Google One VPN Now Launching on Pixel 7 Phones

Google today announced a significant feature drop for Pixel devices, including the awaited VPN by Google One, Google’s Clear Calling feature, spatial audio for the Pixel Buds, and more. Further, Google is expanding the availability of previous feature drops to more languages and regions.

Welcome Pixel Security Updates

Many of the new capabilities in this month’s feature drop are limited to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. For example, the VPN by Google One is only coming to Google’s latest phones, so older Pixel owners won’t gain access to the built-in VPN as part of their Google One subscription. For Pixel 7 devices, though, the VPN works in any web browser on the phone at no extra cost.

Clear Calling, designed to reduce background noise and enhance the sound of voices, is another addition to the Pixel 7 family, as are Recorder Speaker Labels. The native Recorder app can now transcribe recordings of multiple speakers by labeling each person and inserting line breaks when the speaker changes.

(Credit: Dave LeClair)

New Security and Privacy settings will reach all eligible Pixel phones. Pixel owners will see a single convenient hub to monitor all their security and privacy settings, risk levels, and other information. It will also provide action cards that tell people about any safety risks and provide steps to enhance security.

If you own Google Pixel Buds and a Pixel phone, you’ll be able to enjoy spatial audio with head tracking starting in January. Spatial audio will be available to non-Google headphones as well, but head tracking is reserved for the Pixel Buds only.

More Fitbit for Pixel Watch

Google is further integrating Fitbit into the Pixel Watch experience by adding a Fitbit Sleep Profile feature. With it, Google will provide insights into your sleep and help you improve the quality of your rest.

(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)

The Pixel Watch is also getting new Wear Tiles. While not necessarily new to Wear OS, these are new to the Pixel Watch. Google is adding Weather, Contacts, and other tiles to ensure more useful functions are available to Pixel Watch owners.

Last, Google is bringing Fall Detection to the Pixel Watch in 2023, which will contact emergency services if the Watch senses you’ve taken a hard fall. This is a great peace-of-mind feature.

Coming Soon to a Pixel Near You

As per the norm, Google says these new features will begin to roll out via an over-the-air update starting Dec. 5. Google’s feature drops generally take several weeks to reach all users.