Google has launched its November Pixel Drop, bringing a suite of new features designed to enhance productivity, personalization, and performance across its Pixel lineup. The quarterly update introduces AI-powered tools, smarter notifications, and expanded functionality for Maps, Messages, and Photos, while also addressing battery life and user safety.
Among the highlights is the new Remix feature in the Messages app, powered by Google’s Nano Banana image model. Users can transform photos with simple prompts, such as turning a casual selfie into a themed portrait.
The feature is rolling out in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and New Zealand with RCS and English support. Google Photos also adds a “Help me edit” option, allowing users to apply natural language commands like “Remove sunglasses” or “Make Engel smile,” leveraging face grouping technology to automatically execute edits.
Smarter notifications are arriving on Pixel 9 and newer devices, including notification summaries for long conversations and a December rollout of automatic low-priority notification silencing. The Pixel VIPs feature is also enhanced, highlighting updates from eight key contacts, with crisis badges alerting users during emergencies like floods in a VIP’s area.
To conserve battery, Google Maps introduces a low-power mode on Pixel 10 series devices, which reduces screen brightness and displays only essential navigation information, potentially saving up to four hours of battery during trips.
Security and call features are also expanding. The Gemini Nano-powered scam detection system now operates in the U.K., Ireland, India, Australia, and Canada, while the “Likely a scam” message label warns users of potentially fraudulent messages. Google’s Call Notes feature, which automatically transcribes calls, is now available in Australia, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Japan.
The update also includes a Wicked: For Good theme pack for Pixel 6 and newer devices, offering wallpapers, system icons, sounds, and GIFs inspired by the movie. Overall, the November Pixel Drop combines AI enhancements, smarter notifications, improved battery management, and expanded safety tools, delivering a richer and more efficient user experience across the Pixel ecosystem.
