Google Releases Major Updates for Android 15, Pixel

It’s a big day for Android fans, with Google releasing a new bundle of AI features for Android 15 and the December Pixel Drop for customers with support Pixel devices.

“Starting today, new AI features and more from Android can help you express yourself authentically and connect your digital life with real-world experiences,” Google senior director Mindy Brooks writes in the Android blog.

“The latest Pixel Drop brings more intelligent, helpful and intuitive features to your devices, with new ways to use Gemini, camera improvements and security updates,” Google product marketing director Mayra Fajardo adds in the Google Pixel blog. “Better yet, it brings some favorite features to more countries.”

Here are some of the key new features coming to Android 15 starting today:

Image Q&A in Lookout improvements. Image Q&A in Lookout now uses Gemini 1.5 Pro to provide more helpful image descriptions.

Quick Share improvements. You can now share pictures, videos, documents, and other files via a QR code with Quick Share.

Google Drive scanning improvements. Google Drive can now provide clearer scans with new auto-enhancements that are optimized to improve contrast and white balance for receipts, ID cards, and documents.

Gemini Extensions. Google is adding extensibility to Gemini via Extensions, starting with a new Spotify extension.

And here are the new features Google is adding in the December 2024 Pixel Drop for support Pixel devices:

Saved info in Gemini Advanced. Gemini Advanced can deliver more personalized responses with a new saved info feature that remembers your interests and preferences. Obviously, you decide whether to activate this feature and can then manage the information Gemini remembers. You can learn more on the Gemini Apps Help site.

Other Gemini updates. Now, you can ask Gemini to call contacts or businesses, draft and send text messages, set alarms, control your device settings, and open your camera. And third-party app support is coming soon via new extensions, starting with Spotify so you can play songs and discover playlists. As are new capabilities like smart home controls and Google Maps support. Gemini Live is available in more languages, too.

Smarter replies in Call Screen with Gemini Nano. On Pixel, Call Screen works to screen calls from unknown callers, and it now uses Gemini Nano to provide responses to callers and ask relevant follow-up questions. Call Screen also now lets you see the conversation it’s having with the caller in real-time, and it lets you accept or decline the call at any time.

Express Captions. Pixel 6 and newer Pixels–and some other unnamed Android phones–configured for U.S. English are getting a major update to Live Captions that adds expressive descriptions like gasp, cheers, and applause to help capture the intensity of whatever is happening.

Simple View. This alternative user interface for Pixel 6 and newer phones increases the font size and touch sensitivity, making it easier to see and use controls, apps, and widgets.

Identity Check (Beta). This new feature requires you to authenticate yourself with facial or fingerprint recognition whenever the device detects that you’re in a new location and you try to change phone settings.

Share Ultra HDR photos to Instagram. If you have a Pixel 9 series phone, you can now share Ultra HDR photos to Instagram.

Improved photo sharing to Snapchat. Anyone with a Pixel 6 or newer phone can now access their entire photo library via the Snapchat app using its new Photo Picker.

Dual screen portrait mode. If you have a Pixel Fold or Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you can use the Camera app’s portrait mode feature in a new dual screen mode so you and your subject can frame the photo together before the shot.

Made You Look improvements. Originally a Pixel 9 Pro Fold exclusive, Made You Look is now available on the original Pixel Fold too. And those on Pixel 9 Pro Fold can now access a new on-screen character, Joy from Pixar’s Inside Out.

Pixel Screenshots improvements. Pixel Screenshots–a sort of light version of Microsoft Recall–now integrates with Circle to Search, automatically categorizes your saved screenshots so you can find them more easily, and lets you save screenshots of tickets, boarding passes, driver’s licenses, credit cards, and more to Google Wallet.

Recorder improvements. The Pixel Recorder app now offers a “Clear voice” feature that reduces background noise.

Now Playing improvements. The Now Playing feature will now display album art for each song it’s discovered.

Home control on Pixel Tablet. Now, you can swipe right on the lock screen to see the Home control interface so you can access your smart home devices, timers, music and more.

Google VPN on Pixel Tablet. Previously exclusive to Pixel phones, Google VPN is now available to users of Pixel Tablet too.

Pixel Watch improvements. Those with Pixel Watch 2 can get live views from Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell on their watch. Loss of Pulse is coming to Pixel Watch 3 users in Germany and Portugal. Fall Detection is coming to all Pixel Watch users in Germany. Car Crash Detection is coming to all Pixel phone and Watch users in Germany. And Daily Readiness Cardio Load and Target Load, originally a Pixel Watch 3 exclusive, is now coming to Pixel Watches and Fitbit smartwatches and trackers that support Readiness starting December 9.

These and other updates all begin rolling out today.