Google Surprises With Extra Pixel Feature Drop, Mint Green Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

Pixel fans are waking up to a couple of surprises, one quite unexpected: An extra Pixel Feature Drop and a new color for the Pixel 8 series phones.

Google normally updates supported Pixel devices with several new features each quarter via a Feature Drop, and the most recent one, from December, was one of the biggest yet. But just a month later, Google has issued a surprise out-of-band Feature Drop that is rolling out today and adds even more features

They include:

Circle to Search. Unveiled at least week’s Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, Circle to Search is coming to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro on January 31, the same day that the Galaxy S24 series launches. This feature lets you search for anything by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar and then tapping and circling an onscreen item.

Thermometer improvements. The Pixel 8 Pro ships with a unique and, to date, semi-useless thermometer sensor in its rear camera array, and with this Feature Drop, it will finally provide the feature for which it was originally intended: It can take your temperature. Google says the thermometer is “medical-grade,” but I’d be surprised if this appeared in future Pixels. It still seems superfluous to me.

Magic Compose comes to more devices. Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series devices can now take advantage of the Magic Compose feature that debuted in the Pixel 8 series phones last October. This feature uses AI to help users write drafts and messages in a variety of styles and moods, and it works anywhere you can enter text. On Pixel 8 series, the AI works on the device, but older Pixels will need to use the cloud.

Quick Share. Earlier this month, Google announced that it had partnered with Samsung to combine the functionality from Android’s Nearby Share feature with Samsung’s Quick Share and that the result, called Quick Share, would appear as a native Android feature going forward. Quick Share is part of the new Galaxy S24 devices, and it’s on Pixel now too, thanks to this Feature Drop. It works (or will work) between Android devices, of course, but also Chromebooks and, via a downloadable app, Windows.

Pixel Watch improvements. Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 now integrate with the automatic audio switching capabilities in the Pixel Buds Pro earbuds. This feature lets Pixel Buds Pro automatically switch the audio input between Pixel phones, Pixel Tablet, and, now, Pixel Watch too.

Photomoji in Messages. This new feature uses on-device AI to create graphical reactions to text messages in the Google Messages app: Just select a photo for the reaction, review the Photomoji it creates, and then send it, and Messages will save the item so you use it again later. Photomojis sent to group messages can also be reused by other members of the group.

Additionally, Google has made available a new pale green color—Mint—for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro that looks pretty sweet. Unfortunately, it’s only available in the base 128 GB models, and only directly from Google at its Google Store. If you don’t see it yet, it will appear sometime today.