Google is reportedly working on a new fix for the Pixel’s always-on display that could improve its battery life.
Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority looked a bit deeper into the new Android Canary build and not only spotted a new flashlight brightness slider, but that code within the settings app shows a new option for the always-on display (AOD); “turn off display on inactivity,” which according to the code, “powers down the display when no user activity is detected to save power.”
Currently, Pixels already turn off the AOD when the phone is put in a pocket or flipped. However, it’s not clear how else Pixels would determine “inactivity” to turn off the AOD. It’s possible the Pixel’s proximity sensor could help determine whether the user is close to their phone. Tracking activity using the proximity sensor could also track how long it has been since the user picked up their phone to check a notification.
Given the impact of AOD on battery life, it’s no surprise Google is working on more tweaks (outside of the visual redesign a few months ago). These new activity sensors could be handy when the device is idle during work hours or during the night while the user sleeps. We did find a workaround for that exact method a few years back, which involves the clock app, but this will now be an official option within settings.
Source: Android Central, Android Authority
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