It should, given that Google can essentially see everything you are browsing via the Web. I'm sure to some degree they get plenty of data from most us, however using their VPN would likely give them ALL of your traffic. That's my assumption at least.
Still using a 4a too but occasional powerbutton bugs are making me considering an upgrade. Free Google photos are making me keep the 4a... still not sure between 7a and 8...
It was a good phone before google decided to become a digital rights management overlord. Every other action on my phone now has some stupid tracking popup to sign in to something, save something, translate something. GTFOff my screen holy shit.
My phone's hardware is still all good but I've been forced to look for a new one. Fuck you google
That sounds like the apps you use, my Pixel asks for authorisation for each app to access something the first time and that's it. Never been asked to translate anything or had tracking pop-ups except on websites.