significant enhancements and modifications to Android. The most obvious update users will notice after installation is the Material You which has now been expanded, allowing third-party apps to utilize the feature’s custom theming capabilities.

Additionally, there are a number of security improvements Android 13 boasts of, they include the option to selectively choose which images and videos an app can access rather than having it be an all-or-nothing choice. Now, the clipboard is automatically deleted after a predetermined period of time to stop programs from monitoring crucial data you recently copied. In addition, before sending notifications to your phone, apps must request your permission.

With the official adoption of Spatial Audio, 360-degree audio can now be streamed using compatible devices and streaming software. If you speak multiple languages, you may now designate a language for particular apps. Other Android 13 features include a redesigned media player that adjusts its look based on what you’re listening to, support for Bluetooth Low Energy for better sound quality at lower bitrates and reduced latency, improved multitasking on large-screen devices with a drag and drops support for multitasking, and better palm rejection when using styluses.

The update for Pixel 4 and newer users should start to appear starting today or within the course of the week (based on past rollouts). The following Pixel devices will receive Android 13 updates, Pixel 4 (XL), Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a. Everyone else, regardless of whether you own a Samsung or Motorola device, your guess as to when you’ll get Android 13 is as good,  how quickly we see the modifications depends on the phone maker. Some users will find it quicker than others. While certain manufacturers, like Samsung, will take longer, it’s not out of the question for the upgrade to hit your phone in early 2023, depending on the model.

For Pixel users, make sure your Pixel phone is plugged into power and linked to a reliable Wi-Fi network before beginning to download and install Android 13 on it. An over-the-air (OTA) update must have at least a 50% charge in order to work.

For Pixel users who wish to install Android 13, ensure your Pixel phone is plugged into power and linked to a reliable Wi-Fi network. Then locate the Setting Application on your device, Next, select System > System Update by scrolling downward. After a few seconds, if an update is available, it should load up here. Tap Check for the update if you want to. In order to continue, you must also ensure that your device has sufficient storage to download and install the update. The update file often weighs a few GBs.

In the bottom right corner, hit the green Download and install button to finish. The process of downloading and installing the Android 13 operating system will then start. Depending on the size and condition of your phone, this process could take 20 to 30 minutes, after which your phone is meant to restart with Android 13 installed.