Google has launched its June 2025 Pixel Drop, introducing a wide range of smart, AI-powered features and improvements to Pixel phones. Alongside this rollout, Android 16 is also arriving on supported Pixel devices starting today.
Pixel June 2025 Feature Drop
VIP Contacts Widget
Pixel users can now highlight their closest contacts as “VIPs” right on their home screen. This widget provides quick access to recent calls, messages (including WhatsApp), shared locations, and important events like birthdays. VIPs can also bypass Do Not Disturb mode to ensure urgent connections. Importantly, all sensitive info stays securely on your device.
AI-Powered Custom Stickers in Gboard
With Pixel Studio integrated into Gboard, creating personalized stickers is effortless. Just type a description and choose an emotion—your sticker is ready to send instantly. You can also transform photos by removing backgrounds automatically to make unique stickers.
Expanded Pixel Features Availability
- Satellite SOS is now accessible in Australia, allowing emergency messaging without cellular or Wi-Fi.
- The Recorder app introduces AI-generated summaries in German and French.
- Pixel 8 owners can now use the Recorder’s Clear Voice feature to remove background noise from recordings.
Camera Help Guide
A new feature in the Pixel Camera app provides visual tips and how-to instructions for each mode, helping users capture better photos and videos.
Enhanced Accessibility Tools
The Magnifier app now includes live search, which highlights objects based on typed queries without needing photos. Devices from Pixel 9 onward, running Android 16, now work with LE Audio-enabled hearing aids, letting users manage calls, adjust sound levels, and access hearing presets directly through phone settings.
Expressive Captions Improvements
Captions now better capture speech nuances and emotions, including elongated words, and have expanded availability to countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Smarter Photo Editing (Coming Soon)
Google Photos will soon offer AI-driven editing suggestions, quick access to relevant tools, and easier ways to adjust photos with features like Reimagine and Auto Frame.
Other Notable Features
- Your Pixel now shows detailed info about your battery’s condition, helping you decide the right time for a replacement.
- The Advanced Protection feature offers strong security measures to keep your device safe from cyber threats and harmful apps.
- With AI Mode built into the Pixel search bar, you get instant, AI-powered responses to your questions right from the home screen.
- Veo 3 is a new tool that turns your text ideas into short, high-quality AI-generated videos. Pixel 9 Pro owners receive a free one-year subscription, while others can try it free for a month.
New Android 16 Features
- Personalized Group Chats: Google Messages will soon allow customized group chat icons and names, show who’s using RCS, and mute chats for a set time.
- Revamped Photo Editor: The Google Photos editor will be redesigned for simplicity, featuring AI-assisted enhancements and new tools like Reimagine to create new edits from descriptions.
- Custom Google Home Favorites: Users will soon be able to assign smart home device shortcuts to specific platforms, like pinning security cameras to Google TV.
- Extend Safety Check: You can now easily add more time to Safety Check timers on your phone or watch while on the go.
- New Emoji Kitchen Stickers: Fresh combinations of emojis are available for more fun, expressive messages.
- Wear OS Transit Payments: Pay for public transit quickly with a tap from your Wear OS watch, even if the Wallet app isn’t open.
Availability
These features begin rolling out today for supported Pixel models and will become widely available in the coming weeks.