11 new Google Pixel features not to be missed

Google has ditched new features for its Pixel phone lineup, and there’s something for everyone here.

With the launch of Android 12, Google has given its smartphones (Pixel 3 and later) a number of exclusive features not found on Android phones from other manufacturers. Examples include the new app icon grid selection in the Pixel Launcher and Material You’s custom UI colors. As Google continues to improve its operating system, you can expect Pixel phones to be the first to crack many new features.

With SQ1A.211205.008 “Feature Drop”you will see several new features for Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel. 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. However, not all features are compatible with every model. Most of the new features are tweaks or improvements to existing features that Pixel users already love, but are significant enough to change the way you use them.

The update began on December 6th for Pixel 3 – Pixel 5a and we expect it to be completed around December 19th. So if you haven’t received the new firmware update yet, you should soon. According to Google, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will receive the latest update starting December 13th.

quick press to bind

A quick tap is a gesture feature that allows you to open apps, take screenshots, play or pause media, and more by simply double-tapping the back of your phone. The new Pixel update adds the ability to instantly open Snapchat and take photos from the lock screen, but it’s only compatible with Pixel 4a (5G) and newer. You were already able to open Snapchat with Quick Tap, but not when your phone was locked.

Google and Snap will also be releasing a Pixel-exclusive lens called Pixel Face soon, with new Pixel-exclusive lenses coming in the future.

Talk mode

Talk Mode is a new beta feature for Pixel 3 and later in the Sound Amplifier app that can help you hear conversations better in noisy environments. It filters out unwanted ambient noise and distractions, and amplifies the sound you need to hear – all fully processed on the device, making it easy to communicate in noisy public places. However, the new conversation mode won’t appear on your Pixel after receiving the update. Instead, you need to subscribe to the Conversation Beta.

Now Playing Favorites

Pixel phones have a Now Playing feature that can automatically detect and search for songs that are playing around you, and all processing happens on the device. If it recognizes a track, it displays the song information on the lock screen or notification.

Previously, you could see all identified tracks in your play history, but the latest Pixel update allows you to add tracks to your favorites. There’s a new “Favorites”tab in history, and you can “heart”tracks from history. You can even add songs to your favorites right from the lock screen by tapping the musical note next to the track name. This feature only applies to Pixel 3a and later.

Search button Now Playing

Now Playing will also have a new search feature that allows you to manually activate the song detection feature if it doesn’t recognize auto-playing music. Unlike the automatic Now Playing feature, the manual search button requires an internet connection. This new search feature is available on Pixel 4 and up.

Ultra-wideband support

Google teased that ultra-wideband functionality would be coming to the Pixel 6 Pro, and now it’s here. Ultra Wideband (UWB) support allows phones to communicate with other UWB devices and share files, videos, map locations, music, photos, etc. faster with Nearby Share. Ultra Wideband is exclusive to the Pixel 6 Pro, the only Pixel with a UWB chip.

Google Assistant from the power button

There are different ways to access Google Assistant depending on which Pixel model you have, and now there’s another one for Pixel 3 and later.

To access the digital assistant in the new update, simply press and hold the power button. This is an optional feature, so you need to go to Settings -> System -> Gestures and select “Press and hold the power button”. Then turn on the switch and adjust how long or short you want to press the power button to activate Google Assistant.

As for the other ways you can already access Google Assitant, the Pixel 3 and 4 models can squeeze the phone to pull it out, while the Pixel 5 and newer can use quick gestures to access it.

new wallpapers of selected crops

On Pixel 3 and up, there are three new Curated Culture wallpapers that can be used as your home or lock screen background. These new ones, commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated on December 3rd each year, were created by Dana Kirley, a disabled artist from Vancouver, British Columbia.

We worked with Dana Kirley (she/they), a multidisciplinary artist with a chronic illness and disability. Their work is inherently autobiographical and based on tenderness, sickness, and disability. He explores the complexities and nuances of life in a diseased and disabled body, using color, texture, light and shadow in a playful way.

Digital car key

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can now be used as digital keys to lock, unlock and even start your car. The only downside is that it is only compatible with some 2020-2022 BWM models. Tap the phone on the door handle to lock or unlock the car. To start the car, place your phone on the key reader in the passenger compartment and press the engine start button.

Accident detection in more countries

Pixel 3 and later, without Pixel 3a, can help detect when you’ve been in a car accident if this feature is enabled in the personal safety app. When it detects a collision, it will contact you to make sure you are ok. If you do not respond within a reasonable time, the emergency services will report your location and other important information.

While this security feature was already available in Spain, Ireland, Japan, UK, Australia, Singapore, and the US, you can now use it in Taiwan, Italy, and France.

Recorder in other languages

The Google Recorder app makes it very easy to transcribe audio to text, and now there is support for more languages. In particular, Japanese, French and German. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro already had access to these languages, but they are now supported on Pixel 3 and later.

Pixel Buds Bass Slider

If you have A-series Pixel Buds, you can now adjust bass levels on Pixel 3 and later from -1 to +4 using the slider. That’s double the range you had before.

If you’d like to see some of the new changes in action, check out the Google video below showing Now Playing features, Pixel Buds bass slider, digital car key, UWB for Nearby Share, car crash detection, Quick Tap to Snap, Google Assistant from a button food and new wallpaper.