Update 12/15: These updates are now rolling out to all Pixel phones. We have also learned that the Pixel 6 Pro (not Pixel 6) may enable Face Unlock in the future.

One of the best things about owning a Google Pixel 6 or earlier is Feature Drops, at least according to Google. These semi-regular updates bring Pixel-specific software features that pack even more value into your phone, whether new or old Pixel.

The latest Pixel Feature Drops have been released, and if you own a Pixel 3 or later, some, if not all, of the new features will be available soon; Pixel 6 owners may have to wait another week.

The key features added in this update are changes to Now Playing and Nearby Share. The former is the Pixel 6's ambient music identification feature, which tells you what is playing nearby. This update makes it even easier to learn about the songs you are listening to, allowing you to search for songs manually rather than waiting for your phone to automatically detect them, and saving them to your favorites list in the "Now Playing" menu with the tap of a button

Nearby

Nearby Share, the Android equivalent of Apple's AirDrop, makes it easy to transfer files to other local devices. the Pixel 6 Pro can now use Nearby Share with its built-in ultra-wideband chip (UWB), so other UWB-equipped Android phones faster and more securely.

With this update, Google has made a new feature of its accessibility app, Sound Amplifier, called Conversation Mode, available for beta testing. This promises to make talking in loud places easier for the hearing impaired by tuning out unwanted noise. However, it is still a work in progress and can only be used if you sign up and agree to have your data used for further research.

Quick Tap to Snap is a shortcut option that Google mentioned when it announced the Pixel 6 and has now appeared in this update. It allows users to assign a double-tap shortcut on the back to open the Snapchat app, which is useful if you are a heavy user of the photo-based messenger app. This feature is also available on the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a.

If you own a BMW car as well as a Pixel 6, you can now unlock your car with the Pixel 6. using the newly updated Digital Car Key feature within Android 12, you can tap on the door handle of certain BMWs manufactured after 2020 with the Pixel 6 can be tapped to open the lock, and the engine can be started by holding the phone over the key reader on the dashboard. This feature depends on the country you live in, and Google has not revealed exactly in which countries it will first be available.

On the more mundane side, the Pixel's settings menu will add some new options. You can now change the length of time it takes to call Google Assistant when you press the Pixel's power button, if you have a Pixel 3 or later model and are running Android 12. You can also adjust the bass of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series louder than before, with six levels of adjustment in the updated Pixel Buds app.

The last software part of the update will be less relevant to UK and US readers; Google's car collision detection feature now works in three more countries (Italy, Taiwan, and France), and the auto-forwarding Google Recorder app now works in three more languages ( Japanese, French, and German).

Finally, if you need new wallpaper for your phone, Google worked with disabled interdisciplinary artist Dana Kearly to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities by adding three new Pixel backgrounds.

While there were a number of notable issues with the Pixel 6, we liked the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro enough at a high price to add them to our Best Smartphones and Best Android Smartphones guides. These exclusive updates make these phones more attractive to buy if you are in need of an update or if you are hanging on to an older Pixel phone.