Google is known for being generous with new features, bringing them to as many smartphones as possible. To that end, we’ve seen flagship tools like Gemini Live and Circle to Search not only debut on Google Pixel phones, but also come to Android phones at large. Those features in particular are even available on iOS via the Gemini and Google apps. However, some of Google’s most exciting Pixel exclusives of late have been restricted to flagship Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series models due to hardware constraints.

If you’re the owner of an older Google Pixel phone, or a recent A-series model, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines any longer. There are plenty of Google Pixel exclusives that are available on devices as old as the Pixel 2. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites, and most of the Pixel exclusives I’ve listed below work on the Pixel 3 and newer. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and recap iconic Pixel exclusives you may have forgotten about.

Top Shot

Let your Pixel do the work of picking the best shot

Before the emergence of Camera Coach, Auto Best Take, or Add Me, there was Top Shot. It’s one of the Pixel camera features that started it all, establishing Google handsets as the go-to phones for intelligent photography tools. Top Shot works by taking a burst of photos simultaneously and selecting the best one automatically. The feature studies the image frames captured before and after you press the shutter. That’s right — Top Shot goes back in time, saving the frames that happened before you hit capture.

It’s all powered by a computer vision model that can capture up to 90 images from 1.5 seconds before and after the shutter press, according to Google. Top Shot saves the shot captured by your shutter press, but also presents up to two suggested high-resolution photos taken in the burst. You can enable it on the Google Pixel 3 and later by opening the Camera app, tapping Settings, and picking Auto or On for Top Shot.

Astrophotography

Get rich photos of the night sky with your older Pixel

Starting with the Google Pixel 3, your Pixel phone can take specialized night sky photos using the built-in Astrophotography mode. You probably know that your Pixel phone includes a Night Sight mode for low-light photography, but Astrophotography is specifically designed for night skies without light pollution. Think capturing a starry night in a national park far away from city lights and passing cars.

The Astrophotography mode on Pixel phones works by capturing 16, 16-second photos when you press the shutter. After the initial captures, your phone will merge these photos together in software. This simulates the long-exposure techniques professional photographers use to take Astrophotography shots. You can try it for yourself by opening the Camera app and navigating to Night Sight → Controls → Astro → Shutter. After the shutter press, a five-second timer will start before the Astrophotography captures begin.

Night Sight’s Astrophotography mode can activate itself manually when placing your Pixel on a tripod in a dark place.

Car crash detection

Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it has your back

Google Pixel phones offer a Personal Safety app loaded with tools that can lend a hand in an emergency. Car Crash Detection is one such feature that you hope you’ll never have to use, but could become a crucial Pixel tool in dangerous situations. To start, open the Personal Safety app on your Pixel and sign in with your Google account. Enter your personal information and set emergency contacts.

Then, navigate to Settings → Safety & emergency → Car crash detection and flip the toggle beside the feature to enable it. Car crash detection will then work in the background, aiming to determine if you’ve been involved in a serious car crash. If your Google Pixel 3 or later detects a crash, it will vibrate, ring an alarm, and ask if you need help. The phone will call emergency services after 60 seconds if you are unresponsive.

Car crash detection isn’t the most exciting Pixel exclusive, but it could help you contact first responders in an emergency situation where time is of the essence.

Now Playing

Instantly recognize and save songs playing in your environment

A classic Pixel feature is Now Playing, which was introduced way back on the Google Pixel 2. Every model since has supported the music-recognition tool, making it the most compatible Pixel exclusive we’ve covered. When enabled, Now Playing downloads a music library onto your device to compare songs against. It doesn’t use the internet for recognition unless you enable the Enhance Now Playing toggle in the Settings app. Otherwise, your Pixel will securely and privately try to recognize tracks using only on-device processing.

The best part about Now Playing is that it runs ambiently in the background. When your phone hears a song in your environment, the name and artist automatically appear on its lock screen. A running list of songs recognized by Now Playing is stored on the settings page for the feature. You can always go back and find the name of the song you heard while running errands. It’s a handy feature that became a Pixel staple with the second-generation model.

Hold for Me

Wasting time waiting on hold is so last decade

Hold For Me is another great Pixel exclusive that’s available on the Google Pixel 3 and later. It leverages Call Assist, allowing a virtual assistant to wait on hold in your place. When you’re removed from hold and a real person is ready to talk to you, your Pixel phone will notify you that it’s time to rejoin the call. After enabling Hold for Me in the Settings app, you’ll see a Hold for Me → Start workflow appear when you are placed on hold.

The feature shows either Don’t hang up or Someone’s waiting to talk to you, based on whether you’re still on hold or someone is available. You can tap Return to call to rejoin the conversation at any time. This is a serious time-saver that eliminates wasting needless energy waiting on hold for hours on end.

Older Google Pixel phones can still join in on the fun

Newer Google Pixel exclusives typically require updated Tensor processors and more available memory, explaining why they don’t work on older models. If you feel like you’re missing out on the latest and greatest Pixel tricks, you might just need to revisit these classic features. They can help you conquer long phone holds, take great photos, identify now-playing music, and get help in an emergency.