Pixel 10 Ring Stand woes, Pro XL display crown, OnePlus 15 copying vibes & Pixel 9 display ghost returns

If yesterday’s Google Pixel news felt like a rollercoaster (GPU throttling tests, microphones acting up, Gemini AI quirks, and that bizarre Now Playing bug), then today is basically the sequel no one asked for but one we’re absolutely getting. And just like a good sequel, we’ve got new drama, surprise winners, and some déjà vu sprinkled in for flavor. Buckle up, Pixel fam—here’s the latest.

Pixelsnap Ring Stand may be scratching your caseless Pixel 10 Pro

Remember the Pixelsnap Ring Stand? Yep, the same one that already made headlines earlier this month thanks to loose screws (seriously, what is it with this accessory and hardware integrity?). Well, it’s back in the spotlight, and not in a good way.

A Pixel 10 Pro owner claims their shiny glass back picked up a scratch within just 72 hours of using the ring stand. The culprit? Likely tiny bits of dust or debris getting cozy between the metal ring and the glass. Even after some determined cleaning, the scratch wouldn’t budge.

To be clear, this doesn’t appear to be widespread (yet), but it’s one more reason for caseless users to think twice before snapping on the accessory. First the screws, now scratches. It’s like the Pixelsnap wants to sabotage your $1,199 phone.

Pixel 10 Pro XL bags the “best smartphone display” crown

On a more positive note, DxOMark just crowned the Pixel 10 Pro XL with the best smartphone display ever tested. Yes, ever.

Now, this isn’t because it has the brightest or fastest panel on the block. In fact, PWM flicker is noticeable (something sensitive eyes won’t love), and there are occasional color shifts at odd viewing angles. But thanks to insane brightness adaptability (dropping as low as 4 nits or blasting up to 2,200 nits), eerily accurate colors, and rock-solid HDR10 playback, Google’s big-screen flagship edged out not only the smaller Pixel 10 but also every other phone on DxOMark’s leaderboard.

So if your eyes can forgive a bit of flicker, the Pixel 10 Pro XL might just be your new binge-watch bestie.

OnePlus 15 joins the “Pixel visor” fan club

After Apple and Sony, OnePlus is the latest to hop on the “Pixel-inspired camera visor” train.

At the PEL Summer Finals in China, OnePlus showed off its upcoming OnePlus 15, and the redesign is hard to miss. Gone is the brand’s trademark circular camera module. In its place? A squared-off slab that looks suspiciously like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s camera bar had a baby with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Leaker chatter adds some flair: a ceramic-coated frame supposedly four times stronger than titanium and a matte finish across the phone. Bold claims, but the real story here is how quickly the Pixel design language is becoming the blueprint for flagships everywhere. Google went from “that quirky visor look” to “industry trendsetter” in just a couple of years.

Pixel 9 display line bug makes a not-so-glorious comeback

And finally, a callback no Pixel fan wanted: the dreaded display line issue is rearing its ugly head again, this time on the Google Pixel 9.

Owners are once again spotting vertical lines appearing on their screens, sparking fears of another widespread hardware fault. If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been here before with the Pixel 6 series, the Pixel 7, and even the Pixel Fold.

So far, it’s unclear whether this is an isolated batch defect or the beginning of another saga in Google’s growing hardware “lineage” (pun sadly intended). But if you’re rocking a Pixel 9, keep an eye out.

From accessories scratching $1,000+ phones to displays breaking records, camera designs spreading like wildfire, and old ghosts haunting Pixel 9 users, today’s Pixel news cycle has been a mix of highs and lows.

But hey, that’s life in Google Pixel land. One day it’s bugs, the next it’s benchmarks, and in between, there’s always someone copying the visor.