Google Pixel owners will get an amazing free audio upgrade early 2023
On December 12, Google dropped its quarterly Android beta software update (opens in new tab), coming to a bunch of the company’s Pixel phones (from Pixel 4 onwards). But some of the newer Pixel phones in particular are in line for a great free audio upgrade.
In early 2023, and to coincide with the Google Pixel Buds getting a feature upgrade, the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will all get a Spatial Audio update – meaning the ability to three-dimensional audio to relevant output receiving devices.
Spatial audio is the ability to deliver immersive audio beyond simple stereo; for example, if you have a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, it will deliver track strains through a full hemisphere of motion, providing extra immersion. With TV and movies, the effect is further enhanced with head tracking, so your head movements in relation to the screen will feel like you’re in the scene.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
That’s not all the update will bring, though: a Health Connect app will be added by default, allowing you to merge your health data from multiple apps, which is a nice idea.
Furthermore, a floating taskbar should be added, so every time you swipe up from the bottom of the screen, there will be a temporary taskbar to make navigation easier, perhaps a good tool for those who have yet to move to Android -gesture controls.
However, you’ll have to wait a little longer for such features to become a staple of the Pixel experience, as this Android software release likely won’t be out of its current beta format until late spring 2023, so I would expect sometime around March.
Still, it’s always good to preview new features, and the Google Pixel lineup in particular has been packed with additions since its launch. And since the Pixel 7 Pro is still my pick as the best Android phone, these changes only make the best even better.
