Here's every new feature in the Pixel Drop update for December 2024

The latest Pixel Drop update is rolling out today for supported Pixel phones, Pixel watches, and the Pixel Tablet, and it brings a ton of new features. In addition, the update brings with it a newer version of the Android platform, Android 15 QPR1, at least on Pixel phones and the Pixel Tablet. To keep things simple, this article will focus on the new Pixel-exclusive features in the Pixel Drop update for December 2024 instead of what's new in Android 15 QPR1.

For Pixel phones, there are improvements to Gemini, Pixel Screenshots, Call Screen, Gboard, and more. For Pixel watches, you'll now get a live view of your Nest Cam or Doorbell among other features. For the Pixel Tablet, you can now access Google VPN for free and add widgets to the lock screen. That's the gist of what's new in the December '24 Pixel Drop, but here's a breakdown of every new feature for Pixel devices.

To make this article more readable, I've split it up by device type as well as included tables that list the availability of each feature on a per-device basis. You can find explanations for every new feature below the tables.

New features for Pixel phones in the December '24 Pixel Drop

• Gemini across Google Apps: Google is widely rolling out a Gemini extension to access Spotify. The Spotify extension lets you ask Gemini to play your favorite songs, podcasts, or playlists. Other extensions are also widely rolling out that let you ask Gemini to make phone calls, send text messages, set alarms, control your device's settings, and take a photo. These extensions aren't exclusive to Pixel devices, but Google chose to highlight them in their announcement anyways.

• Gemini Live Expansion: Google says Gemini Live is now available in more languages. The full list can be found here. Similar to above, Gemini Live isn't exclusive to Pixel devices.
• Saved Info with Gemini: You can now ask Gemini to remember your interests and preferences so it can provide more tailored responses. For example, you can tell Gemini that you're a vegetarian so that it'll provide you with vegetarian-friendly recipes in the future without you needing to remind it to do so. You can find, edit, or delete any saved info in Gemini's settings. This feature is available globally in English to users who are 18+ and are subscribed to Gemini Advanced via the Google One AI Premium Plan. You don't need a Pixel phone to take advantage of this feature.

• Suggested Replies in Call Screen: Gemini Nano on the Google Pixel 9 series can now contextually generate suggested replies in Call Screen. These suggested replies will appear as chips you can tap in the Call Screen view. Call Screen previously let you choose from a set of responses, but they weren't based on the context of the phone call like they will be now. For example, if you get a phone call about a package being delivered, Gemini Nano can suggest responses to the delivery person's yes or no questions or ask relevant follow-up questions.
• Automatic Call Screening view: You can now peek into the conversation between the caller and the AI agent when a phone call was automatically screened. When you peek into the call, you can choose to answer or decline at any time. This feature is available on all Pixel phones.

• Expressive Captions: Google is updating its Live Captions feature to capture the intensity and emotion of how people are speaking in videos. This feature is called Expressive Captions, and it detects things like gasps, cheers, and applause, among other things. Expressive Captions support almost all English-language audio and video content (excluding phone calls and Netflix content), though the feature is currently limited to users in the U.S. Notably, this feature is also not exclusive to Pixel phones and in fact is available on other Android 14+ devices with the Live Captions feature. For more information on Expressive Captions, check out this interview we did with Angana Ghosh, the Director of Product Management on Android Input and Accessibility.
• Updates to Pixel Screenshots App: When you invoke Circle to Search and select an image, you can now save that image to the Pixel Screenshots app. You can do so by tapping the new "save" button that appears in the context menu when selecting images in Circle to Search. In addition, the Pixel Screenshots app now automatically categorizes your screenshots for you. New search filters make it easy to find what you're looking for. And if you weren't already aware, the app can provide suggested actions based on information contained within screenshots, like creating a calendar event or getting directions to a location. The Pixel Screenshots app is exclusive to the Pixel 9 series.

• Save Pixel Screenshots to Google Wallet: If you take a screenshot of a ticket or credit card, you'll see a new "add to Wallet" button in the clipboard overlay. This feature is only available on the Pixel 9 series as it relies on the multimodal Gemini Nano model.

• Pixel Screenshots Gboard Updates: Gboard can now show movie, music, product, and other text suggestions from your screenshots while searching in relevant apps. This requires turning on the "show suggestions from your screenshots in other apps" feature in the Pixel Screenshots app. This feature is exclusive to the Pixel 9 series as it relies on the Pixel Screenshots app and multimodal Gemini Nano support.

• Ultra HDR Photo on Instagram: The Pixel 9 series now supports uploading Ultra HDR photos to Instagram. The March 2024 Pixel Drop previously brought this capability to the Pixel 7 and later, excluding A-series devices. This feature isn't exclusive to Pixel phones.
• Photo Picker on Snapchat: Snapchat now uses Android's Photo Picker instead of its own gallery, which is better for privacy as it means the app will only have access to the photos and videos you explicitly grant it access to. This feature also isn't exclusive to Pixel phones.

• Dual Screen in Portrait Mode: You can enable Dual Screen mode in the Pixel Camera app when in Portrait Mode, allowing both you and your photo subject to preview the shot before you take it. This feature is available on both the Pixel Fold and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

• Made You Look: The Made You Look feature is expanding to the first-generation Pixel Fold. This feature plays a cute animation on the outer screen to grab the attention of children so you can snap a photo at the right moment.
• More Joy in Made You Look: Although Made You Look is now available on the Pixel Fold, the new animation featuring Joy from Inside Out is exclusively available on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, at least until December 3, 2025.

• Pixel Studio stickers in Gboard: You can now access your Pixel Studio sticker creations right from Gboard, making it easier to share them with your friends and family. This feature is exclusive to the Pixel 9 series as it relies on the Pixel Studio app.

• Clear Voice Mode in Recorder: A new "Clear Voice" feature in the Pixel Recorder app lets you reduce distracting background noise automatically when recording audio. This feature is exclusive to the Pixel 9 series.

• Simple View: If you have trouble using your phone, you can enable the new Simple View mode to increase its font size and touch sensitivity, making it easier to see and use apps, widgets, and controls. This feature is available on the Pixel 6 and later.

• Quick Share QR codes: If you're having trouble connecting to a nearby device to share files through Quick Share, you can now show a QR code that the other person can scan to quickly connect and initiate the file transfer. This feature isn't exclusive to Pixel phones, but Google chose to highlight it as part of the latest Pixel Drop anyways.

• Album Art in Now Playing: The Now Playing history page now shows album art for each song. This feature is available on the Piel 6 and later.
• Identity Check: The Identity Check feature that Google teased in October is now available in beta. This feature is part of Android's theft protection suite, and it offers extra protection against anyone who tries to take your phone and access your passwords, change your PIN, or turn off theft protection features. When it's enabled, your phone will require your biometrics before any changes to sensitive settings are allowed, but only if your phone isn't in a trusted location. Google says a "production release" of this feature is coming in January 2025.

• Car Crash Detection Expansion to Germany: The Pixel's Car Crash Detection feature is now available for people in Germany. Car Crash Detection is available for the Pixel 4a and later.
• Emoji Kitchen Update: Updated navigation makes it easier to find the right emoji mashup, and new pizza-related emoji combinations are here as well. This feature isn't exclusive to Pixel phones.

New features for Pixel and Fitbit watches in the December '24 Pixel Drop

• Live View of your Home: Previously exclusive to the Pixel Watch 3, the Pixel Watch 2 can now see a live view of your Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell, too.

• Loss of Pulse Expansion to More Regions: The Pixel Watch 3's Loss of Pulse Detection feature is now available in Portugal and Germany. This feature identifies when your heart suddenly stops beating due to conditions like cardiac arrest, poisoning, or respiratory arrest and then prompts to call emergency services. This feature is already available in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
• Cardio Load and Target Load expansion: Starting December 9, the enhanced Daily Readiness algorithm and new Cardio Load and Target Load tools are coming to all Pixel Watches as well as Fitbit smartwatches and trackers that support Readiness. These metrics help you know your body better and balance activity with recovery so you can optimize your workouts and rests to prevent overtraining. On the Pixel Watch, you can view these metrics on-wrist within the Fitbit Today app or through the Readiness complication, while on Fitbit devices you can view them in the mobile app's Today tab.
• Fall Detection Expansion to Germany: The Pixel Watch's Fall Detection feature is now available for people in Germany.
• Car Crash Detection Expansion to Germany: Car Crash Detection is now supported in Germany as well, though it's not available on the first-generation Pixel Watch.

New features for the Pixel Tablet in the December '24 Pixel Drop

Last but not least, the Pixel Tablet is getting some nifty new features. Most notably, you can now add widgets to the lock screen of your Pixel Tablet. Just swipe right on the lock screen to access the widgets hub. This feature is technically part of Android itself (more specifically, Android 15 QPR1) so it isn't exclusive to the Pixel Tablet per se, but it's only enabled on large screen devices.

The Pixel Tablet is also getting support for Google VPN, which was previously only available on Pixel phones. Google VPN is free and built-in to the OS, so you won't be bugged by a persistent notification when it's active.