March 2024 Feature Drop: Google brings Circle to search for older Pixel phones and more
Google has been testing the March Feature Drop update for months before finalizing the build with the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.1 update. The stable version is now rolling out for eligible Pixel phones and brings some features previously exclusive to Pixel 8 Pro to older models. Of course, the Match 2024 security patch is part of the package.
The March 2024 Feature Drop update is rolling out to all eligible Pixel phones, including the Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, and First-gen Pixel Watch. Meanwhile, the update seems to be rolling out in batches, as we are yet to receive it on our Pixel 6 Pro at the time of this post. Nevertheless, below is everything Google is pushing to its devices with the latest update.
The Circle to Search debuted with the Galaxy S24 series, which is exclusive to the Pixel 8 series and is now available for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Unfortunately, the feature will not be rolling out to the Pixel 6 series, which also misses the support to share Ultra HDR photos to Instagram or 10-bit HDR videos to Reels.
However, the Pixel 6 series will get the Next-gen Call Screen. Google is adding a “hello” chip that gets the Google Assistant to prompt the callers to speak. Below is the complete changelog.
March 2024 Feature Drop changelog
Pixel phones:
- Circle to Search is coming to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro! This was previously exclusive to the Galaxy S24 series and the Pixel 8 series.
- Next-gen Call Screen (Pixel 6 and newer) is adding a “hello” chip that gets the Google Assistant to prompt the caller to speak. This can be useful if the caller is silent. If you aren’t available, the Assistant will let the caller know to wait.
- You can now share Ultra HDR photos to Instagram or 10-bit HDR videos to Reels from your Pixel phone (Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 8, 8 Pro, and Fold)!
Pixel Tablet:
- Gboard’s new Voice Toolbar for tablets minimizes the digital keyboard when voice input is activated in order to optimize screen space.
Pixel phones and Pixel Tablet:
- Android’s Connected Devices settings page now lets you access Bluetooth accessories you previously set up through Fast Pair (Pixel 5a and later)..
- Google Docs Markups lets you add handwritten annotations to a document using only your finger or stylus. (This was announced last week at MWC 2024 and is available on any device running Android 8.0+).
Pixel Watch:
- First-gen Pixel Watch is finally getting automatic workout detection! This works for running, walking, elliptical, spinning, outdoor biking, treadmill, and rowing.
- You can now set a goal pace during an exercise with your first-gen Pixel Watch. This lets you know when you’re within your target and get notifications for when you fall outside of it.
- You can now track the time you spend in each heart rate zone to optimize and guide your training on your first-gen Pixel Watch, and you can set up notifications to alert you when you move between zones.
- Fitbit Relax App now guides you through breathing exercises to help you relax.
The update also brings Android 14 QPR2 with the March 2024 security patches. QPR2 introduces several new Android features including an expandable Bluetooth QS tile, faster seamless updates, partial screen recording and screen casting, a search bar in the taskbar’s app drawer, a revamped privacy indicator dialog, a new shortcut to share your Wi-Fi network, and other minor changes.
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Alongside these new features, your device will be bumped to March 2024 security patch level. According to the bulletin released earlier by Google, the latest patch update resolved about 13 security vulnerabilities in the patch dated 2024-03-01 and 25 in the patch dated 2024-03-05. You can check all the March 2025 security patch update bug fixes here. The update is seeding with a version number AP1A.240305.019.A1, and you can download the Factory image and OTA from the source link.
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