Today, Google is releasing Android 16 QPR1 and the latest Pixel Feature Drop. This update is going to bring Material 3 Expressive to more Pixel devices, essentially the Pixel 6 or newer.
Quite a few new fetures that Google announced with the Pixel 10 last month, is now rolling out to the Pixel 6 and newer. This includes the new AI writing tools in Gboard, the new Emoji Keyboard browse function, the Quick Share redesign and Audio Sharing for Pixel Buds. Now these features are all part of the Android Ecosystem, so these aren’t specific to the Pixel – except for Audio Sharing.
Google is also expanding LE Audio capabilities to Sony headphones. It is also bringing LE Audio Auracast support to compatible Pixel phones, after having it already be available on Galaxy and Xiaomi devices.
September Pixel Drop brings Adaptive Audio, Material 3 Expressive, and More
Moving on to the September Pixel Feature Drop, this does bring in quite a few features that we’ve been waiting for. Of course, the first big feature here is Material 3 Expressive, which Google announced at The Android Show ahead of Google I/O in May. This is the big redesign for Pixel UI that seems to have a very polarizing reaction so far. This is going to be available on the Pixel 6 and newer, including the Pixel Tablet. It really takes Material Design and brings it up a notch.
Next up is Adaptive Audio. Now this was announced last month for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, and it’s now rolling out. This will allow the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to intelligently adjust to your surroundings, so you can stay aware while enjoying your music or podcast. It also brings Loud Noise Protection that will help protect your hearing if a sudden loud noise passes by.
Finally, in this feature drop, is Google Maps auto-launch for Pixel Watch. Now, Google is making it easier to navigate right from your wrist. So when you launch walking or biking navigation from your phone, Google Maps will now automatically display the navigation on your Pixel Watch and other WearOS smartwatches.
These updates will begin rolling out today, along with the September 2025 Security Patch.
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