TL;DR
- Users are once again expressing their frustration online about missing features in the November Pixel Drop.
- The update has just been released and doesn’t bring many of the new features Google promised in its announcement.
- However, there are several reasons why Pixel Drops roll out gradually, over a period of time.
Google’s latest November Pixel Feature Drop introduced a number of exciting upgrades for Pixel phones, but many users are finding that most of the new features aren’t actually live yet. While Google’s announcement highlighted features like Notification Summaries, Remix in Google Messages, and more, many people, including members of our team who’ve updated their phones, are only seeing the new Wicked: For Good! theme pack, which is hardly the star of the show in this Pixel Drop.
So, what’s going on? Why do Pixel Drop features always seem to arrive in slow motion?
Why are Pixel Drop features delayed?
Unlike Apple’s iOS updates, which roll out globally to all eligible devices at once, Google’s Pixel Feature Drops follow a staggered rollout schedule. This means not every Pixel user gets the new features at the same time, even if they’ve already installed the update. Users sometimes have to wait several weeks before gaining access to new features. It can be frustrating, but there’s actually a reason behind it.
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Google typically mentions, as it did this time as well, that new features roll out gradually over a few weeks, depending on region and carrier. This is likely not about favoring certain users or markets, it’s a matter of quality control. A phased rollout would allow Google to monitor the stability and performance of the new features across different hardware models and carrier networks before releasing the update more broadly. Essentially, it’s a way of catching bugs before everyone gets them.
Should Google roll out new features in Pixel Drops faster?
76 votes
Yes, on the same day as the update.
53%
Yes, it shouldn’t take more than a few days for new features to arrive.
33%
No, I’m okay waiting for a few weeks to get the new features
11%
I don’t really care
4%
Also, sometimes the new features Google announces in Pixel Drops require app updates and server-side switches. The drop lays the foundation for these features, which are eventually released over the course of weeks.
So essentially, even if you install the November Pixel Drop today, you’ll only see some of the new features when Google flips the server-side switch or makes app updates available.
Technically, if Google wanted, it could roll out Pixel Drop features to everyone at once. The company has full control over its own hardware and software ecosystem. However, due to reasons above, and probably also to manage the strain a simultaneous rollout would have on backend systems, Pixel Drops roll out gradually over a period of time.
Device and region limitations
It’s important to note that rollout delays are not the same as feature exclusivity. Some new features are limited to specific Pixel models by design. For example, the new Power Saving Mode in Google Maps is currently exclusive to the Pixel 10 series. That’s a deliberate decision by Google, not a rollout delay. These exclusive features sometimes make their way to older models later, but that’s not always the case.
Regional restrictions also play a role. Certain features are only available in select countries due to a mix of technical, regulatory, and market-related factors. These can include carrier partnerships, local laws, language support, or even infrastructure requirements needed for a feature to work properly.
So if your Pixel isn’t showing off all the new toys just yet, don’t worry. Your phone likely won’t be missing out for long.
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