7 Android updates will be introduced to your phone right now as Google rolls out the latest feature drop

As part of its most recent quarterly feature drop, Google introduces several new capabilities across the entire Android platform. The tech giant occasionally releases these additional updates to complement more significant improvements like the upcoming Android 14.

With these feature drops, the business hopes to keep things interesting and provide Android customers exciting new tools to enhance their experience. Even though the decreases typically start favoring Pixel phones, they can eventually be adopted by the entire Android market.

Seven additional features are available in this instance that can be utilized. WearOS, Google's platform for smartwatches, is targeted by three new capabilities.

Here is what Android users can expect to see on their devices as a result of this feature drop:

1. Google News, Finance, and Google TV widgets

Users can customize their home screen using ideas from these three applications thanks to the first Android upgrade, which will roll out to both phones and tablets. An Android tablet with a Google TV widget could come in handy if you need a quick way to access entertainment to watch the best TV episodes and movies.

On the other hand, you could like to see news or stock prices from Google Finance and Google News on your phone's home screen. These widgets will be accessible on Android 6 and later-powered handsets.

2. Reading practice

This function, which is intended to help users increase their vocabulary and comprehension, will be accessible on both Android smartphones and tablets. Reading Practice works with hundreds of kid-friendly books in the Play Books app and is primarily geared toward youngsters. As a learning tool, it uses the mic to highlight words as you read. Only Android 8 and later devices can use this feature at first, and only in the United States.

3. Emoji Kitchen stickers

Using Emoji Kitchen, users may turn their favorite emojis into Gboard stickers that can be sent. So, for instance, you could create a laughing weeping shark by combining the laughing-tear face emoji with a shark. It might spark a few fascinating talks.

4. Spotify for WearOS

Soon, all of Spotify's features will be accessible to owners of Pixel Watches (or other smartwatches running WearOS 2 or later). With Spotify's DJ, you can create a custom playlist for yourself or control playing from your wrist. Additionally, you may access your heavy rotation from your watch and stream episodes of podcasts.

Spotify has also made additional tiles and facial difficulties available. This is currently only accessible to users in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland. Naturally, to access all the features, you will have to be a Spotify Premium subscriber.

5. Wallet improvements on WearOS

By allowing commuters in the Washington, D.C., and San Francisco Bay Area to use Wallet as a ticket, Google is extending the capabilities of its mobile payment system. To tap and ride using their smartwatch, users in certain cities can import their SmarTrip and Clipper cards to Google Wallet. However, it could eventually be extended to other cities and services. Admittedly, if you reside anywhere else in the world, this won't be useful to you. Once more, a device running WearOS 2 or later is required.

6. Google Note boost for WearOS

An update to Google Keep for Wear OS is the final added functionality for wearable technology. Users can now put a tile to their watch for quick access to a single note or to-do list. Theoretically, you can do more without taking out your phone by quickly swiping through your tiles to retrieve your pinned message.

You will require a device running WearOS 3 in this situation. The good news is that this feature will be available to everyone and won't be restricted to specific nations or regions.

7. Dark web report with Google One

The update list is completed by a helpful security tool, Dark web report, which is now fully accessible for Android users in the U.S. without additional fees. You can do one-off scans on the Google One website and app to determine if your Gmail address has been made public on the dark web, whether you're using a phone, tablet, or other browser-enabled devices. If so, you will also get advice on how to keep yourself safe online.

The ability to scan for more personal information, such as a social security number, and begin automatic monitoring (instead of one-time scans) is available to Google One users in the United States.

Although now only available to U.S. consumers with consumer Google accounts, Google claims that access to the dark web report will soon be public in over 20 other nations. We don't know when this will happen, but Google says it will be "in the coming months."

Following the regular update cycle for your Android device, these capabilities will be made available in varied degrees over the next several days and weeks. If you're an avid Android user, this might encourage you to buy the Pixel 7a or even commit to a Pixel Watch.