Google updates old Pixel phones, Pixel Watch with new features

Google announced its first Feature Drop for 2023, which brings a bunch of new features to older Pixel phones as well as a fall detection for the Pixel Watch.

The wearable can now automatically detect if you took a hard fall and will either connect to emergency services or send an automated message to request help. Of course, it will first prompt you to confirm if everything is alright.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro flagships now get faster Night Sight thanks to improved algorithms in the Google Tensor chipset. Both devices, alongside all other Pixel phones, gain erase background objects with the Magic Eraser feature in Google Photos, although it is limited to Google One subscribers.

Customers in the US with a Pixel 4a or newer phone will be able to skip ahead of automated menus on services such as banking.

A feature called At a Glance will now allow those with multiple Google devices at home to set a timer on one device and follow the remaining time on their Pixel. It will also send a push notification to the smartphone to disable the ringing or extend by a minute with a single tap.

Pixels will also come with Health Connect - a major hub for all active sports-related data collected from compatible apps and devices. The user will be able to decide which device collects what amount of data and will also have more transparency on what data is actually collected and stored.

Google announced support for UWB digital car key, allowing the Pixel to become the main key for your var. The car will lock or unlock automatically as you approach it, and the engine can be started from the handset in the pocket, instead of docking it in the phone tray, but the feature will arrive “in the coming weeks”.

Gboard now has more emoji combinations in the Emoji Kitchen, while some devices will be able to use two eSIMs with Dual SIM Dual Standby on Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Source