New Pixel features for a minty fresh start to the year

We’re ringing in the new year with our first feature drop of 2024, bringing you updates that make your Pixel phone even more helpful — including a new way to search on your phone. These features will begin rolling out to devices from today and will continue to roll out over the next few weeks.

And for those who want a “fresh” start to the new year, Pixel 8 Pro is now available in a brand new, eye-catching Mint colour. You can get yours through the Google Store, Telstra, JB Hi-fi, Officeworks, and Harvey Norman.

Search for anything on your phone with a simple gesture

Searching on your Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is getting easier with Circle to Search (1). Google AI unlocks a new way to search anything on your phone, without needing to switch apps. Just long press the Pixel home button or navigation bar and circle, highlight, scribble or tap what you see to get more information from Search, right where you are. Use it to find what clothes a creator wore in a video or get extra help with a tough crossword clue, without leaving the app you’re using. And with multisearch’s latest AI-powered upgrades, you can ask a more complex question about an image you’re searching so it’s easier to learn more about the world around you, like whether a certain plant needs fertiliser.

Amp up your messages with Magic Compose for Google Messages

Use Google's generative AI technology to rewrite a drafted message in different styles with Magic Compose (2) on Pixel 6 and newer. You can use this feature to make your messages more concise, professional or dramatic like Shakespeare himself. And this all happens on-device on Pixel 8 Pro, thanks to Gemini Nano, Google’s most efficient model built for on-device tasks.

Respond with personal Photomoji

Want to react to a message with a cutout of you or your four-legged best friend? Photomoji on Google Messages allows you to transform your favorite photos into reactions with the help of on-device Google AI. Simply select the photo, review the object you’d like to react with and hit send. Your creations will be saved in a special tab for reuse, and, as a bonus, your friends in group chats can use your sent photomoji.

Share your content, quickly

Earlier this month, we announced an update to one of our most beloved features. Formerly known as Nearby Share, Quick Share (3) lets you share pictures, files and text quickly from your Pixel to billions of compatible devices across the Android, ChromeOS and Windows ecosystems. Tap the new Quick Share icon from the share sheet, and you can see a list of devices in your proximity that you can share content to — even if you’re offline. You’ll be in complete control of your privacy and can choose in your settings who can discover your device and send files — whether it’s everyone, only your contacts or your own devices.

Audio Switch expands to Pixel Watch

Pixel Buds Pro automatically connect when you move between paired devices — so there’s no need to switch them manually. Now, you can switch your Pixel Buds Pro from your Pixel Watch to any number of Pixel phones or Pixel Tablet, and get helpful notifications about where your audio is switching to. That makes your switching experience even smoother and allows you to seamlessly transition between devices and activities.

References:

1.Available only on Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and other compatible non-Pixel devices. Requires internet connection and compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches.
2. Data rates may apply when you use Magic Compose. Check with your carrier for details. Only available in US English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Korean on Android phones.
3. Quick Share is supported on Android GMS devices running Android 6.0 and up, Chromebooks running Chrome OS version 91+ and computers running a 64-bit version of Windows 10+. ARM devices not supported.