Google has just released the May Pixel Drop update, which focuses on fixing bugs and providing a warning for users who like to flash custom Android builds onto their phones. Unlike the previous April Pixel Drop, which introduced the ability to share your screen with Gemini, the May update does not bring any significant new features.
The May Pixel Drop primarily focuses on fixing several notable bugs. One of the fixes addresses a bug that caused microphone recording quality to degrade in certain apps. Another fix resolves a Bluetooth pairing issue with specific smartwatches. Additionally, there is a fix for secondary languages displayed in quick settings. While these fixes may seem minor, they can be significant for users experiencing these issues.
The rollout of the May Pixel Update has already begun and will continue in phases over the next week. This update will be available for all Pixel phones from the Google Pixel 6 series to the current Google Pixel 9 series.
In addition to the bug fixes, Google has issued a warning for users who like to flash custom builds onto their phones. The May update includes a bootloader update that increments the anti-roll back version for the bootloader. This means that after flashing the May 2025 update, users will not be able to flash and boot older Android 15 builds.
Looking ahead, the release of new features for Android 15 is slowing down as Android 16 approaches. Google’s next big event, the I/O event on May 20, will provide details about the upcoming mobile OS. One of the highly anticipated announcements at Google I/O is the introduction of Material 3 Expressive, the new UI design language that will impact Android 16 and Google’s various apps.
Material 3 Expressive focuses on making key actions stand out and grouping similar elements together to create a cohesive user experience. Google conducted extensive focus testing and iteration to develop this new design philosophy. With Android 15 appearing to be feature-complete, it will be interesting to see how Material 3 Expressive enhances the overall user interface.
