In 2024, Made by Google rolled out large updates with new options to Pixel telephones on six events. The 12 months noticed every part from routine working system updates to thoroughly new apps and even a rebrand. 

January Characteristic Drop

The 12 months in Pixel updates began with a January Characteristic Drop — delivered by means of app updates — that coincided with the launch of a “Mint” Pixel 8 and eight Professional. 

The principle addition allowed the Pixel Thermometer app to report physique temperature. Readings are taken out of your brow and may be saved to the Fitbit app. Circle to Search launched on the Pixel 8 and eight Professional, whereas Photomoji and Magic Compose (powered by the on-device Gemini Nano) in Google Messages exited beta. Google additionally highlighted the Fast Share rebrand (from Close by Share).

This launch was in the end higher than ready for the following quarterly cycle. We’ve got but to see one other unscheduled Drop, nevertheless it’s a pleasant precedent to have, particularly as a shock.

March Characteristic Drop

We returned to the standard cadence in March with a Pixel Characteristic Drop that coincided with Android 14 QPR2. This sizable OS launch launched an expandable Bluetooth Fast Settings Tile and Materials You quantity slider. When Casting or display screen sharing, we obtained the choice to simply seize a single app.

Name Display gained a “Hi there?” button to immediate the caller, whereas “I’ll be proper there” ends in “One sec, checking with the particular person you known as.” On the Pixel Pill, Google made official the Gboard Voice Toolbar to allow you to use speech-to-text with out having the complete keyboard open. (This might be good to have on telephones.)

June Characteristic Drop

The Pixel 8a launched a month earlier however the one addition was Audio Emoji within the Pixel Cellphone app.

The Pixel 8 collection acquired an even bigger replace in June with Show Port Help for connecting to an exterior display screen through USB-C, whereas the 8 and 8a obtained Gemini Nano after Google beforehand mentioned it wasn’t coming for Recorder Summarize and higher Gboard Sensible Replies. 

On the Digicam (model 9.4) entrance, Google launched improved HDR+ body choice on the Pixel 6+, whereas the Pixel 6/7 Professional and Fold acquired Handbook Lens Choice. 

Android 14 QPR3 wasn’t a giant replace as this model neared the tip of its cycle with solely numerous tweaks within the Settings app. One explicit regression was how Gboard misplaced granular keyboard vibration controls for an on/off toggle. The Android Webcam additionally gained a Excessive High quality Mode. 

Pixel 9 collection launch

The Pixel 9 collection launched with Android 14 in a departure from precedent. Some options, just like the tweaked screenshot preview UI, launched through the Android 15 Beta have been backported. Finally, Google will get a move because the telephones launched months early, however this could not occur once more. We’ve got since discovered that the following model of Android (16) is launching in Q2 2025 as an alternative of Q3/4.

With the Pixel 9, Google launched three new apps: 

• Pixel Screenshots: Google is indexing your screenshots for simple search/recall. This can be a good, sensible software of AI, with the underlying goal — together with guide collections — addressing a typical ache level.
• Pixel Studio: Picture generator with on-device diffusion mannequin working on Tensor G4 and Imagen 3 within the cloud. The sticker creator from present photos is an underrated facet of the app. We’re nonetheless ready for producing photos that embody people.
• Pixel Climate: Google made a climate app for Pixel units that options each AI summaries and cityscape backgrounds. It’s a easy consumer with simply sufficient customization. Nevertheless, it desperately wants widgets that aren’t shared with the Google app. A wider vary would even be good.

Gemini Reside is closely marketed as a side of the Pixel 9 collection, however the conversational mode was by no means actually an unique since Gemini Superior subscribers on all Android units obtained it on the identical time. There was additionally the launch of Gemini Nano with Multimodality.  

The massive Pixel Cellphone app addition is on-device Name Notes to get a abstract of conversations, although persons are pleased to lastly have transcripts. Clear Calling high quality obtained an enchancment, whereas there’s additionally Satellite tv for pc SOS.

On the digital camera entrance (model 9.5), we’ve:

• Add Me lets everybody be within the (composite) picture with out asking anyone else to take the image. 
• Panorama redesign with Photograph Sphere inspiring the design. (It stays to be seen whether or not spherical seize makes a return within the period of Android XR.)  
• Magic Editor enables you to reframe a shot, whereas Reimagine enables you to add/exchange something in a photograph. 
• Video Increase updates end in Evening Sight Movies being processed within the cloud at twice the pace. 
• Tremendous Res Zoom Video at as much as 20x.

Android 15/October Drop 

Android 15 launched Personal house, whereas Predictive again was enabled by default. All units picked up the redesigned screenshot and copied textual content preview within the bottom-left nook, in addition to a House Controls display screen saver. By default, Bluetooth will “Mechanically activate tomorrow” while you disable it. On tablets and foldable, you’ll be able to have a persistent Taskbar and the power to Save app pairs (additionally on telephones)   

In the meantime, “Pixel Characteristic Drops” have been renamed to simply “Pixel Drops.” (This was removed from crucial.) Underwater pictures and video recording with any waterproof case got here to the Pixel 9 collection, whereas all units obtained a devoted slider to entry Evening Sight. 

Adaptive Vibration takes under consideration sound ranges in your present context to scale back how loud ringtones, notifications, and alerts are. 

In the meantime, the Pixel Climate grew to become accessible for the Pixel 6+, whereas the brand new Pixel Thermometer UI with dwell digital camera preview got here to the Pixel 8 Professional. The Pixel 8 collection additionally acquired the Audio Magic Eraser improve that allows you to regulate particular sounds and voices.

December Drop 

Lastly, Google closed out the 12 months in Pixel updates with the December 2024 Drop and Android 15 QPR1:

• Android 15 QPR1: Materials You Settings redesign, Restrict to 80% charging optimization, standing bar chip for Casting, display screen recording, and sharing, thicker Pixel 9 standing bar, globe icon when keyboard is open  
• Pixel Screenshots: The app’s first main replace provides Gboard, Circle to Search, and Google Pockets, in addition to auto-categorizing filters
• Pixel Studio: Google is embracing the sticker facet with Gboard integration 
• Pixel Recorder: Clear voice to scale back background noise. 
• Gemini: Extensive rollout of the Messages, Cellphone, Spotify, and Utilities Extensions
• Name Display: Gemini Nano-powered contextual replies  on the Pixel 9 collection, whereas all units can see the dwell transcript for computerized Name Display
• Easy View
• Now Enjoying: Album art work 
• Identification Test: Face/fingerprint authentication earlier than altering your machine passcode, Theft Safety, and different delicate settings, in addition to accessing passwords/passkeys, while you’re in a brand new location (non-Trusted Place). This isn’t but extensively rolled out
• Pixel Digicam: Twin Display Portrait Mode on foldable with Made You Look coming to the unique Fold. After all, model 9.7 additionally launched Fast entry controls to make white steadiness, brightness, and shadows simpler to entry.  
• Pixel Pill: Lockscreen widgets, VPN by Google entry, desktop windowing developer possibility 

Lastly, Google formally introduced an extra two years of Android OS updates for the Pixel 6 and seven collection for a full 5 years.