For those who are not familiar with the Google Feature Drop update, here is a brief history of the update. Since 2019, Google has been releasing regular updates for Pixel devices, with new features added every three months.
These updates are called Feature Drops and are exclusive to Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch.
Although not technically an Android release, they add significant usability improvements and new features to Pixel devices, making them stand out from other Android phones.
Each Pixel Feature Drop is different, and unexpected features are often added to Pixel devices. According to Android police, they often include features that were promised in previous months, such as fall detection for the Pixel Watch, which was added in the latest Feature Update.
The March Feature Drop, based on Android 12L release, introduced features like Live Caption for voice calls, Live Translate to Spanish, expanded dynamic notifications shown by the At a Glance widget, and added the long-awaited and highly anticipated battery widget for connected devices, among other changes.
Regular Updates
Pixel phones receive routine software updates that include security enhancements, new features, operating system updates, bug fixes, and more. If you purchased your device from the Google Store, updates typically arrive on your device within two weeks.
If you bought your device elsewhere, updates may take longer. Pixel phones receive updates for documented security issues in the Google Android Public Security Bulletin.
Pixel 6 and newer devices will receive updates for at least five years since the device’s initial availability on the Google Store in the US. These updates include security, software, and may also include feature drops.
The first Feature Drop for the Google Pixel 7 was released in December 2022, bringing three significant security and audio features. The update included enhanced security and privacy settings, a new unified hub to review security and privacy settings, risk levels, and other information in one place, and new wallpapers featuring disability advocates.
The latest Pixel Feature Drop is one of the biggest to date and the first one for the Pixel Watch. It includes new features to make life easier, such as safer web browsing and a new bedtime mode. It also adds a new feature that allows you to control your phone with your voice while driving.
Conclusion
Google’s regular Feature Drops for Pixel devices have added significant usability improvements and new features to Pixel phones since 2019, including the latest addition to the Pixel Watch. These updates are exclusive to Pixel devices and differentiate them from other Android phones.
Pixel phones receive routine software updates that include security enhancements, new features, operating system updates, bug fixes, and more. The latest Pixel Feature Drop is one of the biggest to date and the first one for the Pixel Watch.
