These 6 Pixel features prove Samsung still has room to improve

Samsung’s One UI is stacked; there’s no denying that. Galaxy phones offer more flexibility and features than most Android phones out there, and it’s a big reason I personally love using them.

But I can’t turn a blind eye to their biggest competitor. I’m talking about Pixels, of course. I may not prefer them as a daily driver, but there are a few Pixel-only features I absolutely love and hope Samsung shamelessly copies right away.

Add Me

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Samsung’s Camera app has all the necessary features, and Good Lock’s Camera Assistant adds even more on top. But if there’s one feature I miss from time to time, it’s Pixel’s Add Me. Honestly, I wrote it off as a gimmick when Google first introduced it with the Pixel 9, but I’ve found it to be incredibly useful, especially on trips.

Instead of asking strangers to take a photo — which sadly doesn’t always come out as well — you take a photo of your group first, then pass the phone to someone else to capture you. Pixel then magically blends both the shots together, and it does it without making the photo look fake. So yes, it solves a real problem that almost everyone faces.

Pixel’s Camera app has a few more tricks, of course. Best Take, Magic Capture, Camera Coach — they all are interesting, but Add Me is the one feature I keep wishing Samsung would copy already.

Rambler

Joe Maring / Android Authority

Voice typing has been around on Android for years, but Pixel 11’s Rambler feature is in a league of its own. It’s powered by Gemini, and it does a great job of understanding what you’re doing instead of transcribing everything word-to-word like traditional voice typing.

It removes filler words, adds proper punctuation, fixes grammar, and even lets you add emojis with your voice. My favorite part is editing. I can tell it to change the month from “January” to “March” in a paragraph, for instance, and it does it. Heck, I can even tell it to format specific words to bold and italicize them. So yes, Rambler is a huge time-saver for anyone who types a lot.

It’s possible to get Rambler working on almost any Android phone, but it takes some work and it’s not the same thing. Samsung Keyboard is already feature-rich, and adding Rambler would make it feel even more complete.

VPN by Google

Joe Maring / Android Authority

A VPN doesn’t sound like the most exciting feature, but it can be genuinely useful. Pixel phones come with VPN by Google built-in, and it’s completely free with no fine print. It’s something I always use when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks at hotels, cafes, airports, and other public places.

It’s flexible too. You can configure it to turn off automatically on networks you trust, like your home or office Wi-Fi, so you’re not running a VPN unnecessarily. And if certain apps act up while you’re connected — which some genuinely do — you can just exclude them from the VPN instead of disabling the whole thing.

Sure, you can get the same convenience on a Galaxy phone too, but that means paying for a VPN app. Pixel, on the other hand, just gives it to you for free.

Pixel Screenshots

Brady Snyder / Android Authority

I don’t know about you, but I love taking screenshots to save important information I might need someday. The only problem is that when that day finally comes, finding the screenshot is a nightmare.

The Pixel Screenshots app solves this problem. Every time you take a screenshot, Gemini Nano analyzes it to understand the context. It even gives it a title and category automatically. When you need to find the screenshot, you can use the built-in search tool to find it in seconds. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sushi recipe you saved weeks ago, a tracking ID for your courier, a handwritten note, or anything else — you can count on the app to track it down.

Pixel also suggests actions right after you take a screenshot. Depending on the content, you’ll see options to set a reminder, add a note, save an event to your calendar, or add a pass to Wallet. I’m not a fan of AI getting crammed into every corner of a phone, but Pixel Screenshots is the rare exception, and it’s a feature I’d genuinely love to see Samsung borrow.

Pixelsnap

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

iPhones have MagSafe. Pixels have Pixelsnap. Galaxy phones? Still nothing. Pixelsnap is easily the most useful addition for anyone who uses a wireless charger. The magnets on the back make it so much easier to lock your phone into place, especially in the dark or when you’re half asleep.

Charging isn’t the only benefit, of course. Those same magnets work with stands, ring holders, wallets, and even cases. And the cherry on top is that Pixelsnap works with most MagSafe accessories, which gives you more options when buying an accessory.

Sure, magnets aren’t something everyone cares about. Still, there’s no good reason Samsung shouldn’t add them to Galaxy phones for those who do.

Hold for Me

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority

Samsung’s Phone app offers some useful call features, like Text Call, Live Translate, Direct Voicemail, and a couple of others. They all work great, but there’s one Pixel feature Samsung still hasn’t matched, which is Hold for Me. It sounds like a small thing, but sitting on hold is a genuine waste of time. You can’t just ignore the call because the other person could come back any second. And if it’s the same robotic voice or random music on loop, it gets annoying fast.

Pixel’s Hold for Me takes that pain away. When someone puts you on hold, you enable Hold for Me and Pixel’s Call Assist listens on your behalf while you go do anything else. The moment the other person comes back on the line, you get an alert, so you can jump straight back into the call.