Google expands Pixel features with Material 3 Expressive

Google unveils a broad feature rollout for Pixel devices, pairing a new visual theme with on device AI and cross device tools.

Google Expands Pixel Features with Material 3 Expressive

Google says Material 3 Expressive lands on Pixel 6 and newer devices, including Pixel Tablet. It adds Live effects to the lock screen and lets users create customized calling cards for contacts, making the interface feel more personal.

Adaptive Audio arrives on Pixel Buds Pro 2 to adjust to surroundings, and on wrist navigation for the Pixel Watch will flow from Maps on the phone to the watch. Gboard gains AI writing tools that can adjust tone, spelling, and grammar, with all processing happening on the device. LE Audio lets two headphones share a single phone so you can listen together, and a QR code system lets a group listen to the same playlist. Androidify lets users build a custom bot with a selfie or prompt using Gemini 2.5 Flash and Imagen to caption and animate.

The rollout shows Google trying to knit hardware and software into a tighter ecosystem. By keeping AI tasks on device, the company signals a privacy minded approach that does not rely solely on cloud processing.

The updates also reveal a strategy to expand social and everyday use cases, from shared audio to personalized bots. That can broaden appeal, but it raises questions about how data is used in cross device features and how easily users can control what is shared across apps and devices.

Highlights

The pace of features points to a broader effort to link devices into a single, more usable ecosystem.