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Comment by somewhatrandom9 | Hacker News Reader

The tech specs: https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_10_specs?hl=en-US Says it has vpn capabilities..But then there is a footnote:

>12. Restrictions apply. Some data is not transmitted through VPN.... See https://g.co/pixel/vpn for details.

Does anyone know what data doesn't go through the vpn?

On the positive side it lists a 24+ hour battery life!! This is huge for me!! ..but it has a footnote, as well

> 6. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower. Over time, Pixel software will manage battery performance to help maintain battery health as your battery ages. See https://g.co/pixel/battery-tests and https://g.co/pixel/batteryhealth for details.

Which I guess is understandable

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The help section article lists

# Data that isn’t protected by the VPN

Not all network data from your device is protected by the VPN. Examples of data that aren’t protected by the VPN include:

- Tethering traffic

  - This includes USB and Wi-Fi hotspot.

- Push notifications

- Wi-Fi calling and other IMS services

- Work profile app traffic

  - This applies if a work profile is configured on your device.

- Data traffic from an app that routes traffic directly over the Wi-Fi or a cellular connection

All of which make sense to me except push notifications. My guess is they might mean syncing notifications to e.g. a watch.

I think it might be because push notifications use long-lived connections that are already open when the VPN is turned on.

I wonder why tethering traffic doesn't go through the VPN. I could be wrong, but I think it works the same way with iPhones.

I might test that later, but this (old) SE question seems to confirm my memory: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/266871/is-there-a-...

FWIW, all tethered traffic in GrapheneOS goes through a VPN.

I bought a Xiaomi 14T and bought my gf a pixel 9.

I like my phone more, but battery life on hers is way better to the point I regret buying mine, it barely lasted a day out when on vacations, and I'm not a super heavy phone user, but look for restaurants, open maps, take pictures, ask Gemini stuff and I'd be at 50% by the time she was at 75.

> Does anyone know what data doesn't go through the vpn?

I can't speak to exactly what data doesn't go through their VPN but I know carrier apps tend to not play nice with VPNs, especially the Google Fi app (as it relies on its connection and what IP its on to coordinate switching between their various carrier contracts and that seems to break under a VPN).

And also seemingly Wi-fi calling has been problematic over VPN for as long as I can remember so that's usually a safe bet for exclusion.

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