The Google Pixel is an amazing smartphone. It's so good that it may just be the best smartphone ever made. Yes, even the iPhone 7 Plus struggles to keep up with the Pixel. However, even the best phones are susceptible to the odd problem here and there, and the Pixel is no exception.

Google launched the Pixel in October 2016. Solid hardware and innovative new features -- such as Google Assistant, coming to a smartphone near you soon -- means it was well-received. Demand is currently outstripping supply, but some Pixel owners are experiencing a slight problem.

Hundreds of Pixel owners have complained on Google's support pages about one or more of the microphones stopping working. The complaints started in October 2016, and Google launched an investigation in January 2017. Google has now confirmed the problem, and offered an explanation.

Google Explains the Microphone Issue

Brian Rakowski, who is listed simply as a "Google Employee" states that this is "a hardware issue," meaning software updates will not fix it". He goes on to say there are "a few known root causes, resulting in similar but different symptoms".

Rakowski then explains that the "most common problem is a hairline crack in the solder connection on the audio codec. Based on temperature changes or the way you hold the phone, the connection may be temporarily restored and the problems may go away".

He continues, "The other related problems are due to a faulty microphone. Normally, this shows up as a consistent failure of a single mic. This problem is even rarer, but has very similar symptoms". All are "the result of a hardware problem, requiring replacement of the device".

Google Will Replace Your Broken Pixel

Phones manufactured since January shouldn't be affected. And Google claims less than 1 percent of phones manufactured before then are affected. Regardless, Google is offering to replace affected handsets, whether purchased directly from the company or from another retailer.

To be fair to Google, hardware problems are hardly uncommon these days. Samsung had that whole thing last year with the Galaxy Note 7 exploding. And Apple has suffered through both Antennagate and Bendgate, and lived to tell the tale. So the Google Pixel will survive.

Do you own a Google Pixel? If so, how highly do you rate it? Have you experienced any issues with the microphones? Or had any other hardware problems? Do you feel Google is handling this in a reasonable manner? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below!