Google Pixel Feature Drop Rolls Out With Macro Focus for Video, Safety Check; Pixel Watch Gets Health Features

Pixel owners can export Recorder app transcripts to Google Docs, while Pixel Watch owners can monitor their SpO2 levels and get heart rate alerts.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 14 June 2023 11:32 IST

Google Pixel Feature Drop Rolls Out With Macro Focus for Video, Safety Check; Pixel Watch Gets Health Features

Photo Credit: Google

Adaptive Charging for Pixel phones will slow down charging to preserve battery health

Highlights

Google Pixel and Pixel Watch owners can download the latest feature drop
Pixel 7 Pro users gain access to a new Macro Focus for Video feature
Pixel Watch owners can track SpO2 levels and get heart rate alerts

Google Pixel and Pixel Watch owners are receiving the company's latest June Pixel Feature Drop update that adds several notable features to the company's smartphones and first-generation smartwatch. Pixel phones will be able to inform emergency contacts in case of a car crash and will offer a new safety check feature. The Pixel 7 Pro will be able to record videos in macro mode, while owners of the Pixel 6 and newer models will be able to export their transcriptions from the Recorder app into a Google Docs file.

The Pixel Feature Drop for June is rolling out to users globally, for the Pixel 4a and newer models. In addition to bug fixes and June security patches, the update adds many useful features to Google's Pixel-branded phones. The update is also rolling out to Pixel phones in India, and a Gadgets 360 staff member was able to access these new features after installing the latest update on a Pixel 7 unit.

As part of the latest feature drop, Google's flagship Pixel 7 Pro handset gains a new Macro Focus for videos feature that allows you to bring your phone camera close to an object while recording a video, to focus on small objects like flowers, fruits, or drops of water. Meanwhile, Adaptive Charging for Pixel phones will use AI to slowly charge the phone to 100 percent based on previous habits, to preserve battery health.

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Google has also introduced a new feature that will inform your emergency contacts if you have been in a car crash. This is an extension of the company's existing crash detection that alerts emergency services when it detects a car accident. You can also take advantage of a new safety check feature that notifies your contacts and shares your precise location, if you don't respond to a check that is displayed at a pre-decided interval.

Meanwhile, the Recorder app on Pixel smartphones has been updated with the ability to export transcripts from audio recordings into a Google Docs file. This should come in handy for those who rely on the app for meeting transcripts or interviews — this functionality will be available on the Recorder app for Pixel 6 and newer models. Cinematic wallpapers and the new emoji wallpaper shown off at Google I/O are also available as part of the update.

The Pixel Watch is Google's first Pixel-branded smartwatch, and it will also offer new functionality with the latest feature drop. It will be able to issue alerts when your heart rate is too low or too high, while you are inactive. It will also be able to monitor blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels, including when you are asleep. It will also be able to pause and resume workout tracking when you stop for a break, according to the company.

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Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Google Pixel 6

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.40-inch

Processor Google Tensor

Front Camera 8-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 4614mAh

OS Android 12

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

More Google mobiles Google mobiles price in India

Google Pixel 7 Pro

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Sharp, 120Hz display
Good quality cameras
Good gaming performance
Bloatware-free software, timely updates
Premium design, IP68 rating

Bad
Gets warm under load
No bundled charger
Underwhelming battery life
Relatively slow charging

Read detailed Google Pixel 7 Pro review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Google Tensor G2

Front Camera 10.8-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 128GB

OS Android 13

Resolution 1440x3120 pixels

More Google mobiles Google mobiles price in India

Google Pixel Watch

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Compatible OS Android 8.0+

Dial Shape Round

Ideal For Unisex

More Google Smartwatches

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Further reading: Google Pixel, Pixel Feature Drop, Pixel Watch, Pixel 7 Pro, Google

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More