Pixel 6 smartphone users had reason to be happy on Monday because, after a two-week delay, the big wave of updates was finally released and rolled out – including Android 12L. Numerous users are now reporting a change that can be interpreted as a problem or an improvement, depending on personal taste: the vibrations are said to be significantly weaker than before.
The vibrations are a very practical thing on a smartphone because they can not only give haptic feedback but also replace the ringtone. With the update to Android 12L, however, Google has made changes to the vibration of the Pixel 6 smartphones, which, according to many users, are now significantly weaker. Some people describe it as pleasant, but many others also report that they hardly feel it anymore and that it has therefore become pointless for pocket use.
Other users report that not only has the intensity changed, but also the vibration pattern. It’s supposed to start out weak and end up stronger, instead of being linear like before. In fact, Google noted this change in the changelog, so it’s intentional. On the other hand, it does not seem to be intentional that many users vibrate continuously with little intensity. Some find it comfortable, presumably holding their smartphone, while others miss calls and other notifications as a result.
That’s a matter of opinion, of course, but Google could easily solve the problem with more extensive vibration settings. Affected users could not help themselves by changing the settings and continue to “suffer” from the low intensity. Let’s hope that Google’s developers follow suit quickly.