Your Google Pixel device just got better

It's time for Google to release its monthly software updates for its Pixel smartphones. Only this time is special. This is certainly the latest Pixel Feature Drop and not just that, but the biggest ever. Some new features are coming to the recently announced Google Pixel Watch as well.

So let's get into it.

Features coming to Google Pixel Phones

The December Pixel Feature Drop comes with Google One's VPN at no additional cost to Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro owners. VPNs are "built to help ensure your network traffic can't be tied to your identity" by Google. The mentioned service was already available for users with Google One membership with a Platinum plan but now it is free for Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users. The VPN will still require the Google One app.

The security and privacy settings have been combined in the Android settings. This new section has an action card at the top that notifies you about security risks and provides simple steps to remedy the situation.

Second, Clear Calling on Pixel 7 and 7 Pro emphasizes the other party's voice and reduces background noise, so you can hear them clearly even in noisy places. Pixel Recorder now identifies and captions each speaker and wraps when the speaker changes, so each person is captioned individually when recording an interview or meeting. It's all done by machine learning and done live while recording. If you have any issues, you can rename the speaker upon completion, if desired.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro now come with snore and cough detection which is accessible in bedtime mode. There are also new Pixel wallpapers and new tiles for Pixel Watch, including sunrise/sunset tiles in the Weather app, and in the People app you can pin up to five contacts from your favourites to call them or see their details with a single tap.

By using the digital car key, you can lock, unlock and even start your car if it is compatible with the feature. It also helps to share the digital car key with your friends and family. The feature currently only works with Apple iPhones and some Google Pixel devices. Google has promised that the feature will be widely available for some smartphones running Android 12 and later.

Additionally, Gboard also gets a French grammar checker, and Live Translate can translate text in messaging apps into Arabic, Persian, Swedish, Vietnamese, and Danish (Pixel 6 and later). On-device search just got more powerful on Pixel 4a and later, and Voice Message Transcription is also compatible with Pixel 4a and later phones.

Google also hints that spatial audio support for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 7, and 7 Pro combined with the Pixel Buds Pro will arrive in January. As is often the case with Google Software Updates, it may take days, if not weeks, for the December update to be available for all supported devices. So don't worry if you don't have one yet.

Your Pixel Watch can take advantage of the Fitbit sleep profile feature as long as you have (and maintain) a Fitbit Premium subscription. New Pixel Watch buyers get six months free, but after that, the subscription is $10 a month.

Taking into account aspects such as duration, consistency and interruptions, Sleep Profile provides an informative picture of your sleep quality at a glance and presents the best animal relative to your sleep style. Results are adjusted monthly based on individual metrics. For this to work, you must wear your Pixel Watch to bed for at least 14 days each month to get results on the 1st of the following month.