Summary
- Some users with the new Pixel 10 series are experiencing a screen glitch called “screen snow,” which produces a snowy pink static effect on the display, making it unusable.
- The problem seems to affect some Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL devices.
- Google hasn’t officially commented on the issue, but it does appear to be investigating.
There’s no denying that Google’s Pixel smartphones are some of the best Android devices out there. However, that doesn’t mean they are free of problems. Historically, Pixel smartphones have experienced battery issues that led Google to issue software updates or replacements to address them. The Pixel 6a is the latest example, with the phone’s battery allegedly catching on fire for some users, prompting Google to update the phone’s firmware to nerf its battery and offer replacements. A similar issue also occurred with the Pixel 4a.
Now, Google has a new issue that’s gaining headwind, and unfortunately, it has to do with its brand-new Pixel 10 devices, which it released last month. The issue that’s affecting the Pixel 10 series isn’t battery-related, but rather screen-related. Users have reported experiencing a strange effect on their screens, which has been referred to as “screen snow.” Essentially, what happens is that the display suddenly freezes and then shows a snow effect — pink colorful static lines that kind of resemble a broken TV. You can see an example of the effect below from Reddit.
It’s unclear what exactly is causing the problem, but it seems to be affecting the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL so far. Google hasn’t said anything publicly about the issue, and there hasn’t been any mention of a fix in recent software updates, like in the September Pixel Feature Drop.
- Brand
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Google
- SoC
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Tensor G5
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua Display 1080 x 2424 pixel resolution OLED (60-120Hz)
- RAM
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12GB
Google’s Pixel 10 features the tech giant’s new Tensor G5 chip and a three-camera setup for the first time that includes a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera.
The issue goes away automatically for some
The Pixel 10’s screen snow issue might be caused by software
According to Android Authority, which recently experienced the screen snow issue on its Pixel 10 Pro XL, it appeared while browsing YouTube and only affected the lower half of the screen, not the entire display. The phone was unresponsive for about 10 minutes, then suddenly fixed itself and returned to normal. The publication notes that the phone was not warm when it happened, which suggests it’s likely not an overheating problem.
The issue has been widely reported and discussed on Reddit, where many users have shared their experiences of their Pixel 10’s screen suddenly turning into a static, pink snowy mess.
One user on Reddit reported experiencing the issue on their Pixel 10 Pro, stating that disabling Always on Display and dark mode “seemed to reduce the problem.” However, it still occasionally occurred, leading them to believe it could be a software issue, and they decided to return the device.
Another Reddit user mentioned that the screen snow issue has happened three times in the past week for them, and the only solution they’ve found is to force restart the device with the power button and volume up button.
The Pixel 10 series is a small but impressive upgrade from the Pixel 9 series, and it would be a shame for it to be spoiled by a screen issue that should have been caught before launch.
The PixelCommunity Reddit account, which is officially managed by Google, is asking users about the problem and messaging them, indicating that Google is aware of the issue and investigating. However, there is still no official word on why this is happening or when it will be fixed. Hopefully, Google will resolve this quickly, and it’s just a software glitch that can be easily fixed.
The Pixel 10 series is a small but impressive upgrade from the Pixel 9 series, and it would be a shame for it to be spoiled by a screen issue that should have been caught before launch. For more on the Pixel 10 series, you can check out Patrick O’Rourke’s Pocket-lint review of the Pixel 10 Pro.
