A secret Google Pixel 7a setting that can intelligently modify how notification vibrations function. And it sounds really practical.
On a Pixel 7a, look for Adaptive alert vibration under the Vibration & Haptics sub-menu in the Sound & Vibration menu of the Settings app. Initially discovered by a report in beta testing back in December, this feature now seems to be a fun exclusive for the new, less expensive Pixel, at least temporarily.
Adaptive alert vibration appears to only use the phone’s full vibration when you’re moving or can’t see the phone’s display, according to the feature’s description in the Settings app. This makes sense because you’re likely to see notifications coming through on the screen anyhow if the phone is lying face-up on a table or other nearby surface.
Beyond turning the feature on or off, there doesn’t seem to be any other customizability. Future updates might add more options, allowing users to select the vibration levels they prefer from a range of presets.
Adaptive alert vibration appears to be a software-only feature, not connected to the hardware of the phone, so hopefully it will soon be available on other recent Pixel phones. But as we can see from the image above, it isn’t at the moment compatible with other Pixels running Android 13.
Fortunately for Pixel owners, the Feature Drop, a quarterly update package that adds new, frequently exclusive features, is one of Google’s key selling points. This should hopefully mean that you won’t have to wait until Android 14 launches toward the end of 2023 before your specific handset offers the option of smarter vibrations.
Due to its enhanced display, cameras, and chipset, we believe it to be a fantastic phone for the money and have added it to our list of the best inexpensive phones. Furthermore, the adaptive alert vibration feature only enhances it.
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