June Feature Drop: New features and upgrades for the Pixel portfolio
Our latest Feature Drop is here, and it’s packed with incredible new capabilities for your device, including Gemini Nano coming to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a as a developer option, and Car Crash Detection to Pixel Watch 2, plus so much more. These features begin rolling out to devices today and will continue over the next few weeks.
For Pixel Phones
Gemini Nano expands to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a
Gemini Nano is Google’s most efficient AI model built for on-device tasks,1 and starting today, you can use Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a to access Gemini Nano as a developer option. You can enable developer options in your Pixel’s settings.
Take your transcripts to the next level
Gemini powers Summarize in Recorder to run on-device on Pixel 8 and 8a – and the Recorder app2now delivers more detailed, downloadable summaries3to Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a. It’s able to detect and include the names of speakers so conversational transcripts are improved. And with the ability to export transcripts into text files or Google Docs,4keeping track of things like interviews and class lectures is made easy.
![Improved Recorder app on Pixel 8 Pro]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel8Pro_Recorder_Summaries.width-100.format-webp.webp )
![Display port support on Pixel 8a]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel8a_Display_Port_Support.width-100.format-webp.webp )
Find your phone, even when the battery dies
Find My Device is getting a helpful upgrade that enables you to locate your phone even when it’s off or the battery is dead,7all while keeping your location data encrypted and private from Google.
Put your best faces forward
The Pixel camera can now automatically identify the best moment from your photo in HDR+ with just a single shutter press, so it’s easier to snap a photo where your face is in focus and smiling.8
![HDR+ before and after on Pixel 8 Pro]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel8Pro_Top_Shot_HDR_before_and.width-100.format-webp.webp )
Quickly look up a mystery phone number
Don’t recognize a phone number? With just a few taps, you can now do a reverse phone number search directly from your call log.9
![Reverse phone number lookup on Pixel 8 Pro]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel8Pro_reverse_phone_number.width-100.format-webp.webp )
Save and access your everyday essentials from Google Wallet
Google Wallet recently expanded to India, so even more people can securely store and access everyday items, like boarding passes, loyalty cards, event tickets, public transport tickets, gift cards, and more.
Additional phone improvements
Pixel’s camera now lets you manually pick which camera lens you want to use while taking photos, giving you more control over capturing the perfect shot.10
![Manual lens selection on Pixel 8 Pro]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel8Pro_Manual_Lens.width-100.format-webp.webp )
For Pixel Watches
Extra peace of mind when you’re on the go
In time for National Safety Month, Car Crash Detection11is launching as a brand new safety feature on Pixel Watch 2 that gives you more ways to stay safe and get help when you might need it most, even when you don’t have your Pixel phone. If you’re in a severe car accident, your watch can now check in to make sure you’re okay. If you need help or don’t respond, it will automatically dial emergency services. Car Crash Detection integrates with Emergency Sharing on your watch,12 so your emergency contacts will be notified and get your real-time location if you’ve been in an accident. We’ve also improved Fall Detection to better detect falls from bicycles.13
![Car crash detection alert on Pixel Watch 2]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/PixelWatch2_Car_Crash_Detection.width-100.format-webp.webp )
Make life easier with improved app experiences
Now you have more ways to pay from your Pixel Watch when you’re out and about without taking your physical wallet out. You can now link your PayPal account to Google Wallet14on your watch for ease the next time you leave your wallet at home or your hands are full.
![PayPal on Pixel Watch 2]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/PixelWatch2_Wallet_PayPal_Support.width-100.format-webp.webp )
Your Google Home app is getting a revamp and you can now access your smart home devices faster and easier directly from your watch:1516
- Access your Google Home Favorites with just a swipe on your watch. Tap the device icon to open the Home app and adjust the temperature, dim the lights, and more.
- You can now access a smart home device from your watch face on Wear OS. Tap the device shortcut and make adjustments, right on your wrist.
- The Google Home app on Wear OS gives you more ways to control your smart home devices. Adjust the rotation of your blinds or fan speed, all from your watch.
![Google Home tile on Pixel Watch 2]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel_Watch_2_GoogleHome_ALT.width-100.format-webp.webp )
For Pixel Tablet
See who’s there
Is someone ringing your doorbell? Your Pixel Tablet will now have richer doorbell notifications17when docked in hub mode, giving you a snapshot of who is at your front door. You can talk to them with two-way talk, or send a Quick Response.
![Doorbell notifications on Pixel Tablet]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/PixelTablet_Doorbell.width-100.format-webp.webp )
Smart home favorites
The new Google Home Favorites widget18gives you even quicker access to your compatible smart home devices. You’ll get quick, customizable smart home controls on your phone and tablet home screen, so you can access your thermostat or turn on your lights with just a quick tap.
![Google Home Favorites widget on Pixel 8 Pro]( https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pixel8Pro_Home_Widgets_Favorites.width-100.format-webp.webp )
All of these features team up to make your Pixel devices even better. Whether you’re at home or traveling, your Pixel devices are must-haves for this summer.