Overview
- Google started a phased Android 16 monthly update and Pixel Feature Drop on Nov. 10–11, with Verizon listing build numbers and security fixes for audio, camera rainbow artifacts, charging, app loading, and webcam mode, while support for parts of the Pixel 6/7 lines remains unconfirmed on carrier pages.
- Google Messages adds Remix photo editing powered by the Nano Banana model, letting users prompt edits inside chats; it launches first in English with RCS in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.
- Pixel 9 and later (excluding 9a) now offer AI summaries of long chat notifications via on‑device Gemini Nano, with a December update set to group and silence lower‑priority alerts.
- Scam Detection now flags suspicious chat notifications as “Likely scam” on Pixel 6 and newer in the US, while call‑based scam detection and Call Notes expand to Pixel 9+ in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Japan, and the UK.
- Pixel 10 series gains a Google Maps Power Saving Mode that simplifies navigation and can extend battery life by up to four hours, alongside upgraded VIP notification prioritization and new Wicked: For Good theme packs on Pixel 6 and newer.