14 DAY TRIAL // A few days ago, we reported that Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones could have some speaker issues that cause the output audio to be distorted. A Redditor first signaled the issue and others have confirmed that an issue is present in Google’s phones, manufactured by HTC.
Mark Buckman managed to reproduce the issue on five exchanged Pixel XL smartphones, after continuously reporting the problem to Google. Each time, Buckman received a new Pixel XL, he then proceeded to test the audio and noticed that the speakers continued to produce static and distorted sounds when at the three highest volume levels. He also noticed that his wife’s Pixel phone had the same problem.
Google finally acknowledged the issue, but didn’t provide any solution for Buckman yet. The user did manage to find a workaround to solve the speaker problem and remove the distorted sounds, by flashing custom ROMs on the phone.
Unfortunately, this is a very complex method that not all users are willing to follow, especially since it voids the phone’s warranty. Buckman said for PocketNow that he wanted a phone that wouldn’t require tweaking or flashing custom ROMs, and that the Pixel XL functions great in all areas, except for the speakers.
Google offered a refund for the Pixel XL
Finally, Google contacted Buckman to offer a resolution to his complaint. It seems that the company decided that the best course of action in this case was to offer Buckman a full refund with the return of his latest Pixel XL.
Google’s solution allows the user to buy another phone, but he might pick another manufacturer since he stated that “Google has not only let me down, but let a whole group of… fanboys - I hate to say it.”
The tech giant’s offer might also mean that the company isn’t confident in its capacity of delivering a Pixel XL phone without the speaker problem and that some time might pass until a fix could be found.