Google Pixel phones unusable after January 2024 system update

Multiple Google Pixel models (5, 6/6a, 7/7a, 8/8 Pro) are experiencing severe issues after the January 2024 Google Play system update, including loss of internal storage access, camera functionality, screenshots, and app access; Google has acknowledged the problem and is investigating. Users report limited success with factory resets (which can result in data loss), and those on older updates (e.g., Nov 1, 2023) are advised to postpone updating. A similar incident occurred in October 2023 and was fixed on November 7, 2023, raising concerns about the update QA process.