Like most Google apps, Messages A/B tests many features. However, it takes the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch these capabilities in stable even after they are announced. From various reports, Google itself, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.

Gemini is cleaning up its apps, previously known as extensions, for more direct integrations that don’t require invoking @YouTube or @Google Maps.

The account menu was the last non-Material 3 Expressive aspect of Google Messages and it has now been updated.

As announced alongside the Pixel 10 launch, Gemini Live is more widely rolling out native audio output for a “more responsive and expressive conversation” on Android.

After debuting on the Pixel 10 (version 10.0), Google is rolling out the Pixel Camera 10.1 update to older devices with a handful of Material 3 Expressive tweaks.

Besides a pill-shaped tweak for the Suggestion strip, Gboard’s next visual change is a dedicated keyboard Font size setting.

Google today announced Veo 3.1 as its latest video generation model, with Flow getting a number of updates to take advantage of the latest capabilities.

In addition to safety features for Android’s Messages app, Google is introducing new Account recovery tools today, like establishing trusted contacts.

Google is rolling out two new safety features for Messages, including the launch of Android Key Verifier.

Following the Material 3 Expressive redesign, Google Wallet has rolled out pass nicknames and other features that developers can take advantage of.

After initially launching on the Pixel 10 series, Google began one of its traditional slow rollouts for its conversation-based “Help me edit” tool late last month. Now, the company is confirming it’s active for all eligible Android devices in the US, giving Photos users one more way to edit their collection without relying on sliders and dials.

The YouTube family of apps continue to have their own design language that’s distinct from Google services. YouTube is now rolling out a redesign of the video player across Android, iOS, web, and TV, as well as a handful of other “expressive and intuitive” updates. 

Google Photos is practically the default gallery app on Android, but that’s underselling just how powerful of a photo editor it is, especially with that new Create tab. With a new update, Photos is getting some big improvements to its collage creator, all intended to give more control to end users.

After introducing in July, NotebookLM is giving Video Overviews a big upgrade with the help of Google’s Nano Banana image editing and generation model (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image). 

As previewed last month, activating the Gemini overlay in Chrome for Android now lets you quickly Summarize pages.

Following Android, most Google apps on iOS now have the redesigned Google Account menu and switcher. 

To help reduce notification overload, Chrome for Android and desktop will automatically disable notifications from websites you don’t frequently visit. 

After adding the “Tools” menu last month, a redesign of the Gemini app’s prompt bar removes the box, while the model picker is being moved.

Google’s new Nest Doorbell (wired) is here and, if you’re looking to upgrade over the existing model, the good news is that it’s a truly effortless upgrade.

Ahead of the Pixel Watch 4 officially going on sale tomorrow, Google is rolling out Wear OS 6 to the Pixel Watch 2 and 3.

Following the redesign and simplification in August, Google has brought back “Backup details” to Android settings.

Google already refreshed the Pixel Watch app on Android phones with some M3 Expressive earlier this month, but the latest update brings more tweaks and a new homescreen icon.