Google’s quarterly Pixel Feature Drops add new features for Pixel devices, including wearables like the Google Pixel Watch 2. These features are initially exclusive to Pixel devices but occasionally reach other Android devices.
If you own the latest Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro, you’ll receive all the features released in past Feature Drops. For older Pixel phones, we noted which devices each update is available on. These Feature Drops don’t count as regular Android updates. Look forward to Android 15 for the next major Android release.
Each Pixel Feature Drop is a collection of new tools and features for Pixel phones. There isn’t a specific focus here. They include everything from wallpaper changes to updates for Pixel-exclusive apps (for example, Recorder). However, older Pixel phones are often left behind for some features. You need the latest Google Pixel 8 Pro to access everything. Owners of anything older than the Pixel 4a don’t receive Feature Drops (this group of unsupported devices includes the Pixel 4).
Pixel Feature Drops aren’t Android releases. Your version number doesn’t change. The yearly Android updates include any features that make their way from Feature Drops to Android.
The December 2023 Feature Drop focused on wrapping up the incomplete launch of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro’s AI features. March 2023’s Feature Drop is a scattershot of new features for Pixel devices of all sizes and shapes. From the first-gen Pixel Watch to the Pixel tablet, Google touched on all members of the Pixel family in March. Unsure which devices get what feature? Google created a handy table so that you can quickly check your device compatibility.
Call Screen is one of the best features of Pixel phones. It roots out spam callers and waits on hold for you. The feature prompts you with replies you can tap to respond to callers and asks callers to wait longer when you can’t immediately answer.
The Pixel Watch 2 improved on its predecessor with better workout features and other improvements. However, with this feature drop, the Pixel Watch has caught up thanks to new workout features.
The new features on the Pixel Watch include:
Circle to Search launched on the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 phones and is now available on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. This feature allows you to search by drawing circles or scribbling on your screen.
You can share single apps instead of your entire screen on the Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, or Pixel5a with 5G and newer phones. This feature works when casting, recording, or presenting during a video call.
On the connected devices settings page, Bluetooth devices previously used on devices with your Google account are now shown. This makes syncing your Bluetooth devices on a new device quick, thanks to Fast Pair.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro launched a couple of months ago, and Google emphasized their AI capabilities above all else. Google packed the December Feature Drop with new and long-awaited AI-powered tools to complement these phones. However, there’s plenty to enjoy here for those unimpressed with AI.
Google’s GPT-4 competitor Gemini launched at the same time as the December Feature Drop. A slimmed-down version called Gemini Nano is available exclusively on the Pixel 8 Pro and powers two new features.
Smart Reply for Gboard auto-generates responses to text messages, though it’s currently only available as a developer preview in WhatsApp. Then, there is Summarize, which generates a bullet point summary of recorded audio in the Recorder app.
Google has made subtle but significant changes to its Photo Unblur and Portrait Mode tools. Photo Unblur is now more effective at sharpening pictures of animals, and Portrait Mode can remove harsh shadows from new or old photos.
These features are available on Pixel 6 and newer phones.
Video Boost is a new feature for the Google Pixel 8 Pro. It requires an internet connection (leading us to wonder why it’s not available on the Pixel 8), but it’s a powerful tool that can make videos seem more true to life. It can improve the color and lighting. It may offer better stabilization and less grainy footage. Video Boost also lets you shoot Night Sight videos, a first for the Google Pixel series.
Night Sight is also available in Timelapse for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Like the Smart Reply feature introduced as part of Gemini Nano, Call Screen lets you respond to callers without picking up the phone. Google Assistant on the Pixel 6 and newer phones will suggest replies to calls based on the context of the call. This feature is also available on the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2.
Google has long offered Smart Lock on Android (now called “Extend Unlock”), which keeps your phone unlocked for a longer period of time as long as it stays connected to a Bluetooth device like your watch. With this feature drop, the company is adding Watch Unlock, which is a more advanced version of this feature. With it activated, the Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2 unlock your phone while it’s close by. This feature is available on Pixel Watches and the Pixel 5a with 5G and newer phones.
Dual Screen Preview shows your Pixel Fold’s outer camera image on the outer screen so you can take a photo on the inner screen while your subjects use the preview to adjust their poses.
The December Feature Drop seems to take a little longer to roll out than usual, so hang tight if it hasn’t arrived on your Pixel yet.
October’s Feature Drop was overshadowed by the launch of Android 14 and the Pixel 8 lineup, but it contained some nifty features. Notably, it included exclusive features for the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.
Taking excellent photos is a breeze thanks to Pixel phones’ post-processing wizardry. However, the regular updates have made the camera app’s UI complicated to navigate. With the recent Feature Drop, Google revamped the app’s UI to separate photo and video modes into easy-to-navigate sections. No new features are here, only a reorganized UI. This feature is available for all devices with Android 14.
Google Translate has powerful real-time translation features. Still, it requires both speakers to view one screen. However, the Pixel Fold now displays translations on the inner and outer screens to create a more natural conversation.
If your Pixel Tablet, Pixel 6, or newer device is connected to a slow or broken charger, it notifies you of the issue. This simple update could save you plenty of headaches.
Google makes a big deal of how efficient Battery Saver is on Pixel, and while this update doesn’t improve its efficiency, it’s more useful. Now, you can set it to automatically turn on at a specified battery percentage and select which apps continue to run in Extreme Battery Saver.
June Feature Drops are always awkward, as they arrive when we’re gearing up for the next Android release. This Feature Drop landed after the Android 14 Beta 3 release and includes a feature we’ll see in the final release of Android 14.
Unlike the previous Feature Drop, June’s release is a more comprehensive update for Pixel phones, offering changes to security, wallpapers, photography, and more.
This Feature Drop includes two new safety features. Car crash detection is a vital part of the Pixel Personal Safety app, and it’s been updated to share your real-time location and call status with emergency contacts.
Additionally, you can now ask Google Assistant to start a safety check. Once activated, your Pixel phone contacts your emergency contacts and shares your location if you don’t respond in time.
On Pixel 6 and newer devices, you can activate a camera timer by holding your palm up to the camera instead of tapping the screen.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a phenomenal macro camera. You can use it for video and photography.
There’s a lot to love about the Recorder app, and June’s Feature Drop adds functionality in a few areas. You can now search for a transcript for speakers and export it to Google Docs. Videos you create with the Recorder app can have automatic transcriptions and visible speaker labels.
It wouldn’t be a Feature Drop without new wallpapers, but June’s Feature Drop is the first one that changes how wallpapers work. Turning a photo into a 3D cinematic wallpaper technically works for any image, but you’ll get the best results with photos with existing depth (such as portraits).
You can also create animated emoji wallpapers by mixing and matching emojis, colors, and patterns.
Tapping the Google Home shortcut via the lock screen or quick settings opens a redesigned panel similar to the dedicated Google Home app. You can adjust your smart home devices, check cameras, change volume, and more.
The launch of the Pixel Watch in 2022 was slightly underwhelming, partly due to its limited range of features. Feature Drops are slowly improving the watch’s functionality. Now, it alerts you of abnormal heart rates and tracks your oxygen saturation (SpO2) level.
Additionally, your Pixel Watch supports more Google Assistant languages and automatically pauses your exercise if you take a break.
Read our full breakdown of the June 2023 Feature Drop for an in-depth look at this update.
It’s unusual for a Feature Drop to arrive a week later than expected (they usually arrive on the first Monday of the month). It’s smaller than December 2022’s release, but there are some nifty tricks for Pixel owners.
Thanks to new and improved algorithms, the faster Night Sight photos that debuted with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are now available on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The feature works the same, just a little bit faster.
Magic Eraser is now available for all Pixel phones and all Google One subscribers. This means that other Android users and even iPhone users can access this handy tool. However, Pixel users are the only ones who get it for free.
Direct My Call has long been available on all Pixels from the Pixel 2 onwards, but the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro received an improved version. This improved version lists menu options before they’re spoken for select toll-free numbers in the US, improving this already great part of the Pixel Call Assist suite of features. The March Feature Drop finally brings this improved version to the Pixel 4a and newer.
Your Pixel Phone’s At a Glance widget shows timers from your Google Assistant-compatible smart speakers (barring the Google Home Max). A push notification lets you cancel or add a minute when a timer is up. This feature was first discovered last year but is likely only now rolling out widely.
A long-awaited feature for the Google Pixel Watch, the smartwatch tries to detect if you fall. If it detects a fall and you don’t tap “I’m OK” on your watch, it attempts to call emergency services for help. If you want this peace of mind, set up Fall Detection and Emergency SOS.
Read our full breakdown of the March 2023 Feature Drop for information regarding upcoming features.
This is the biggest update yet, including the first Feature Drop that includes a wearable, the ambitious Google Pixel Watch.
Google’s VPN lacks many features that the best VPN apps have. However, with today’s Feature Drop, it’s free to use for all Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users. But you’ll want to look elsewhere for a VPN that lets you manually change location.
Clear Calling is an exclusive Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro feature that enhances the other caller’s voice by reducing background sounds. It’s powered by the Tensor G2 chip, which is only available on these phones. It’s part of the Pixel Call Assist suite of features designed to improve your calling experience in various situations.
App Security, Find My Decide, Security Updates, Device Lock, and more have been unified under the new security settings hub. Each section is divided into cards that notify you of issues and risks.
Recorder is the best recording app for Pixel phones with its accurate live transcriptions. It’s useful for meetings, interviews, and conferences, but now it’s almost essential. It identifies who is speaking and inserts labels and line breaks when the speaker changes.
It wouldn’t be a Pixel Feature Drop without new wallpapers. This update brings two sets. Three Curated Culture wallpapers celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities, and a Live Bloom wallpaper collection adds animated flowers to your phone screen.
Two new tiles have been added to the Pixel Watch. The Sunrise/Sunset Tile displays the time when the sun rises or sets alongside a countdown timer to the event. The Contacts Tile lets you pin up to five contacts to a tile, so you can call or text them with a couple of taps.
This feature, already available for Fitbit Premium users, is now on Pixel Watch. Wear your watch for at least 14 days a month, and it provides you with info about how you sleep and what your sleeping style means.
This feature doesn’t arrive until January but will be available for Pixel Buds Pro and wired headphone users. It will be available on the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro.
Each Pixel Feature Drop usually includes helpful but not exciting tools. The June 2022 Feature Drop changed this by bringing Pocket Operator. This app is exclusively for Pixels and uses machine learning to create a music video. It’s silly, but it’s a neat way of showing Google’s tech in a fun way.
Google knows how frustrating it can be to search through your phone for your vaccine card, especially if you’re in a hurry. Now you can attach a shortcut to your vaccine card on your homescreen. This feature is only available to Pixel users in Australia, Canada, and the US.
Google brought three new features to At a Glance; these are:
To celebrate Pride Month, illustrator Yann Bastard created three new Pixel wallpapers for Google.
Available through the Sound Amplifier app, Conversation mode is designed for those with hearing loss. Point your camera at someone (or let them hold it), and your Pixel filters out the background noise while amplifying their voice.
There’s also a new noise reduction feature on Google Meet, which filters out background noise.
The March 2022 Feature Drop brought Night Sight support in Snapchat on the Pixel 6 series. This means the party snaps you share on Snapchat are of higher quality, without using a flash. The feature is only coming to the Pixel 6 series.
Live Caption on the Pixel 6 received a significant upgrade with the March 2022 update. The feature is primarily intended to transcribe subtitles from audio in almost real time. This update makes it work the other way around. You can type text on calls, and then Live Caption reads it to the caller. This improvement to Live Caption is currently only available on the Pixel 6 series.
Live Caption can transcribe Spanish into English, French, Italian, German, or Japanese.
The interpreter mode in Live Translate on the Pixel 6 series gained French and Spanish language support. In the future, your phone will translate conversations in these languages in real time.
The Recorder app was also improved as part of the March 2022 Feature Drop with transcription support for Italian and Spanish languages.
Assistant Quick phrases on the Pixel 6 series now supports Spanish, Italian, and French languages with the March 2022 Feature Drop. Previously, it only worked in English, Japanese, and German languages. The feature allows you to stop a timer, snooze an alarm, or answer/decline calls without saying the “Hey Google” hotword.
The At a Glance widget received some notable improvements with the March Feature Drop. It now shows the battery level of connected Bluetooth earbuds and accessories, earthquake alerts, a safety countdown from the Personal Safety app, and reminders to turn off the alarm.
A new Pixel battery widget shows the battery level of connected Bluetooth accessories. These enhancements are available on all compatible Pixel phones.
The March 2022 Feature Drop brought Direct My Call and Wait Times to all supported Google Pixel phones, from the Pixel 3a through the Pixel 5 series. The features first debuted with the Pixel 6 series in October 2021.
Gboard can now create custom text stickers on the fly based on what you write. The feature rolled out globally but only supports US English. So, for example, if you type “Happy Birthday Jen” and add an emoji, Gboard automatically creates a custom sticker with the text.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, this Feature Drop included three new wallpapers. You can access them from the Curated Culture section of the Wallpaper & style menu.
With the Pixel 6 series, Google debuted a Quick Tap to Snap gesture, allowing users to double-tap the back of the phone to open Snapchat’s camera. The December 2021 Feature Drop expanded this functionality to the Pixel 4a 5G and newer devices.
The December 2021 Feature Drop enabled digital car key support on the Pixel 6 series, making it possible to unlock select 2020 to 2022 BMW vehicles by tapping the phone on the door handle. Plus, you can start the car by placing your Pixel phone on the key reader and pressing the Start/Stop button.
The UWB chip inside the Pixel 6 Pro was enabled with the December 2021 update to improve the Nearby Share experience.
This release expanded car crash detection to Taiwan, Italy, and France on compatible Pixel phones.
To celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the December 2021 Feature Drop included a new collection of wallpapers. You’ll find them in the Curated section of the Wallpapers app on your Pixel.
The last Feature Drop of 2021 introduced a handy bass boost control option for the Pixel Buds-A series. There’s a -1 to +4 slider, so you can adjust the bass range as you like. To customize the bass level on your Pixel Buds, follow the steps below:
The feature is also available on all Android 6.0+ devices using the companion app.
The Sound Amplifier app gained a new Conversation mode accessibility feature to make communication easier between people who are hard of hearing. It uses on-device machine learning to block surrounding noise and focus on the person’s voice that the phone’s camera is pointing at.
The December 2021 Feature Drop made it possible to activate Now Playing and search for a song manually. Additionally, you can save identified songs on Pixel 4 and newer devices to your favorites list from the lock screen.
A small but significant change introduced in the Feature Drop was the ability to tweak the Google Assistant power button activation time as needed.
Feature Drops do a great job of regularly adding usability enhancements and new features to Pixel phones. While Google does a good job supporting older Pixel Phones, upgrade to the powerful Pixel 8 Pro to receive Feature Drops for another seven years.
Maybe if we start telling people the brain is an app they will start using it!
