Skip to main content
The Keyword

New Pixel features for a minty fresh start to the year

Pixel 8 Pro in the new Mint color
10:25

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 — from a new way to search on your phone to taking your body temperature.1 These features will roll out over the next few weeks, with some features launching today.

And for those who want a fresh start to the new year, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are now available in a brand new, eye-catching Mint color. Get yours through the Google Store or Google Fi Wireless.

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in the new Mint color

Take your temperature with Pixel 8 Pro

With Pixel 8 Pro's new medical feature in the Thermometer app2, you can scan your forehead with your phone to get an accurate body temperature measurement for you or a loved one. You can also easily save your results to your Fitbit profile for an even deeper understanding of your health and wellness.3

Image of body temperature experience in the Thermometer app on Pixel 8 Pro

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,4 rolling out January 31. 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. 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 fertilizer.

Gif of new Circle to Search capability showcased by circling an image on social media to quickly find information about what’s on your screen.

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 Compose5 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.

A Pixel 8 Pro showcasing new Magic Compose message responses

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 Share6 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.

A Pixel 8 showing the option to Quick Share from Pixel phones to Pixel Tablet

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 5a and newer 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.


More Information


1

Available only on Pixel 8 Pro in the U.S.

2

The Pixel Thermometer app has been granted marketing authorization by the FDA. See De Novo classification.

3

See help.fitbit.com/bts for available languages. Saving data to Fitbit requires Fitbit app.

4

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.

5

Data rates may apply when you use Magic Compose. Check with your carrier for details. Only available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Korean on Android phones.

6

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.


Let’s stay in touch. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.

Subscribe