Google’s June Pixel Drop hits T-Mobile and Google Fi

Pixel phone users who are on T-Mobile and Google Fi Wireless are finally getting the June 2024 Feature Drop update, which was initially rolled out two weeks ago.

The update, Android 14 QPR3, was supposed to be released on June 3rd but was postponed and announced on June 11th. Initially, the update was only available to some US users, excluding those on Verizon and T-Mobile. However, Verizon customers received the update last week. Now, reports indicate that T-Mobile users are receiving the 894MB over-the-air (OTA) update with the build number AP2A.240605.024 today. It is worth noting that Australian carrier Telus received a different build (AP2A.240605.024.A1) on June 18th.

The latest update provides many improvements for Pixel users, including an enhanced Google Phone app with a useful “Lookup” feature for identifying unknown numbers. This can help users avoid spam or robocalls. Additionally, Pixel Recorder has been upgraded with a new shortcut for quickly starting audio recordings. The introduction of Pixel VPN by Google is also significant, although it is currently being rolled out with its own set of problems. Some features of the June Feature Drop are only available for QPR3 users, while the VPN can be used independently of this update.

One of the exclusive features of QPR3 is the addition of DisplayPort Support for the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Gemini Nano support for the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8a. DisplayPort support is useful for connecting your Pixel to an external display for tasks such as presentations, video watching, and workspace expansion. Additionally, the update includes bug fixes to improve the overall performance and stability of your Pixel phone.

It’s interesting to mention that this update comes just a week before the July monthly update. It’s unfortunate that, despite Google consistently making updates available on day one, some Pixel users have to wait for carriers to release them for their locked devices. Hopefully, this situation will improve in the future so that all Pixel (and ideally all Android) users can receive updates promptly.