- The latest Google Pixel Drop brings some big updates
- These include improved Circle to Search and AirDrop compatibility
- Some features are exclusive to the Google Pixel 10
Hot on the heels of Samsung’s Unpacked event, which gave us the Galaxy S26 series devices complete with a slew of new AI-powered software, Google has announced new Android features landing on Pixel phones — including a few of the S26’s new toys.
They’ll come in the next Pixel Drop rolling out to Google’s phones, though some updates are limited to just the latest Pixel 10 generation or will require an additional app download. We will highlight them as we go.
There are plenty of updates coming, but we’ve picked the best six here from the Google Pixel Drop announcement.
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1. Find your next outfit with Circle to Search
Circle to Search shines as a tool for finding clothes you see in person or online. Just circle the person in the photo and the AI will help you find similar shirts, skirts, and shoes for you (as well as anything else it can see they’re wearing). It works well, but it can be a bit tedious to look up every single element of an outfit if you want to emulate someone’s whole look rather than just elements of it.
With the new outfit finder option, Circle to Search will look up an entire fit at once – giving you a few options for each outfit as it hunts them down – and if you provide the app with a selfie, you can even use AI to try on the look virtually.
The only disappointment is that this feature is currently limited to Pixel 10 phones.
2. Magic Cue can help with social plans
Much like Samsung’s new Now Nudge feature, Magic Cue can analyze your text chats to offer helpful AI automations without you having to switch apps. For example, if your friends want to meet next Saturday at a bakery near a theater, Magic Cue pops up over your phone keyboard with a Gemini automation to find bakeries in the area that are open that weekend that you could suggest.
The biggest difference with Now Nudge is that it doesn’t seem to use your calendar or other information to inform its suggestions, even though it may land down the line.
3. Now playing app
Now Playing is one of the best phone tools out there for music lovers. It allows your Pixel to easily identify and find songs it’s listening to while you’re on the go. With the latest Pixel drop, it now has a new home in a dedicated Now Playing app.
Not only will this application identify what’s currently playing, it will also keep a log of tracks you’ve heard throughout the day and offer links to where you can find them on your favorite streaming service.
As a Samsung convert, Now Playing is the feature I miss the most, and I’m even more jealous of Pixel users because of this addition.
4. AirDrop on Pixel?
Starting with Apple instead of Samsung for this next post, Pixel phones’ Quick Share is now more widely compatible with Apple’s AirDrop, so you can easily and securely send photos, videos, and files between Pixels, iPhones, iPads, and Macs without an Internet connection.
This expands on a feature that the Google Pixel 10 debuted last year to make it even easier to work and share across different devices.
5. Find my luggage
Another Apple-like feature, this time inspired by AirTag, a new sub-item location feature in Find Hub will let you share the location of your lost tracker with others.
Google highlights how this will be handy for locating lost luggage, as you can share the location with an airline if your bag is misplaced, but you can also choose to stop sharing its location at any time.
6. Hands-free watch control
Finally, we have a Pixel Watch upgrade that lets you control your smartwatch without touching the screen.
One-handed gestures let you answer calls or play music with a double pinch of the hand your watch is on, or dismiss calls and notifications with a flick of the wrist.
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