Google Pixel phones are getting another round of feature updates

Better Snapchat support, ultra-wideband and more

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Back whenGooglelaunched thePixel 6and thePixel 6 Pro, we heard about a few features that were “coming soon” – and some of those features are now arriving in a software update, alongside other goodies for owners of Pixel phones.

Thesefeature dropshave become a regular occurrence as Google attempts to give more people a reason to buy a Pixel phone rather than any other Android device – or an iPhone – and many of these updates don’t just apply to the most recent models.

For example, if you own aPixel 4a 5Gor later phone, you’ll be able to use a new Quick Tap to Snap feature: a double-tap on the back of your handset launches Snapchat in its default camera mode, with no need to unlock the screen or open the Snapchat app first.

Features aplenty

Also with the feature update rolling out now, you’ve got the ability to adjust how the power button launches Google Assistant (Pixel 3and newer), a bass slider to use with thePixel Buds A-Series, and improved search for the Now Playing song recognition engine.

If you own a Pixel 6 or a Pixel 6 Pro, you can now unlock your car digitally – if you own the right BMW model – and the Pro model gets ultra-wideband support for more accurate and reliable phone-to-phone sharing on the go.

What’s more, there are new wallpapers from disabled multidisciplinary artist Dana Kearly, and other features like car crash detection and the Recorder transcription utility are now available in more regions and with support for more languages.

Opinion: there are more reasons than ever to pick up a Pixel

It’s fair to say that Google’s Pixel phones haven’t all been runaway successes – far from it – but the tech giant does now seem to be making progress on both hardware and software fronts when it comes to making these devices as appealing as possible.

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On the hardware side, the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro feature a distinctive new design, top-notch camera capabilities, and a high-quality fit and finish overall that has sometimes been lacking in previous Pixels. They actually look and feel like flagship devices, and Google’s custom-made Tensor CPU means they perform very well too.

On the software side, Google’s own-brand phones have always been first in line for Android updates – a definite plus. On top of that they’re now getting a host of really useful exclusive features, from the Now Playing tool that tells you instantly what you’re listening to, to the voice transcription power of the Recorder app.

All this means that you’re getting something distinctly different from what you get fromSamsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi or anyone else – although time will tell whether it’s enough to convince significant numbers of people to make the jump across fromthe iPhone.

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

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