Pixel Watch upgrade, At a Glance improvements, scam detection expansion & Google’s 27th birthday offers

The Google Pixel family is having quite a week. Between cool new tricks rolling out, discounts that look suspiciously like birthday bribes, and another round of hardware drama, Pixel headlines have been buzzing. Let’s break it down.

Scam Calls, Scam Texts… Now Scam Chats?

Remember when Pixel’s Scam Detection first started politely tapping you on the shoulder during shady calls? Then it moved to texts? Well, now Google wants your DMs too.

A fresh APK teardown by Android Authority hints that Scam Detection is sliding into chat apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Instagram, and even the artist formerly known as Twitter. The idea is simple: Your Google Pixel will scan chat notifications and pop up warnings if something smells fishy. Think of it as a digital friend whispering, “Uh, that message about your ‘inheritance from a Saudi prince’ might not be legit.” And the best part? You’ll be able to mark individual chats as scams while sparing your normal ones. Imagine pausing Scam Detection for your conspiracy-theory uncle without silencing the whole app.

If this rolls out on Google Pixel 9 and 10, scammers might just have to go back to carrier pigeons.

At a Glance Gets Glasses

Pixel’s At a Glance widget is one of those features you don’t appreciate until it tells you the exact minute your flight is boarding. The problem is, sometimes the text blends so well with your artsy wallpaper that you end up squinting harder than your grandma reading fine print.

Good news: Google’s testing a high-contrast background option. Basically, it’s At a Glance putting on glasses. Dark wallpapers get a lighter overlay, light wallpapers get darker shading, and you always get crisp, legible text. This tweak will roll out beyond the Pixel 10 eventually, so your lock screen will soon look less like modern art and more like useful information.

Pixel Watch: More Than Just a Wrist Trophy

Owning a Pixel Watch already means you can unlock your Pixel phone when it’s nearby. But Google’s cooking up something extra. Soon, you might be able to not only unlock your phone but also dive straight into specific sections of certain apps.

Imagine tapping a WhatsApp notification on your watch and—bam—you’re in the right chat thread on your phone. No fumbling. No scrolling. Just a frictionless handoff.

Google’s calling this the “Authorized Apps” expansion, and yes, you’ll be able to control which apps make the cut. Right now, it’s hidden in beta builds, but when it lands, it’ll turn the Pixel Watch into less of a fancy Fitbit and more of a proper phone-sidekick.

Birthday Bribes as Google Turns 27

Speaking of celebrations, Google is throwing itself a 27th birthday party this September 27, and Pixels are invited.

The company’s online store is offering:

• $100 prepaid Mastercard with Pixel 10 Pro/Pro XL purchases

• Up to $350 back on Pixel Watch 4 trade-ins

• $50 off Pixel Buds Pro 2

• Even a Pixel 9 discount if you’ve been holding out

If you ask me, this is Google’s way of saying: “Thanks for sticking around while we experimented with AI, folded phones, and yes, battery swelling (we’ll get to that in a sec). Please don’t leave us for Samsung’s shiny One UI 8 rollout.”

The Swollen Elephant in the Room: Pixel 7 Battery Issues

Yep, let’s talk about it. While Google’s new Pixel 10s are busy flexing scam detection and birthday deals, Pixel 7 and 7 Pro owners are staring down an uglier reality: battery swelling.

Reports have been mounting, and photos show bloated backs and popped screens, which is never a good look for a premium phone. Sure, it’s not every unit, but it’s enough to make long-term trust in Pixel hardware feel shaky.

And here’s my hot take: Google better handle this quickly and transparently, or no amount of prepaid Mastercards is going to buy back the goodwill of Pixel loyalists. Hardware missteps linger far longer in memory than flashy widget tweaks.