Well, it seems Google is up to some more shenanigans with the upcoming arrival of the Pixel 10a, its next budget-friendly Android phone. While our review of the Pixel 10 praised what Google is doing with its smartphones, the company still seems intent on trying to win over as many Apple iPhone users as possible. That’s because on the latest store page for the Pixel 10a, Google actually advertises being able to use FaceTime — Apple’s exclusive video chatting functionality — with its latest phone.
Now, it’s important to note that this isn’t the first time that we have seen Google doing something like this. In the past, Reddit users spotted similar claims on the Pixel 10’s store page, and the same advertisement bit actually shows up on the main store page for the Pixel lineup. So, what’s the big deal? Does the Pixel lineup offer some kind of special deal with Apple that gives users access to FaceTime on Android?
No. It does not. While it might sound like Google is saying that FaceTime is more readily available on Pixel phones, you have to look at the fine print to truly understand what that statement means. Because, instead of the Pixel actually offering any kind of extended support for FaceTime, Google is simply riding the addition of FaceTime links in iOS 15, which allows Apple users to invite both Android and Windows devices to FaceTime calls by creating a call group and then sending the link to the other users.
What Google’s FaceTime advertisement really means
Being able to join FaceTime calls on Android is absolutely a handy functionality to have, and just one way that Apple has been working to make iPhones and its other products work more seamlessly with Android and Windows devices. However, there’s nothing different about what the Pixel is offering here. Instead, it seems Google might just be trying to add in some extra buzzwords to help entice new users to pick up its phones. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Google outlining that you’ll still be able to chat with FaceTime users on Pixel. However, the exact wording has certainly led to some confusion with consumers.
Of course, Google’s own response to FaceTime, Duo, arrived on iPhone and Android several years ago, but slowly died off as the service was pushed into Google Meet. That’s likely because FaceTime works so seamlessly with devices, with some on Reddit even calling it “phone calling 2.0.” As such, this ongoing popularity and ease-of-use is probably why Google is using it as a selling point for its devices. Another confusing part of the equation, too, is the fact that Google actually made AirDrop work with its Android phones, so it makes sense that some might believe they’d somehow cracked the code or made a deal with Apple for FaceTime support. But that remains unlikely.
