Google Pixel phones, watch March’s feature drop with improvements and new features: Details

Google has started seeding its latest Pixel Feature Drop on its devices. The March Pixel feature is now available for download and applies not only to Pixel smartphones, but also to Google’s new Pixel Watch. Apart from packing the March security patch, the update also brings lots of fixes, new features, and improvements. While some features like improved Night Sight are only available on Tensor-powered smartphones, some like Magic Eraser are now more widely available. The update is around 500MB in size and is already rolling out to supported Pixel smartphones in India.

Faster Night Sight, initially available with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, is finally available on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro models. The feature that uses advanced algorithms with Tensor processors to reduce those Night Sight long exposures when shooting people or landscapes in low light is now also accessible on recent Pixel models. Google claims this leads to sharper, blur-free photos in low-light shooting scenarios, but surprisingly isn’t available for the Tensor-powered Pixel 6a.

Magic Eraser is another feature that gradually slipped out of the Pixel 6 series and is now available for non-Tensor powered smartphones. Using this feature will still require users to subscribe to a Google One plan. The software feature available through the Google Photos app basically allows users to remove unwanted people or objects from a photo using Eraser and Camouflage editing tools.

Although not yet available in India, more users in the US will be happy to know that Pixel devices (up to Pixel 4a now support Direct My Call feature. The feature basically allows users to avoid waiting times and long and confusing IVR options when it does this, it presents users with an on-screen menu of the same, making it easy to navigate those calls and provide quick access to the correct expansion.

New to Pixel is the built-in Health Connect app, which, like the privacy dashboard, brings together all of a user’s health and fitness data in one place. Although the app is available as a separate download, Google says its integration into the software makes it easier to track which apps have access to health and fitness data on a user’s device.

Another handy addition of the latest Pixel feature is the ability to track timers across devices. Those with more than one Pixel or Google device can now set a timer on one device and track them on other Google devices like Google Home or a compatible Nest device. The “At a Glance” widget on smartphones will also relay timer information and also send notifications when the timer goes off.

The switch to Pixel Watch, a long-awaited feature, which was announced at launch, has finally been achieved through this feature. Google’s fall detection feature is finally rolling out to its Pixel Watch and will detect if a user has taken a hard fall and also connect them to emergency services if necessary. Google will also be bringing new sound and display settings to the Pixel Watch “in the coming weeks.” These settings will allow people who are hard of hearing or have specific visual preferences to customize the sound and display of their Pixel Watch to suit their needs.

The March update also brings 5G connectivity to Pixel users in India. Gadgets 360 can confirm that Jio’s 5G services can be used by enabling them in the phone’s Settings app.

Among small updates, Google will now allow users to use their Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones as a digital car key. Fast Pair support will now also be extended to select Chromebooks and new emoji combinations have also been made available on Emoji Kitchen via Gboard. Additionally, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro owners will now be able to use dual eSIMs with Dual SIM Dual Standby as well.