December Pixel Drop: New features for your Pixel phone, Tablet and more – Google Blog

Dec 05, 2024
Introducing plenty of Gemini updates, Expressive Captions on Pixel, new Pixel Screenshots features and updates to make your devices work better together.

• The December Pixel Drop brings new features to your Pixel phone, tablet, and more.
• Gemini gets smarter with saved info, letting it remember your preferences for personalized responses.
• You can now use Gemini to control smart home devices, play Spotify, and get information from Maps.
• Call Screen gets smarter with Gemini Nano, suggesting contextual replies to unknown callers.
• Pixel Screenshots automatically categorize your screenshots, making it easier to find what you need.

The latest Pixel Drop ¹ brings more intelligent, helpful and intuitive features to your devices, with new ways to use Gemini, camera improvements and security updates. Better yet, it brings some favorite features to more countries.
Customize how Gemini helps you
Get more personalized responses from Gemini with the new saved info feature in Gemini Advanced. Saved info lets you ask Gemini to remember your interests and preferences so it can provide more helpful and relevant responses, tailored to your goals and needs. ² For example, tell Gemini you’re a vegetarian, and Gemini will remember and provide you vegetarian-friendly recipes without needing constant reminders. You can easily view, edit or delete any information you've shared as well as see when it’s used.
Get help across more of your favorite apps
We’re making it easier to access more apps and services from Gemini on Android. You can now ask Gemini to call personal contacts or businesses, as well as draft and send messages with your default phone and messaging apps. You can even set alarms, control your device settings, and open your camera to take a quick selfie.
We’ll be adding support for even more apps in the coming weeks. With the new Spotify extension ³ you can play your favorite songs and discover playlists for any mood. You’ll be able to ask Gemini to control smart home devices that your Google Account can access such as lights, AC or TV, as well as ask Gemini for more information about a place on Maps and have it read reviews and scan websites to answer any questions. ⁴
Additionally, Gemini Live ⁵ is now available in more languages!
Screen calls with even smarter replies from Gemini Nano
Gemini Nano on Pixel can now suggest more contextual easy-to-tap replies for you in Call Screen. ⁶ This means you can easily respond to unknown callers without having to take the call yourself. For example, if a package is being delivered, you can use this feature to respond to the delivery person by answering their yes or no questions or asking relevant follow-up questions — all via simple prompts that will show up on your screen.
See live transcripts of your screened conversations so you know if want to pick up
You can now peek into conversations between the caller and the AI agent during an automatic Call Screen. You can also answer or decline a call at any time during the screening session. ⁷
Share to social in fewer steps
Now you can capture and share Ultra HDR photos — full of bright intensity, higher contrast and more detail — right to your Instagram Feed. ⁸
Easily find photos and videos to share on Snapchat
It’s even easier to find photos and videos that you want to share on Snapchat. Instead of scrolling through your device photo albums, now you’ll see all your folders, favorites and cloud photos through the Photo Picker. ⁹
Strike a pose with Dual Screen
Don’t struggle to get the perfect portrait photo this holiday season: Take advantage of Dual Screen on your Pixel Fold and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Portrait Mode so you and your photo subject can preview every shot before capturing the moment.
Get more smiles with Made You Look updates
Made You Look is now available on the first-generation Pixel Fold! Use fun animations on the outer screen to grab your little one's attention and snap a photo at the perfect moment.
Plus, Pixel 9 Pro Fold users get an extra treat: Joy from Disney and Pixar's Inside Out joins the fun, bringing even more smiles to your photos. ¹⁰
Send Pixel Studio stickers right from Gboard
Want to show off your Pixel Studio sticker creations in more places? They’re now available in your Gboard keyboard, so you can share them with friends and family via messages, social media and more. ¹¹
Discover more wacky emoji mash-ups
Emoji Kitchen in Gboard is your source for all the weird and hilarious emoji mixes of your dreams. And now with updated navigation, it’s easy to find the perfect expression when a standard emoji isn’t enough, straight from your keyboard. ¹²
Get super-organized with screenshots
New Pixel Screenshots ¹³ upgrades will help you stay organized during a busy holiday season. For starters, when you're using Circle to Search ¹⁴ and find something you like, you can save to Pixel Screenshots with just a tap so you can always find it later — no more lost gift ideas!
And Pixel Screenshots now automatically categorizes your screenshots, so it’s even easier to find exactly what you need with new search filters. When you find what you're looking for, Pixel Screenshots provides helpful suggested actions based on the information you saved — like creating a calendar invite or getting directions.
Pixel Screenshots also lets you add tickets or credit cards you’ve screenshot to Google Wallet ¹⁵ giving you quick access to things like your driver’s license, boarding passes and more in one convenient spot.
And in Gboard, you’ll now see movie, music, product and other text suggestions from your screenshots while searching in relevant apps. Just turn on “Show suggestions from your screenshots in other apps” in the Pixel Screenshots app.
Give your captions new life
Expressive Captions, now available for Android phones, uses AI to automatically capture the intensity and emotion of how someone is speaking for any content with sound on your phone, even livestreams. ¹⁶ When you’re watching live sports, texting, using social media or watching a video message, you’ll see things like a gasp at a juicy secret, cheers and applause for a big win and all caps when someone is really excited.
Enjoy cleaner audio
Reduce noise and distractions automatically with the new update to the Recorder app. Whether you’re using the app to record a lecture or important interview, distracting background noises can make audio playback hard to follow. You can now enable the “Clear voice” feature on Recorder to focus on speakers and reduce background noise. ¹⁷
Make your Pixel easier to read and navigate
We’re introducing a new way to navigate your smartphone with Simple View. Simple View increases your phone’s font size and touch sensitivity, making it easier to see and use controls, apps and widgets. ⁹
See what’s playing
Discover more songs and artists with Now Playing’s latest upgrade. You’ll now be able to see album art for each song in your Now Playing history, so it’s easier to explore new music.
Access controls on Pixel Tablet faster
You can now jump straight into using your go-to controls on your Pixel Tablet. All you have to do is swipe right from your tablet’s lock screen to access widgets for quick controls for your smart home devices, timers, music and more. ¹⁸
Travel with peace of mind
Are you traveling this holiday season? Now, when you’re in a new location, Identity Check in beta ¹⁹ will require your face or fingerprint authentication before any changes to sensitive settings can be made on your phone. This gives you extra protection against anyone who might try to take your phone and access your passwords, change your PIN or turn off theft protection features.
Keep your data even safer
Previously only available on Pixel phones, you can now use our free built-in Google VPN on your Pixel Tablet. ²⁰ This means data like your internet traffic, private messages and photos, health information, banking details and location data are all protected when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.
Tune into your home from your wrist
See who's knocking at your door from your Pixel Watch 2. ²¹ When you get a notification from your Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell, you can now see a live view of your porch and talk with whoever’s there right from your wrist. ²²
Check out health and safety tools in new regions
We’ve expanded access to Loss of Pulse ²³ Detection for Pixel Watch 3 users in Germany and Portugal. Loss of Pulse is a first-of-its-kind feature that can identify when someone’s heart suddenly stops beating due to conditions such as cardiac arrest, poisoning or respiratory arrest ²⁴ , and then prompt the watch to call emergency services for help. ²⁵
For people in Germany, we’re also expanding access to Fall Detection ²⁶ for all Pixel Watch generations and Car Crash Detection ²⁷ to Pixel phones as well as Pixel Watch 2 and 3.
Stay in tune with your body’s recovery
Our enhanced Daily Readiness algorithm and new tools — Cardio Load and Target Load — originally launched with Pixel Watch 3. Now they're coming to Pixel Watches and Fitbit smartwatches and trackers that support Readiness ²⁸ starting December 9. Powered by Fitbit’s advanced health and fitness capabilities, these metrics help you know your body better and balance activity with recovery so you can optimize your workouts and rest to prevent overtraining. On Pixel Watches, you can view these metrics on-wrist within the Fitbit Today app or by adding the Readiness complication to your watchface, and for Fitbit devices you can view these metrics in your Fitbit mobile app’s Today tab.
The December Pixel Drop, as well as new Android features, begins rolling out today.
Your Pixel will generally receive Pixel Drops during the applicable Android update and support periods for the phone. See g.co/pixel/updates for details. Availability of some Pixel Drops may vary by phone and device model. Phone, earbuds, watch, and tablet sold separately.
Google One AI Premium Plan subscription and browser for set up required. Gemini Advanced is available for ages 18+. Availability may vary by device, country, and language. Results for illustrative purposes and may vary. Check responses for accuracy. This feature is only available globally in English to Gemini Advanced subscribers via Google one AI Premium Plan.
Available in English only.
Features may differ depending on subscription. Some extensions require setup and are available in English only. Available in select countries. Responses for illustrative purposes. Check responses for accuracy.
Results for illustrative purposes and may vary. Check responses for accuracy. Compatible with certain features and accounts. Internet connection required. Available in select countries, languages, and to users 18+.
Compared to earlier versions of Call Screen. Gemini Nano suggested replies available on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in English in the US. See g.co/pixel/callassist for details. Gemini Nano available on select devices, and in certain languages and countries. Check responses for accuracy.
Automatic call screening view available on Pixel 4 and newer Pixel phones in English in the US. See g.co/pixel/callassist for details.
Compared to non-Ultra HDR photos. Requires Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold phone, and the Instagram app. Availability and functionality may vary by region.
Available on Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phones.
Joy from Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out available in Made You Look on Pixel 9 Pro Fold through December 3, 2025.
Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in English. Available only on Gboard, the Google Keyboard.
Available on Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phones, and Pixel Tablet.
Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in English.
Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in English. Circle to Search requires internet connection and compatible devices, apps, and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches.
Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro in English.
Available on Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phones, and other compatible Android devices. Available only in English in the US. Captions may vary. Check responses for accuracy. Requires Android 14+. Not compatible with phone calls or Netflix.
Compared to previous version of Recorder App. Available only on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Home control features require compatible smart devices (sold separately). Requires working internet and Wi-Fi. Subscriptions may be required.
Production Release coming soon.
Restrictions apply. Some data is not transmitted through VPN. Not available in all countries. Use of VPN may increase data costs depending on your plan. See g.co/pixel/vpn for details.
Only available on Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery), Nest Cam with floodlight, Nest Cam (indoor, wired, 2nd gen), Nest Doorbell (battery), Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen), and 1st gen Nest Cams that have been transferred to the Home app.
Some features, including mobile and browser notifications, remote control, video streaming and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi.
Loss of Pulse Detection may not detect every instance of a loss of pulse and is not intended for users with pre existing heart conditions or those who require cardiac monitoring. It does not diagnose or treat any medical condition or provide follow-up care. Emergency calling is dependent on call functionality such as your phone or watch being charged and having adequate cellular connectivity.
Primary cardiac arrest is due to a heart problem (such as arrhythmia, heart failure, etc.)
This product has not been cleared or evaluated by the US FDA. CE marked – Will be available in certain EU markets g.co/fitbit/lossofpulse.
Available on Pixel 3 and newer. Fall Detection works by using motion sensors on your Pixel Watch. Keep in mind, high-impact activities may trigger fall detection. Fall detection can’t detect all falls. Fall Detection is not available in all countries and depends on network connectivity and other factors. Your watch may not be reliable for emergency communications. To call emergency services on a Google Pixel Watch without 4G LTE, your paired phone must be nearby. Users must grant location permission for Fall Detection to share location externally. Data rates may apply. Go to g.co/pixelwatch/personalsafety for more details.
Car Crash Detection is not available in all languages or countries. For country and language availability and more information, see support.google.com/googlepixelwatch?p=ccd. Car Crash Detection may not detect all crashes. High-impact activities could also trigger Car Crash Detection. This feature is dependent upon network connectivity and other factors and may not be reliable for emergency communications or available in all areas.
Available for Pixel Watch 1, Pixel Watch 2, Sense, Sense 2, Versa 2, Versa 3, Versa 4, Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 2, Inspire 3, and Luxe.
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