November 13, 2025, 11:22 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Every few months, Google’s Pixel smartphones receive new features through so-called Pixel Drops. The next drop was initially expected in December to coincide with the launch of the second quarterly platform update (QPR2) for Android 16. Instead, Google has moved the date up to November. Users can now look forward to these new features.
Google Announces November Pixel Drop
Previously, leakers had already published screenshots of the Pixel Drop via the Mystic Leaks channel on Telegram. As Google’s blog post shows, the predictions were accurate–even though the leakers got the date wrong. Instead of November 4, Google announced the Pixel Drop on November 11. Additionally, the drop includes more features than previously known:
- Theme packs
- Prioritized notifications for VIPs
- Photo remix in Google Messages
- AI summaries for notifications
- Enhanced fraud detection
- Personalized editing in Google Photos
- Power-saving mode in Google Maps
“Wicked: For Good”-Inspired Theme Packs
The “Wicked” sequel “For Good” is set to release on November 21, and it seems Google wants to get users in the mood with its own theme packs. Android 16 is expected to receive a theme manager with the QPR2 update–and the theme packs are likely the first harbingers of this new feature.
According to the leaked images, with a single click, wallpapers, icons, GIFs, and even sounds can be switched to a new theme. The first pack to launch will likely be “Wicked: For Good,” which includes the variants “For Good,” “Glinda,” and “Elphaba.”
Photo Remix in Google Messages
Since July, users have been able to transform images in Google Photos into short videos or unique art styles like sketches or anime, and even turn people and animals into mini-figures. With the November Pixel Drop, this feature is also coming to Google Messages. Users can send and modify “remixed” images according to their preferences–without leaving the app.
VIP Notifications
In June, Google introduced a Pixel VIP widget that highlights messages from important contacts in Google Messages and WhatsApp directly on the home screen. According to leaks, the VIP feature is set to receive a significant update: prioritized notifications.
Notifications for messages from VIP contacts will appear highlighted in yellow, with contact photos directly in the status bar. This feature can be disabled in the settings at any time.
AI Overview and Fraud Detection for Notifications
Like the iPhone, Pixel devices can now summarize longer notifications using AI. This provides users with a brief overview of longer messages in the notification bar. Starting in December, Pixel will also better organize notifications, automatically silencing low-priority messages.
With the March Pixel Drop, Google had already integrated fraud detection into Google Messages and the phone app. This can not only detect direct scams but also identify when a conversation takes a fraudulent turn. New in November is the integration of fraud detection directly in the notification bar, where a new “Likely Fraud” alert will appear for suspicious messages.
Personalized Editing in Google Photos
Through the Photos app, Pixel smartphones already have access to personal photos. The app can use this context to personalize image editing. For example, if a face is obscured, users can select “Help Me Edit” directly in the app to remove sunglasses, hats, or other objects. The app then uses existing images to show the entire face. Changing facial expressions afterward is also possible. The feature is currently only available in the U.S.
Google Smartphones Get New Features
Google Rolls Out Major Android Update: New Features Unveiled
Power-Saving Mode in Google Maps
While navigating in the car, users can now press the power button to activate the new power-saving mode in Google Maps. The app then appears in a simplified black-and-white view, showing only the essentials: upcoming turns, distance, and arrival time. According to Google, this can extend battery life “by up to four hours.”
Animations in Pixel Studio Not Part of the Drop
Previously, leaks had shown a feature in the Pixel Studio app that allows for animating personal or AI-created images. Apparently, the leakers were able to test the feature and animate an “eagle on roller skates moments before it falls headfirst into a trash heap” and an “eagle flying high.” The animations can then be exported as GIFs and stickers for use in other apps.
However, the feature does not seem to be ready for mass use or may not exist at all. A clue for the latter could be a rare typo in the description for the animation feature in Pixel Studio (“Easily transform any image or Pixel Studio creation into a into a GIF”).