Google’s Latest Pixel Update Adds Speedy Night Sight and More

Google improves and expands its Pixel devices over time with quarterly feature drops. The first drop of 2023 is here, and it’s packed with new goodies to enjoy across a range of Google phones and its smartwatch. While the latest Pixel phones are getting some new features this round, this drop is mostly focused on updating older phones with the latest features.

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Feature drop for Pixel phones

phones first. Google is introducing several new tools to make using your device more enjoyable and convenient.

If you often shoot at night or in the dark, Night Sight now works faster on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones. (Google has already accelerated Night Sight on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.) Google didn’t go into specifics, but the company says the extra speed is achieved through “algorithms powered by Google Tensor.” Bottom line, taking pictures at night should be a smoother experience.

Magic Eraser, Google’s handy tool for easily erasing unwanted background elements from your photos, is now available on all Pixel phones via the Google Photos app. Whether you’re rocking a Pixel 6 Pro or a Pixel 2, you can take advantage of this update and unplug your exes from your pics.

(Image credit: Dave LeClair)

A big time-saving feature, Direct My Call, is coming to Pixel 4a and newer devices. With Direct My Call you can see the menu options in advance when calling a company. You can zip to the decision tree option you want or need and talk to the right person faster. Direct My Call is among the most popular toll-free numbers in the United States.

If health and fitness are important to you, Google Pixel devices are adding an Apple Health-like service called Health Connect. It stores your health data locally on your device and provides the controls you need to manage your health and fitness data across multiple apps and services. Additionally, the dashboard makes it easy to control exactly what information apps can access.

Google optimizes the timers on all your Pixel devices without unlocking your phone. So if you set a timer on a Nest speaker, it will appear on your phone’s At a Glance screen and vice versa. You can also disable a remote timer with a quick tap.

Other new features include Fast Pair, available on select Chromebooks. This allows you to instantly pair Pixel Buds or other Fair Pair-enabled headphones with your Chromebook. New emoji combinations are available in the emoji kitchen. Hold for me is now available in Japan. More regions will have access to the ultra-wideband digital car key, and finally, Pixel 7 and 7 Pro owners will soon be able to use two eSIMs with Dual SIM Dual Standby.

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Pixel Watch feature drop

(Image credit: Angela Moscaritolo)

Google adds customization options to Pixel Watch. Devices running Wear OS 3+ get new sound and display settings. For example, the update lets you use mono audio to limit the disorientation that split audio can cause. The company is also adding new color correction and grayscale modes to help people with different vision needs.

Finally, the Pixel Watch’s feature drop adds fall detection, which Google announced last month. Fall detection can help automatically connect Pixel Watch wearers to loved ones or emergency services when needed.

As usual, it may take several weeks for updates to reach most Pixel devices.