Google's latest Pixel drop brings the Material 3 Expressive UI to older devices

Now that the Pixel 10 series has been out for a week, Google has begun rolling many of the software features it debuted with those phones to its older devices as part of the September Pixel drop. Starting today, if you own any Pixel device Google has released since 2021, including the Pixel 6 and Pixel Tablet, you can start to customize your device with the company's new Material 3 Expressive user interface.

Among other tweaks, Google made it possible to add "Live Effects," including a few that cover the weather, to your phone's lock screen wallpaper. Material 3 Expressive also gives you more control over how the contact cards your phone displays when your friends and family call you look. Even if you're not one to endlessly tweak Android's appearance, as part of the redesign Google has once again reworked the Quick Settings pane in hopes of making it easier to use.

As Google mentioned during last month's Pixel 10 event, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will receive a handful of new software features, beginning later this month. To start, there's Adaptive Audio, which Google says will allow the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to intelligently adjust the output of your earbuds to your surroundings. At the same time, Loud Noise Protection will limit the volume of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to preserve your hearing. Two new gestures allow you to accept or dismiss a call by nodding or shaking your head. You can do the same when a text message arrives.

Google

Bluetooth audio on the whole is getting a few upgrades on Android, courtesy of LE Audio Auracast. With the new tech, you can now simultaneously pair two different sets of Bluetooth headphones with a single Android handset. In practice, this will allow you and a friend to listen to the same song or podcast from a single device. If you want to involve more people, you can use your phone to create a QR code, which both friends and strangers can then use to join a private broadcast. Google suggests this could be a fun way to host a silent disco. To make it as easy as possible to start an audio broadcast, Google has redesigned Android's Quick Share menu. A simple toggle allows you to switch between sending and receiving files, and there's a new indicator where you can follow the progress of your transfers.

As mentioned, the new audio features are made possible by Auracast, which enables public broadcasts of Bluetooth audio. Google began supporting Auracast with the third Android 16 beta, and now we're starting to see that support mature, with devices now from Google, Samsung and Xiaomi all ready to join in on the fun.

Of course, it wouldn't be a recent Google release if the company didn't include new AI features. On that front, the company is offering additional writing tools in Gboard. Like its iOS counterpart, the tool allows you to use an on-device model to edit your writing. The algorithm can tweak your messages to make them more formal, expressive or concise. It will also correct any spelling or grammatical errors.

Last but not least, Google is introducing an experience called Androidify, which allows you to use AI to create your own Android bot — you know, the cutesy mascot in most of the company's smartphone marketing. The experience is available online and through an app Google has released on the Play Store. To get started, you can upload a selfie, write a prompt and add some accessories to your bot. Afterward, Google's latest AI models will do the rest.

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