This story is part of So Money (subscribe here), an online community dedicated to financial empowerment and advice, led by CNET Editor at Large and So Money podcast host Farnoosh Torabi.

The Netflix series Marriage or Mortgage sets up what seems to be one of those ultimate dilemmas. Should you spend your hard-earned savings on a wedding or on a home?

There are many components of this question to consider: wants versus needs, the wedding industrial complex and even credit card debt. At the end of the day, there is a right answer, but it may be a difficult pill to swallow. Watch the video above from CNET's Farnoosh Torabi to find out more.

Read more: Generation X, I see you: 5 pieces of financial advice for a forgotten generation

This is part of CNET's #adulting series of stories to help you figure out how to live, work and play now that you're all grown up. 

Here's a partial list of what's causing me anxiety right now:

• The current political climate
  
• Nutjobs with guns and bombs
  
• Impending environmental catastrophe
  
• Starting a new business
  
• A water leak in my basement
  
• The printer won't print -- again

In other words, I have a pretty broad range of things to worry about, same as everyone. The thing is, all this stuff seems particularly overwhelming right now, like I'm surrounded by headaches upon headaches, awful news upon awful news, and then I had a bad night of sleep so I'm super-tired, and that leads to unhealthy eating, which just adds to existing worries about my weight and, hang on, is that burning in my chest acid reflux or something more serious, and all of a sudden, AHHHHHH!

Whoa. Someone needs to calm down. And I'm not the only one: According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, "anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting some 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18 percent of the population."

But, wait -- adults are supposed to have coping skills, right? You grow up, you learn how to stay calm in the face of life's challenges. Except when the challenges pile up, and seem both insurmountable and frightening, that's when our "adult" coping skills can falter.

Fortunately, there are ways to calm down. What follows is a mix of things I've learned myself and tips from professionals.

October 10 is World Mental Health Day, check out these stories that can help you support your mental health:

Stop, drop and breathe

If you're seriously stressed right this minute, to the point where you feel actual panic (or something close to it), focused breathing can help. "When we experience anxiety or stress our body interprets it as though we are in physical danger. When we breathe deeply, we are able to counteract the natural physical stress response and help our body and brain to realize there is no physical danger and we can relax." That's according to clinical psychologist Angela K. Kenzslowe, who offers a simple remedy: Take 2 or 3 deep breaths (from your diaphragm, not your chest) for a very slow count to four. (That's four seconds on the in-breath, four more on the out-breath.)

For a little more help, try an app like Breathe2Relax (Android|iOS), which provides guided breathing exercises based on your level of stress. The interface is a little clunky, but you get lots of information and how-to help along with the exercises. It's a free app.

Read more: Forest bathing: How nature can help you de-stress and get healthier

Get away from your screens

Every day, most of us face an onslaught of mostly unhappy news. It comes from our TVs, laptops, phones and tablets, delivered relentlessly via countless apps, news sites and social-media outlets. And as you bop back and forth between devices, it's very easy to get caught up in a tornado of negativity. Negativity leads to anxiety. 

The solution: unplug. "Taking a break from technology is a great way to give your brain some much needed down-time, allowing creativity to flow in," says Dr. Chinwe Williams, an associate professor in the College of Counseling Psychology and Social Sciences at Argosy University. "Intentional disengagement with your smartphone may [also] lead to intentional and meaningful engagement with others."

Go for a walk

One great way to disengage from screens and, consequently, calm your mind is to go for a hike. Studies have shown that even a 10-minute walk can release endorphins that improve your mood. And as noted in "10 Surprising Benefits Of: A 10 Minute Walk," walking increases mindfulness (see below): "Walking helps clear the mind. It also helps to increase our awareness. When we step outside, we activate all of our senses." And those senses help combat the things that were making us anxious.

"Engage in [any] movement you enjoy," adds postpartum specialist Thai-An Truong. "Walk the dog, dance, work on your garden, go for a hike, get outside and connect with nature."

Meditate

This is the big one -- arguably the single best way to not only calm yourself down in a moment of anxiety, but also reduce your overall stress level. That's the consensus of the couple dozen psychologists who responded to my inquiries for this story.

For example, Ginnifer Morley, a licensed psychotherapist in Boulder, Colorado, says meditation "allows the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system to rest, which is what is overreacting when we have high anxiety or panic attacks." She recommends guided meditation, noting that a calm and focused outside voice is the key to relaxing a brain that's "all over the place." Her pick: Stop, Breathe & Think, which is available for both Android and iOS and as a web app.

There are countless other apps designed to help you learn mindfulness meditation, including 10% Happier, Calm, Headspace and -- my personal favorite -- Buddhify.

Skeptical about whether meditation really works? One of my favorite podcasts, Science Vs., recently tackled the subject, and with interesting results: Although science doesn't really have much concrete evidence to support the many benefits promised by meditation, practitioners far and wide -- including a lot of the scientists who conducted the studies -- swear by it.

Read more: The best essential oil diffusers

Practice aversion therapy

OK, you're calm now, but what about next time? David Brudö and Niels Eék, co-founders of mental wellbeing app Remente, suggest training yourself so there won't be a next time. They recommend this simple aversion-therapy trick: "Place a rubber band on your wrist, and every time that you start feeling stressed, lightly snap it. The idea is that your brain will subconsciously start avoiding the stimulus (in this case, stress) to prevent the unpleasant snapping of the rubber band."

Have found any other ways to calm down when life gets crazy? Share your tips in the comments!

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Chinese tech giant Huawei can reportedly access the networks it helped build that are being used by mobile phones around the world. It's been using backdoors intended for law enforcement for over a decade, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing US officials. The details were disclosed to the UK and Germany at the end of 2019 after the US had noticed access since 2009 across 4G equipment, according to the report.

The backdoors were inserted for law enforcement use into carrier equipment like base stations, antennas and switching gear, the Journal said, with US officials reportedly alleging they were designed to be accessible by Huawei.

"We have evidence that Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world," Robert O'Brien, national security adviser, reportedly said.

O'Brien also called less-expensive Chinese solutions "tempting of a gift to turn down" for some countries, according to CNN, but that they come "with a price" of the Chinese company having access to information on the network.

Huawei denied the reports, saying it's the US government that's been "covertly accessing telecom networks worldwide, spying on other countries."

"US allegations of Huawei using lawful interception are nothing but a smokescreen," Huawei said in an emailed statement Wednesday. "Huawei has never and will never covertly access telecom networks, nor do we have the capability to do so."

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson approved Huawei for 5G last month with some conditions: The British restrictions are to exclude Huawei from building core parts of the UK's 5G networks, have Huawei's market share capped at 35% and exclude Huawei from sensitive geographic locations. The European Union allowed higher-risk vendors for 5G with similar restrictions at the end of January.

Huawei's 5G approval there came despite the US urging the UK to ban the Chinese telecommunications giant. 

Huawei was blacklisted  in May when it was added to the United States' "entity list" (PDF). In addition, US President Donald Trump at the same time signed an executive order essentially banning the company in light of national security concerns that Huawei had close ties with the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly denied that charge.

Originally published Feb. 11, 2:35 p.m. PT.
Update, 4:22 p.m.: Adds quote from CNN report; Feb. 12: Adds statement from Huawei.

American consumers waste nearly 40% of the food they buy, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Does this ring true in your household? If you find that plenty of produce, meat and even dry goods end up in your trash, it might be the right time to make a change. 

Consider investing in these food waste solutions that help you use more of what you buy from grocery stores and lessen what you put into landfills. 

Pick up a few of these items to help solve your food waste problem (reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving money in the process), and you may even gain some new habits and hobbies along the way to help you in your food waste reduction endeavors. We'll update this list periodically with new products.

Read more: These kitchen gadgets will save you time

A juicer

Are you overambitious about organic fruits and vegetables? Maybe you stock up on fresh foods because you intend to eat healthier, but you don't always get to that fridge drawer full of produce before those foods start to go bad. A great way to tackle these challenges is to get yourself a juicer to reduce the excess food.

A compost bin

For some, a juicer is the gateway appliance to composting. With all that dried out, vitamin-stripped leftover pulp it's hard not to notice how much edible food matter you throw away. Even if you don't juice, you're likely tossing onion skins, carrot tops, herb stems, eggshells and more into the garbage from everyday cooking. If you're looking to lessen your impact on landfills, a compost bin is the way to go. Obviously, this is only doable if you have some outdoor space to work with or if you're lucky enough to live in a city like San Francisco, which provides a curbside composting program.

A vacuum sealer 

If your main problem is that you so want to use that meat and produce in meals, but you can never get to cooking before it all goes bad, a vacuum sealer might be your new best friend.

Canning and fermenting kits

Maybe you're the type that likes vinyl records, hand-brewed coffee and homemade gifts. You want to prolong the life of your food, but a vacuum sealer seems too high-tech. The solution could be starting up a new hobby rooted in the olden days: canning.

Food storage containers

It could be that you don't want any new gadgets or hobbies -- you just need a little help storing and using your groceries more effectively. For these situations, a new set of storage containers might be all you need.

Instead of just telling yourself to "do better" with food waste disposal, equip yourself with tools that'll help you fight the good fight when it comes to waste and recycling solutions. Figure out which products will work best for you and make the biggest global impact, and incorporate them into your organization and food-prep routine -- you'll find you're tossing less organic waste into the garbage and maybe even upping your fruit and veggie intake.

More handy kitchen items

Since the original 2008 white paper introducing blockchain technology, bitcoin and other cryptocurrency transactions have been touted as completely anonymous and private. But how anonymous are crypto transactions really?

Earlier this year, $3.6 billion in bitcoin was seized from a Manhattan couple who were arrested and charged with money laundering in connection with a 2016 hack on the Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex. It was the largest financial seizure in the Justice Department's history.

Law enforcement went to great lengths to trace the illicit funds, including tracking the stolen bitcoin through a complicated web of transactions spanning multiple countries. It took six years, but authorities eventually caught up. More recently, researchers have demonstrated traceability via unintentional patterns in bitcoin's transactional data -- the bigger a data set gets, the more patterns show up. And patterns can be identified and tracked.

Because cryptocurrency allows for direct peer-to-peer transactions made via the internet, the idea is that only two parties are involved in the activity. No banks, governments or intermediaries are necessary. Although this appears to set up the perfect framework for privacy and anonymity, this year's bust and other examples paint a different picture of crypto transactions.

Read more:  Buying Bitcoin Is Easier Than Ever. Read This First

Bitcoin has now caught on with mainstream investors, and this principle of private transactions has become much more precarious. If this financial activity can be traced, then cryptocurrency like bitcoin is more pseudonymous than anonymous. 

To understand how anonymity and cryptocurrency relate to each other, CNET sat down with two blockchain technology experts: Dr. Steven Gordon, who teaches a course on cryptocurrency and blockchain at Babson College; and Feng Hou, Maryville University's digital transformation chief, who works on implementing blockchain tech.

Here's what they told us. 

Are bitcoin transactions anonymous?

No. Bitcoin transactions can be traced, as demonstrated by the recent bust in Manhattan as well as last year's Colonial Pipeline hack, in which authorities were able to recoup some of the ransom payment from the attackers. 

"While there are certain ways that cryptocurrency does provide a level of anonymity, be aware that nobody today can claim a 100% anonymity at this point," Hou said.

How is cryptocurrency traceable?

The federal focus on crypto-related crime, combined with the increasing sophistication of law enforcement tools to trace illicit cryptocurrency payments, means that such dealings are not anonymous. But aside from the uptick in resources dedicated to stopping crypto crime, there's a simpler reason why these kinds of transactions aren't really anonymous for regular Americans. 

Cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on a blockchain, which is generally public. At the same time, crypto trades are not necessarily linked to an identity, which provides a bit of anonymity for users. While there are select goods and services you can buy directly using bitcoin, in most cases it needs to be exchanged into local currency to actually spend it. And converting bitcoin into US dollars, a heavily regulated currency backed by the federal government, creates a distinct paper trail. 

"If you want to use bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency for buying things," Gordon said, "then you're probably going to need to transfer the cryptocurrency into dollars at some point."

In order to turn bitcoin into dollars, you generally need to find a company that provides this service, such as a cryptocurrency exchange, a money transfer service or select banks. Companies like these usually abide by the "Know Your Customer" principles, which means identity verification is required to use the service. As Gordon said, "Regardless of how anonymous or pseudo-anonymous bitcoin is, the services that transfer bitcoin into dollars are not anonymous, and so therefore transacting it would not be anonymous in any meaningful sense."

How are suspicious crypto transactions reported?

KYC refers to a financial services industry standard that protects against money laundering and other financial crime. For example, institutions under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation must have a clear relationship with their clients to develop a "customer risk profile," which is used to identify and report suspicious transactions to authorities.

That means banks and other financial institutions are obligated to have the personal information of customers on file in order to be insured. Although the FDIC doesn't insure crypto, cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the US have adopted KYC standards. Both Coinbase and FTX.US require customers to confirm their identities. It's also worth noting that the FDIC, in concert with other regulatory agencies, is looking into new laws for crypto assets.

Is any cryptocurrency truly anonymous?

There are cryptocurrencies that people claim are 100% anonymous. However, any claim of fully anonymous transactions should be treated skeptically. 

"We know that, through forensics analysis, we can always get to the bottom of it," Hou said. "So, just to put this straight out, any cryptocurrencies claiming that they're 100% anonymous, we have to take it with a grain of salt."

All good things must come to an end. Beloved PBS Kids show Arthur will wrap up after its 25th season, which will debut in the winter of 2022. Arthur, which first aired in 1996, follows the titular character (an aardvark) and his other animal friends as they navigate school, friendships and family. The show, based on the books by Marc Brown, is the longest-running children's animated series to ever run.

Show developer Kathy Waugh shared the news on a July 13 episode of the Finding D.W. podcast.

"Arthur is no longer in production. We had our wrap party two years ago," Waugh said on the show. "I think [PBS] made a mistake, and I think Arthur should come back, and I'm know I'm not alone in thinking they made a mistake."

Waugh added: "I don't know if it was a ratings issue or if it felt like it needed to be retired. To me, it just felt evergreen, like it was never going to end. But it did end. We finished the last episode, season 25. Two years ago, there was a wrap party, all of that."

In a statement, Carol Greenwald, the show's executive producer, said: "Arthur is the longest-running kids animated series in history and is known for teaching kindness, empathy and inclusion through many groundbreaking moments to generations of viewers." Greenwald said the show will still be available on PBS Kids for years to come, and that "producer GBH and PBS Kids are continuing to work together on additional Arthur content, sharing the lessons of Arthur and his friends in new ways."

The official Arthur Twitter account posted a tweet on Wednesday afternoon that reads, "The Internet realizing Arthur has been on PBS Kids for 25 years...and will be there for many more years! #staytuned."

In a follow up tweet, the account wrote: "In the winter of 2022, the 25th and final season of Arthur will debut & Arthur will continue to be available on PBS Kids for years to come!"

The show has inspired countless memes, including these iconic ones from the start of the pandemic:

Then there's the meme that made us think twice about how exactly the aardvarks in the show listen to music:

And of course, the legendary Arthur's fist meme, which perfectly depicts how we feel about this news. 

Discord's Android app might have caused some users some frustration in the past. Sometimes Android users would see a message that reads "Android support coming soon" after an update was released while iOS and desktop users enjoyed new features. But that message might be a thing of the past.

Discord announced a major update on Aug. 1 to the Android app's development framework. Users should expect significant improvements to the app after an automatic update is released in the coming weeks after Discord rebuilt the app using the development framework React Native.

This framework was developed by Meta and has been used to power Android and iOS apps like Facebook and Bloomberg. What makes this framework special is it allows developers to work across platforms without much additional effort, saving time and energy. 

This means Android users should start to receive updates at about the same speed as iOS and desktop users.

Design details will be more uniform across the different platforms, but they will still be unique. For example, after new Android users download the app, they will be met with a larger font that is similar to that in the iOS app. Current users will have the option to change the font in the Discord settings.

The new development process also means that Android users should receive more frequent updates. Prior to the update, Discord teams would have to maintain different codebases for different devices, but the new development process consolidates the work. Since the teams will have fewer codebases to maintain, they will be able to address any bug fixes or other updates in a more timely manner. 

While the new update means Android users should receive future updates faster, some users who have downloaded the update have complained on Reddit that the update is making the app buggy. Issues in major updates to apps or software are not uncommon, and they're usually resolved over time.

If you're an Android user and don't have the Discord app, you can download it from the Google Play Store. 

For more Android news, check out how to clear your Android's cookies and cache, settings to change to get the most out of your Pixel 6 and what we know about the upcoming Pixel 7.

The Pixel 6 is Google's most significant smartphone upgrade in years. But it can still be difficult to know whether it's time to trade in your old phone. In general, you should only consider upgrading if your device is more than two years old. There's plenty that's different about the Pixel 6, but the Pixel 5 is still new enough to get you through at least another year. If you have an older phone that's not eligible for Android operating system updates anymore -- like the Pixel 3 -- it's time to think about upgrading.

While the Pixel 6 was impressive enough to earn a CNET Editors' Choice Award, it's also worth remembering there are other options coming soon for Pixel fans. Google just announced the more affordable Pixel 6A, which launches in July. It costs $449 and runs on the same Tensor processor as the Pixel 6. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are also coming this fall, bringing a newer version of Google's Tensor chip among other improvements. 

You'll also want to consider what you're sacrificing when upgrading. Owners of certain older Pixel phones get unlimited photo storage via the Google Photos app at "Storage saver" quality, which preserves most detail while compressing the file size. But this perk isn't available on newer phones like the Pixel 5A and Pixel 6 family. It's also important to consider that Google regularly launches software updates with new features that are compatible with older phones, too, so you don't always have to buy a new phone to get additional functionality.

We've focused on the main Pixel series in this story instead of its less expensive Pixel A phones. Since Google usually launches its A-series phones after its flagship Pixels, these devices usually have a longer lifespan when it comes to software support, meaning you can hold onto them for longer before upgrading.

If you're interested in branching out from the Pixel lineup, check out our guide to the best Android phones. And if you are upgrading to a new device, consider recycling your old phone or trading it in. 

Read more: What Google's Pixel Watch Can Learn From Its Pixel Phones

Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 5

Year-over-year upgrades are usually minor in today's smartphone landscape, but the Pixel 6 is the rare exception to this rule. With the Pixel 6, you're getting Google's own Tensor processor for the first time, an upgraded camera with extra features, a more elegant design and other refinements that make it feel vastly different from the Pixel 5. But since the Pixel 5 is less than two years old, you probably don't need to upgrade just yet.

The biggest change in the Pixel 6 is the addition of Google's Tensor processor. General performance is smooth, but Google's chip really shines when it comes to camera features and other machine learning-oriented tasks. The Pixel 6's camera is loaded with new tools you won't get on the Pixel 5, such as Magic Eraser for deleting unwanted background items; Face Unblur, which keeps a subject's face sharp even when they're moving; and Motion Mode for adding blurred background or long exposure effects to an image. 

Aside from the extra functionality, the Pixel 6 also has a 50-megapixel main camera with a wider field of view than the Pixel 5's, although the ultrawide camera has a lower resolution than last year's phone (12 megapixels on the Pixel 6 versus 16 megapixels on the Pixel 5).

Google also says the Pixel 6 should have longer battery life than the Pixel 5, since it claims the new phone's battery can last "beyond 24 hours" while referring to the Pixel 5 as having "all-day" battery life. But battery life will always vary depending on how you use your device. Both phones were capable of making it through a full day during CNET's review testing, but factors like screen brightness and which apps you're using will always play a role.

The Pixel 6 also has a new glass design with a two-tone color scheme that looks classier than the Pixel 5's, although that might not matter much if you plan to use it with a case. The more significant update is the Pixel 6's larger 6.4-inch screen, which represents a sizable jump from the Pixel 5's 6-inch display. Both phones can boost their refresh rates up to 90Hz for smoother scrolling and have similar resolutions, but the Pixel 6's screen is covered in more durable Gorilla Glass Victus.  

Read more: Google's Promise to Simplify Tech Puts Its Gadgets Everywhere

The bottom line: Even though there's a lot that's new with the Pixel 6, you probably don't need to upgrade just yet. The Pixel 6's extra camera features and other improvements are appreciated, but likely aren't worth a $600 upgrade for most people. Aside from its fresh look, bigger screen and new camera, a lot of the Pixel 6's changes are mostly moderate upgrades. Google will continue providing the Pixel 5 with Android operating system and security updates through October 2023. So if you're happy with your current Pixel 5, you're better off holding onto it for another year to get the most out of it before upgrading. 

Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 4 and 4 XL

When it comes to the Pixel 4 and 4 XL, the question of whether you should upgrade isn't so straightforward. If your phone is still in good condition, you can probably afford to hold onto it for a little longer. But you might want to consider upgrading in the fall since the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are only guaranteed to get Android operating system and security updates until October 2022. 

Even if you've decided you're ready for a new phone, you should still wait until later this year if possible to see what the Pixel 6A and Pixel 7 have in store. Which one you should wait for depends on your budget and priorities. Google's A-series phones are cheaper but compromise on certain features. If Google keeps the same pricing as last year, the Pixel 7 will start at $600 just like the Pixel 6.

But if you are set on upgrading now, there's plenty that's new with the Pixel 6. The most visibly obvious change is in the phone's design. The Pixel 6 has a two-tone glass back with a nearly borderless screen and a horizontal camera bar, while the Pixel 4 has a solid colored back. Since the newest Pixel phone doesn't have any bezels above or below the screen, Google was able to extend the display's size without making the phone bigger. As such, the Pixel 6 has a roomier 6.4-inch screen compared to the Pixel 4's 5.7-inch display and the Pixel 4 XL's 6.3-inch screen.

The Pixel 6 also supports 5G unlike the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. That might not feel like a huge deal today, but it's important for a phone that you're planning to keep for the next two to three years.

Google also gave the Pixel 6's internals a major upgrade by using its own Tensor chip instead of a Qualcomm mobile processor. Once again, you'll notice this most in the camera, since it brings extra features like Magic Eraser and Face Unblur. But considering the Pixel 4 is now more than two years old, you'll likely notice a nice boost in overall speed and responsiveness, too.

The camera on the Pixel 6 also has a noticeably higher 50-megapixel resolution with a wider field of view than the Pixel 4 and 4XL's 12.2-megapixel main camera. The other main camera difference comes down to the second lens. The Pixel 6 has an ultrawide camera while the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL each have a telephoto camera. If you take a lot of zoomed-in photos on your Pixel 4, you'll want to be aware of that change.

Google also did away with its Motion Sense feature after the Pixel 4, but that's probably not a huge loss. Motion Sense lets you perform actions like playing or pausing music, skipping songs or snoozing alarms just by waving your hand without touching the phone. Although Motion Sense was responsive in our testing, CNET's reviewer Lynn La also said it "felt gimmicky at first." 

You'll also notice an improvement in battery life when switching to the Pixel 6. Google's newest phone typically lasts for a full day on a single charge, according to CNET's review, while the Pixel 4 only lasted for about a workday when CNET tested it in 2019. Those are the biggest differences, but there are also a few other benefits, such as more storage at the base level (128GB on the Pixel 6 vs. the Pixel 4's 64GB), extra RAM for better performance (8GB instead of 6GB) and an in-screen fingerprint sensor (the Pixel 4 only has face unlock). The Pixel 6 also has Battery Share, which makes it possible to charge other devices like earbuds wirelessly. 

Read more: Best Android Phones in 2022

The bottom line: With a sharper main camera, new photography features, a bigger screen, longer battery life and Google's Tensor processor, there's certainly a lot to gain by switching from the Pixel 4 to the Pixel 6. But you also don't have to upgrade right away if your phone is in good condition. 

However, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are only guaranteed to receive Android version and security updates until this October. Your phone will still work after that date, but you'll likely want to upgrade to a newer device before then. 

Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 3 and 3 XL

If you have a Pixel 3 or earlier, it's time to upgrade since Google no longer guarantees Android version and security updates. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are more than three years old, meaning they're also probably starting to feel a bit slow.

Although software support is probably the most important reason to upgrade, the Pixel 6 brings many other new features and functionality. Unlike the Pixel 6, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL don't support 5G. You might not care about that very much right now, but you probably will over the next two years or so. 

The Pixel 6's screen is significantly larger than the Pixel 3's (6.4 inches versus 5.5 inches) and slightly bigger than the Pixel 3 XL's 6.3-inch display. The borders surrounding the Pixel 6's screen are also noticeably smaller than those on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, giving Google's newest phone a sleeker and more modern overall appearance. 

Performance and battery life will also get a big boost thanks to Google's Tensor chip and the Pixel 6's larger battery capacity. Even though the Pixel 3's battery fared pretty well during our initial test in 2018, your phone's battery life is probably starting to shorten now that the device is a couple of years old. Aside from the speed boost you'll likely get from Google's new Tensor processor, the Pixel 6's 90Hz refresh rate should also make scrolling feel smoother.

But one of the biggest areas you'll notice an improvement is in the camera. Not only does the Pixel 6 have a sharper 50-megapixel main camera compared to the Pixel 3's 12.2-megapixel camera, but it also has an additional 12-megapixel ultra wide camera for taking broader shots. The Pixel 6's improved camera sensor and Google Tensor processor also mean there are a ton of extra photography features on the Pixel 6 that you won't get on the Pixel 3. These include Magic Eraser for deleting unwanted background objects, Face Unblur for capturing sharp images even when the subject is moving and portrait light effects among other tools. 

Those are the main benefits you'll get from upgrading to the Pixel 6, but there are several other differences, too. The Pixel 6 has an in-screen fingerprint reader instead of the Pixel 3's rear-mounted sensor and double the memory for better performance. It also has reverse wireless charging, which enables the back of the device to serve as a wireless charger for compatible accessories.

Read more: Google Pixel Watch: All the Details We Do (and Don't) Know

The bottom line: Since Google is no longer guaranteeing Android version and security updates for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, you'll want to upgrade soon. Aside from the peace of mind that comes with knowing you'll continue to get new features and security fixes, you'll get a slew of other improvements ranging from longer battery life to a more sophisticated camera and larger screen.