Google’s October Feature Drop Includes a Ton of New Tricks for Pixel Phones
With Android 15 now out in the wild, Google has also rolled out its latest Pixel phone feature drop, which brings a number of updates to devices from the Pixel 6, all the way up to this year’s Pixel 9 series. It should be noted that select features aren’t available on certain Pixel devices, such as the A-series phones.
READ: Android 15 is Finally Live – Here’s What it Brings!
New Camera Tricks
Building on the Pixel brand’s biggest strength – its camera – Google has brought over several new features. These include direct access to Night Sight mode via Instagram for better-looking low light photos, and are available for flagship Pixels including the 6 all the way through the 9, with the exception of the A-series models. For the Pixel 9 series, Google says that it’s improved how colors turn out with photos and videos shot underwater.
Astrophotography is now easier to access, and users can simply enter Night Sight mode and then toggle the Astrophotography option to capture photos (this was previously accessible only when the phone was placed still on a tripod, for example). Audio Magic Eraser likewise makes its debut for the Pixel 8 series and Pixel 9 series, allowing users to tweak their audio and block out specific sounds from footage.
Data Protection
The Pixel feature drop also includes theft protection, which works by using AI-based software detection to determine when a device has been snatched from a user’s hands. The feature then automatically locks the device, and users can then use Remote Lock to keep their phone and data secure. Additionally, thieves will have to go through new authentication requirements to reduce the likelihood of resetting a device to sell, for example.
Users also get a new “Private space” feature that lets users create a separate private space for sensitive apps, which locks away apps and keeps them hidden from other users. Private space itself can be hidden from view on a user’s device, and other users will need extra authentication steps in order to access a device’s Private space.
Gemini Upgrades
Gemini Live with audio also makes its way to older Pixel devices starting with the Pixel 6 series, and is now available in several countries including France, Germany, Brazil, India, Spain and Latin America. Users can now easily find their Pixel Screenshots using Gemini. The feature works via a voice prompt which will then direct Gemini to search for specific images on Pixel Screenshots.
Additional Features
Other features include the rollout of the new weather app to older Pixel devices starting from the Pixel 6, a new Next Gen Call Screen for users in the United Kingdom and Japan, the Widget Discovery feature, and adaptive vibration which uses your Pixel’s sensors and microphones to automatically adjust the level of vibration depending on where you are (starting from the Pixel 7 and newer).
New updates also arrive for the temperature sensor on the 8 and 9 Pro models, which can now use the camera as a viewfinder and save measurements to recent results, and Pollen data block for users in France, Germany, Italy, and UK.