The Google Pixel 3A and Pixel 3A XL have quickly become popular choices for users seeking a mid-range smartphone with a powerful camera and a seamless user experience. In this article, we’ll explore a range of tips and tricks that will help you make the most out of your Google Pixel 3A series device. From camera enhancements to customization options and productivity features, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!
Customize Your Pixel 3A’s Home Screen
One of the first things you’ll want to do when you get your Google Pixel 3A is to customize your home screen. This will allow you to personalize your device and make it feel truly yours. To do this, simply tap and hold on any open area of your home screen. This will bring up a pop-up menu that allows you to select “Widgets” and “Styles and wallpapers.”
In the “Styles and wallpapers” section, you’ll find various categories of wallpapers to choose from. We recommend checking out the “Earth” section, where you can find stunning shots of our planet and even some extraterrestrial landscapes. Additionally, some categories offer a “Daily wallpaper” option that changes your wallpaper automatically every day.
For more dramatic changes to your phone’s look, explore the “Style” options. Here, you can customize the font, icon shape, and accent color. Take advantage of Android’s customizability to create a home screen that reflects your personal style.
Within the customization menu, you’ll also find “Home settings.” Here, you can enable or disable notification dots, choose whether new app icons should be added to the home screen, and set “At A Glance” info like calendar events to stay at the top of the screen. Explore these options to tailor your home screen to your preferences.
Choose Quick Settings Toggles for Easy Access
The notification shade on the Google Pixel 3A series devices offers quick access to various settings and functions. By default, you’ll see a set of quick settings toggles when you swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers. However, you can customize these toggles to include the ones you use most frequently.
To edit the quick settings toggles, simply pull down the notification shade with two fingers and tap the pencil icon at the bottom left. This will open the edit mode, allowing you to add or remove toggles and rearrange them to your liking. This way, you can have quick access to the settings that matter most to you, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and screen brightness.
Enhance Your Viewing Experience with Night Light
If you find that the blue light emitted by your Pixel 3A’s screen strains your eyes, especially at night, you can use the Night Light feature to reduce the amount of blue light and create a warmer, more comfortable viewing experience. Night Light can also help improve your sleep quality by reducing the impact of blue light on your circadian rhythm.
To enable Night Light on your Pixel 3A, go to “Settings” > “Display” > “Night Light.” From here, you can choose to schedule Night Light to turn on automatically at specific times or have it align with the sunset and sunrise in your area. Adjust the intensity and duration of Night Light to your preference and enjoy a more soothing display.
Free Up Storage Space on Your Pixel 3A
With 64GB of storage space in the base model of the Pixel 3A series and no option for expandable storage, it’s essential to manage your storage effectively. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can free up space on your device and ensure you have room for new apps, photos, and videos.
First, uninstall any apps that you no longer use. Go to “Settings” > “Apps & notifications” > “See all apps” and select the apps you want to uninstall. Alternatively, you can use the “Free up space” option under “Settings” > “Storage” to remove unnecessary files and clear app caches.
To make more significant space savings, back up your photos and videos to Google Photos. Google offers free unlimited storage for high-quality photos and videos, so take advantage of this feature. Once your media files are backed up, you can delete them from your device by going to the “Photos” app and selecting “Free up device storage” from the settings menu.
By regularly managing your storage and utilizing Google Photos’ backup capabilities, you can ensure that your Pixel 3A always has enough space for your needs.
Screen Your Calls with Google Assistant
Google Assistant offers a useful feature called Call Screening that can help you avoid spam calls and telemarketers. When an incoming call arrives, you can choose to have Google Assistant answer it for you and provide a transcript of the caller’s response. This allows you to screen the call and decide whether to answer, send a quick reply, or report it as spam.
To enable Call Screening on your Pixel 3A, simply tap the “Screen call” option when a call comes in. Google Assistant will answer the call on your behalf and provide a message informing the caller that they are being screened. You can then view the transcript in real-time and take appropriate action.
This feature is especially handy for avoiding unwanted calls and maintaining a hassle-free calling experience.
Boost Your Productivity with Split Screen
Multitasking becomes a breeze on the Pixel 3A series thanks to the Split Screen feature. With Split Screen, you can run two apps side by side, allowing you to view and interact with both simultaneously. This is especially helpful when you need to reference information from one app while working on another.
To use Split Screen, start by opening the Recent Apps view. You can access this by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding your finger in place. Once in the Recent Apps view, tap on the app icon you want to run in Split Screen mode. From there, select “Split Screen” and choose the second app you want to run alongside it. You can adjust the size of each app’s window by dragging the divider in the middle.
By leveraging the Split Screen feature, you can maximize your productivity and get more done in less time on your Pixel 3A.
Customize Camera Gestures for Quick Access
The Pixel 3A series boasts a powerful camera that allows you to capture stunning photos effortlessly. To make the most of your device’s camera capabilities, you can customize the volume keys to perform specific camera gestures.
By default, pressing the Volume Up button on your Pixel 3A will zoom in, and the Volume Down button will zoom out. However, you can customize these gestures to suit your preferences. For instance, you can set the Volume Up button to capture a photo and the Volume Down button to switch between the front and rear cameras.
To configure these camera gestures, open the Camera app on your Pixel 3A and tap the arrow near the top of the screen. From there, select “Settings” and navigate to the “Gestures” section. Experiment with different camera gestures to find the ones that work best for you.
Quickly Switch Between Front and Rear Cameras
Switching between the front and rear cameras on your Pixel 3A is easier than ever. With a simple twist of your wrist, you can seamlessly switch between the two cameras, allowing you to capture the perfect selfie or switch to the main camera for a regular photo.
To enable this gesture, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Gestures.” From there, you can toggle on the option for camera flipping. Once enabled, all you need to do is twist your wrist twice to switch between the front and rear cameras.
This intuitive gesture makes it effortless to capture the moment from any perspective without missing a beat.
Capture Stunning Low-Light Photos with Night Sight
Night Sight is a groundbreaking feature that sets the Pixel series apart when it comes to low-light photography. With Night Sight, your Pixel 3A can capture remarkable photos even in extremely dark conditions. By utilizing advanced computational processing, Night Sight enhances details and reduces noise, resulting in stunning nighttime shots.
To activate Night Sight, open the Camera app on your Pixel 3A and tap the “More” button. From there, select “Night Sight,” and the camera will automatically adjust its settings for low-light photography. Experiment with Night Sight in different lighting conditions to see the remarkable results it can produce.
Whether you’re capturing a cityscape at night or a cozy candlelit scene, Night Sight will unlock new possibilities for nighttime photography.
Maximize Battery Life with Adaptive Battery
The Pixel 3A series comes equipped with Adaptive Battery, a feature that optimizes battery usage based on your app usage patterns. By analyzing your usage habits, Adaptive Battery can identify and restrict power-hungry apps in the background, thereby extending your device’s battery life.
To enable Adaptive Battery, go to “Settings” > “Battery” > “Adaptive Battery.” From there, toggle on the feature, and your Pixel 3A will start learning your app usage patterns and adjusting power allocation accordingly. Adaptive Battery works silently in the background, ensuring that your device’s battery life is maximized without sacrificing performance.
With Adaptive Battery, you can enjoy longer-lasting battery life on your Pixel 3A, allowing you to stay connected and productive throughout the day.
Stay Connected with Active Edge
Active Edge is a convenient feature that allows you to trigger Google Assistant by simply squeezing the sides of your Pixel 3A. This gesture provides quick access to Google Assistant without the need to unlock your device or use voice commands.
In addition to summoning Google Assistant, you can also use Active Edge to silence incoming calls, alarms, and timers. This gesture-based interaction makes it easy to control your device’s functions with a simple squeeze.
To adjust the sensitivity of Active Edge, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Gestures” > “Active Edge.” From there, you can customize the squeeze sensitivity to your liking, ensuring that it responds accurately to your gestures.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel 3A series offers a range of impressive features and capabilities that can greatly enhance your smartphone experience. By customizing your home screen, taking advantage of camera gestures, and utilizing productivity features like Split Screen, you can unleash the full potential of your Pixel 3A device.
Remember to experiment with the various tips and tricks outlined in this article to find the settings and features that work best for you. Whether you’re capturing stunning photos, boosting your productivity, or simply personalizing your device, the Pixel 3A series has it all.
Embrace the power of your Google Pixel 3A and make the most out of every moment with these tips and tricks. Happy exploring!
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
