Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro just received an out-of-cycle update, and reports are that the update tackles one of the most universally decried flaws of the phone. The changelog, as shared by Verizon, reveals the update “improves the performance of your device’s fingerprint sensor.”
While minor updates like this are expected over the lifetime of the phone, the Pixel normally has a regular cadence of updates, with a security update every month, a feature drop every quarter, and a major update every year. That Google went out of its way to push an update to the Pixel 6 specifically addressing the fingerprint sensor says a lot.
Reviewing the Pixel 6 Pro, Digital Trends’s Andy Boxall came away decidedly unimpressed, bluntly saying the in-display fingerprint sensor was rubbish. “The problem is it’s slow and unreliable. I’ve reregistered my print several times, and it doesn’t change the situation. I’ve used my PIN code to unlock the Pixel 6 Pro more than any other phone, and there’s no face unlock available to bypass the annoying fingerprint sensor,” the review read. The Pixel 6 received slightly better marks in that regard, but it was still slow.
Anecdotal reports from the Google Pixel subreddit say that the fingerprint sensor now works better after the update, with some even adding that it works through tempered glass screen protectors when it was sporadic prior. The slowness remains, as Google has been clear about it being a security feature, but the reliability is getting towards where it needs to be.
Biometric authentication is a basic part of high-end smartphones that you shouldn’t have to think about. Google had nailed it with the fingerprint sensor on the rear of prior Pixels, as well as with the Pixel 4’s face unlock feature. The Pixel 6 poses a regression in what was already a solid feature, and it’s great to see the company take steps towards addressing that blemish on an otherwise great phone.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.