Last Updated:
Pixel phones get the latest features and updates from Google but one basic option has been missing for all these years.
The Android 16 beta features could make Pixel phones support this option
Google Pixel phones have their identity thanks to the clean and bloatware-free Pixel UI and the latest features. But did you know that Pixel users miss out on some of the basic features?
Yes, most Android smartphones made by Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Samsung allow you to double-tap the lock screen to turn off the screen. However, double-tapping the lock screen on Pixel phones does nothing. Even though the screen can be turned on using the same way. But soon Pixel device could get this basic screen option.
According to Android Authority, Google is testing the double-tap screen gesture to turn off the screen which means it should be coming to Pixel phones, going by the trail of the recent Android 16 beta. There is evidence that the gesture works even though Android 16 Beta 4 does not activate it, the report adds.
When you double-tap a blank spot on your Pixel’s lock screen, the screen will turn off. Although there isn’t a way for users to activate it at the moment, this activity works as intended.
Surprisingly, Google didn’t offer this basic feature earlier, given how prevalent and helpful it is on other smartphones. In any case, the fact that Pixel users will finally be able to experience it is fantastic. Regretfully, we are unsure of the feature’s official launch date.
The fact that it isn’t available in the current test version means it won’t be coming to the final Android 16 release either. We will have to wait and see if it could be included in one of the initial Android 16 releases. You can activate this feature immediately if you are unable to wait for the final release. It is possible to activate the gesture before its official release by using a third-party program called Pixel Toolbox, as per reports.
