March 2025 Pixel Update: Cool camera tricks, Emergency SOS grows, and app upgrades

Google kicked off the March 2025 Pixel Update today, alongside Android 15 QPR2. This update brings fresh features for Pixel phones, including better apps, new camera tools, and improved ways to stay connected. The rollout starts now, so keep an eye on your device!

Fun New Features

The Find My Device app now lets you share your location with friends, while Android Auto adds full games for some in-car entertainment. Google’s Gemini Live, powered by the speedy Gemini 2.0 Flash, is smarter and can chat in over 45 languages—no settings tweak needed. For Pixel 6+ users, you can now talk about pictures, files, or YouTube clips with the new Talk Live feature. Plus, Google teased live camera and screen-sharing tools coming soon, thanks to Project Astra.

Pixel 9’s Camera Gets Connected

The Pixel 9 series now has a “Connected Camera” option. You can link up a GoPro HERO10 Black (or newer) or a Pixel 6 to stream from different angles. A small pop-up lets you switch between cameras or add new ones. It works with apps like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook, using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The Pixel Fold series also gets a dual-screen mode for video, showing the recording on the outer screen. On the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Dual Screen helps line up shots with the Add Me feature.

SOS Goes Farther

Satellite SOS is now available in Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, the UK, and Europe for Pixel 9 users. It’s free for two years and lets you reach emergency services without a cell signal. T-Mobile and Verizon users on Pixel 9 models can also send texts via satellite, including to 911 or friends.

App Updates

Pixel Studio on the Pixel 9 can now create images of people, thanks to Gemini’s Imagen 3 upgrade. Pixel Screenshots suggests items for your Collections, letting you save or trash them easily. It’s also rolling out to Work Profiles in English, Japanese, and German. In Japan and Germany, Pixel 9 owners get new goodies like AI weather updates and pollen tracking in Pixel Weather.

The Phone app now spots scams in real time on Pixel 9 in the US, vibrating to warn you. Google Messages adds scam alerts too, with quick options to report or dismiss them, starting in the US, UK, and Canada. Lastly, Gboard’s Voice Toolbar hits phones after debuting on the Pixel Tablet.