If I'm using an Android device, I always opt for the Pixel line because I appreciate Google's clean take on Android. The UI is simple, straightforward, and easier to navigate than Samsung's One UI, especially if you're like me and also use an iPhone. Even from a hardware perspective, the Pixel is very understated, especially the most recent Pixel 10 series and its cicular camera bump.

But beyond its simple UI and stripped-back hardware aesthetic, the Pixel line also offers several features that aren't available on other Android devices by default or even at all.

Best Take is an AI photography feature that's actually useful

It merges several images into one

First up, there's Best Take. If you're like me and snap a bunch of pictures when you're taking group shots or the occasional selfie, Best Take is extremely useful. In fact, it's one of the Pixel-exclusive features I miss the most when I switch to my iPhone 17 Pro.

Best Take looks at similar images and merges them. For example, if you take a group shot and one person has their eyes closed, but everyone else looks great, and in the next photo, that same individual has their eyes open, the feature merges both images. It might sound a bit creepy at first, but Best Take works extremely well — and this is coming from someone who isn't a big fan of AI-powered photography.

While Google's Photos app sometimes automatically prompts Best Take, you can also enable it yourself by opening Google's Photos app, selecting the image you want, and tapping Edit > Actions > Best Take. You can even pick the specific images you want to merge if you want.

Add Me works way better than I expected

It can be finicky sometimes, but it's still impressive

I don't take many group photos, but if I ever need to, I'm rarely willing to ask a random person to snap one for me. Usually, I end up taking a not-very-great-looking selfie where I have to awkwardly stretch my arm to get everyone in the frame. Thankfully, Add Me solves this issue with AI, allowing me to easily combine two images into one.

In the Camera app on your Pixel 9 or Pixel 10, slide over to Add Me. Next, snap the initial photo and follow the on-screen instructions to take the next image. You'll then be given a photo that combines the two photos seamlessly. Add Me doesn't always work great, but when it does, it almost feels like magic. Again, I'm not big on AI photography features, but Add Me is too convenient and useful to ignore. Enjoy the image of two Patricks standing side-by-side above.

The Pixel's Screenshots app helps you parse through countless images

If you have a lot of screenshots on your phone, you'll wonder how you lived without this app.

The Pixel's Screenshots app collects every screenshot you've ever grabbed on your device and organizes them in a basic gallery app with a straightforward UI. What sets this app apart is that, when you're looking for a specific screenshot, like a receipt for a food order, you can search for it with AI instead of endlessly scrolling through your library.

I screenshot a lot of things on my Pixel 10 Pro, including conversations, receipts, event tickets, products I'm thinking of buying, and more, and I often find myself needing to reference them again. The Screenshots app makes the screenshot I'm looking for really easy to find. To search in the Screenshots app, tap the Search Screenshots bubble at the bottom of the page.

Google's MagSafe-like Qi2 ecosystem is great

Why doesn't the Galaxy S26 series feature built-in magnets?

At this point, it's ridiculous that so few Android smartphones feature built-in magnets yet still support the Qi2 wireless charging standard. The most recent example is Galaxy S26 series. Why doesn't Samsung's latest smartphone line include magnets, in addition to supporting the Qi2 spec? It's still unclear, but it seems to be so Samsung can push consumers towards magnetic cases and increase its accessory sales. Samsung claims it made this trade-off to fit a larger battery in the smartphone, but I don't buy it.

Thankfully, Google's Pixel 10 line features PixelSnap, Google's take on Apple's popular MagSafe line. Accessories include a magnetic charging stand with a detachable puck, a PopSocket-like stand, battery packs, and more. Most iPhone MagSafe accessories are also at least somewhat compatible with the PixelSnap line, opening up the Pixel 10 series to an expansive existing ecosystem of accessories.