Your Android is getting 5 clever new features, including a vision guide and message personalisation

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Google has revealed its latest Android features, and they're designed to make your phone more personal than ever.

The updates touch on Google Messages, Gemini Live, and Find Hub, alongside a brand-new tool called Motion Assist. Some of these additions are ready to use right now, while others will be landing on devices shortly.

Erik Kay, VP of Engineering for Android Core Platform, said in a blog post: "From keeping track of important items in Find Hub to reducing motion sickness during your ride, your device is designed to adapt to your life."

What's great about these particular updates is that you don't need to wait for a massive Android overhaul to enjoy them. They're rolling out as part of Google's regular feature drops, building on the Android 17 launch — the latest operating system — back in June.

First up is a clever upgrade to Find Hub that works hand-in-hand with Gemini, which is Google's Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant.

Formerly known as Find My Device, this is Google's one-stop shop to find, remotely lock, or erase lost Android devices and accessories via Bluetooth.

It's similar to the Find My feature you'd find on Apple devices.

And now you can tell Gemini exactly where you've put something important, such as your passport, and it'll remember it for you.

You could say something like, "Hey Google, remember in Find Hub that I put my passport in my bedroom drawer," and even attach a photo.

When you need to find it again, just ask Gemini or check the remembered items tab. This arrives just a few weeks after the company announced its new Pixel Tag. This new accessory marks the US company's first venture into Bluetooth tracking devices that compete directly with Apple's bestselling AirTag.

The tracker will set you back £29.99 when it launches worldwide on November 11, or you can pick up a four-pack for £99.99 if you've got multiple items you'd like to monitor.

It may be worth having in addition to using Find Hub, as it will keep tabs on belongings like your luggage during travel without you having to remind Find Hub each time you move it.

Then there's Motion Assist, which is ideal for anyone who feels queasy using their phone in a moving car, bus, or train.

Motion Assist puts small dots around the edges of your screen that shift and move in response to the movement of the vehicle.

Motion sickness is caused when your body is getting mixed signals. Your inner ear can detect each time the car moves, turns, stops, and speeds up. It tells your brain your body is in motion, but your eyes are focused on the screen and your hands, which look completely still to your brain.

Using the accelerometer inside the device, the dots can move in exactly the same way on-screen as your inner ear detects from the vehicle.

This is the same way that Apple's Vehicle Motion Cues, released for the iPhone in 2024 with iOS 18, are designed to work. And if you're a Google Pixel owner, you'll be the first in line to receive the new feature. The new Pixel 11 handsets will have this right out of the box. Other Android devices are expected to get the update down the line.

Guided Vision is another new handy feature, designed for and with the blind and low-vision communities. It works through Gemini Live, letting you share your phone's camera to receive spoken descriptions of whatever's in front of you.

If you're not familiar, Gemini Live is Google’s conversational AI feature that lets you have a natural, back-and-forth voice conversation with Gemini.

You can interrupt it, ask follow-up questions, and change the subject without starting a new chat. It can also understand what you show it through your phone’s camera or screen, making it useful for getting help with things in the real world.

With Guided Vision, it's meant to be great for things like reading tiny text on food packaging, navigating a dimly lit restaurant menu, or identifying objects around the house.

If your camera isn't quite pointing in the right direction, voice feedback will help you reposition it, pan across a space, or centre on a specific item.

For easy access, you can add Guided vision to your Accessibility shortcuts, switch it on from the TalkBack menu, or enable it through Gemini App Settings.

It will be gradually rolling out to phones running Android 9 and above.

Google Messages is also getting a handy new trick with Google Keep built right in.

Google Keep is Google’s simple note-taking app for saving ideas, reminders, lists and other bits of information. You can create text notes, checklists, drawings and voice notes, then organise them with labels and colours. It also syncs across your devices, so you can access your notes wherever you are.

And now you can share and edit notes or lists directly inside a conversation, so everyone in the chat can chip in without switching apps.

It's ideal for putting together a shopping list with your housemate or brainstorming holiday plans with mates. Just tap the + icon in Messages to get started.

The rollout is already underway, so it may already be on your mobile.

And finally, there's the Chat theme, which lets you give each conversation its own unique look. If you've ever opened up Facebook Messenger or your Instagram messages, you have seen the option to change the background on your chats.

You can pick a wallpaper or use one of your own photos, and your text bubbles will automatically adjust their colours to match.

For example, if you prefer a cosy latte theme when texting your coffee mate, you can set this up in your chat. This particular feature is available to use right now.