Google Fixes Problems, Brings Pixel 4 Features to Older Pixels
- Paul Thurrott
- Dec 03, 2019
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Google’s December Pixel Security Update fixes several issues on Pixel 4 and brings some Pixel 4 features to older Pixels.
“All supported Pixel devices running Android 10 will receive these software updates as part of the December 2019 OTA [over-the-air update], which begins rolling out to some users today,” Google writes in a support document. “Pixel 4 [and Pixel 4 XL] will start receiving the update next week. We encourage you to check your Android version and update to receive the latest features.”
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The Pixel 4 family has been far more reliable than previous Pixel generations, all of which were bedeviled by one to several high-profile issues. But the December 2019 Pixel Security Update does fix some issues and provide other quality improvements.
Key among these changes are a fix for static noise in Spotify, a fix for “background audio static” in third-party camera apps (like Instagram and SnapChat, where users have reported clicking sounds in videos), and support for dark mode in the bootloader display (which has been a bright, stark white to date). The update also provides fixes for less common issues like lost Bluetooth pairing, Garmin device pairing, display flickering, misaligned device orientation, and Google Pay card display in the power menu. The update also improves the haptics intensity in certain cases, Google says.
Outside of Google, users on Reddit are reporting that the December 2019 Pixel Security Update brings some Pixel 4 features—like Live Captions, Customize Pixel, and various gestures—to older Pixel 2, 3, and 3a handsets (though feature availability varies by model). Finally, it’s worth noting that the December 2019 Pixel Security Update is the last system update that Google will provide to original-generation Pixel handsets.