Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro receive almost 40 bug fixes with latest updates

Yesterday, Google announced its latest Pixel Feature Drop for the Pixel 5a onwards. The last of the year, the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop brings various changes to Google's smartphone, tablet and smartwatch portfolio, with new features for the original Pixel Watch too (curr. $199.99 on Amazon). This month's Pixel Feature Drop coincides with the broader December 2023 update, which contains numerous fixes of its own. For reference, December 2023 updates are rolling out with the following build numbers:

• Pixel 5a: UQ1A.231205.014
• Pixel 6: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 6 Pro: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 6a: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 7: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 7 Pro: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 7a: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel Tablet: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel Fold: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 8: UQ1A.231205.015
• Pixel 8 Pro: UQ1A.231205.015

As 9to5Google notes, UQ1A.231205.015 brings nearly 40 fixes to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. While Google's build numbers do not reflect this, all are Android 14 QPR1, presumably QPR1 2.2. For context, Google has since moved onto sharing Android 14 QPR 2 builds that are unlikely to arrive publicly until the March 2024 Pixel Feature Drop.

Please see the list below for the full December 2023 changelog, which principally covers several outstanding UI bugs. Google has posted factory images and OTA files for all the build numbers listed above too, which can be found on its developer portal. Meanwhile, the bundled December 2023 security patch introduces 33 security fixes, details of which it has provided in its latest Pixel Update Bulletin support document.

Google Pixel Update - December 2023 changelog

• [1] Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8
• [2] Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet
• [3] Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro
• [4] Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet
• [5] Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro

Apps

• General improvements for stability or performance with certain system apps *[1] 

Audio

• Fix for users facing issues in pairing Hearing aid with phone during calls under certain conditions

Battery & Charging

• General improvements for charging and battery usage *[2]

Biometrics

• Fix for fingerprint issues on first attempt when always-on display is enabled under certain conditions *[3]

Bluetooth

• Fix for issue causing Bluetooth discovery to stop functioning under certain conditions
• Fix for issue causing Bluetooth to stop functioning under certain conditions

Camera

• General improvements for camera stability under certain conditions

Display & Graphics

• Fix for issue causing emoji icons to be rendered brighter than the rest of the adjacent content *[1]
• Fix for issue causing visual artifacts while scrolling on the home screen under certain conditions *[1]
• Fix for users getting a green flash when using the phone in certain conditions
• General improvements to display stability

Framework

• General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions

Location & GPS

• Fix for issue causing GPS instability under certain conditions

Sensors

• Fix for Phone vibrating continuously in certain conditions *[3]

System

• Fix for issue causing third party apps to crash on start up in certain conditions
• Fix for issue with Battery charging notifications in certain conditions

Telephony

• Fix for Voice over Wi-Fi calls to fail in certain conditions
• General improvements for network connection stability and performance in certain conditions

User Interface

• Fix for black bar at the bottom of the display after changing screen saver in certain conditions *[4]
• Fix for black screen in certain conditions *[1]
• Fix for certain users unable to share Videos/Screenshots/Documents in certain conditions *[4]
• Fix for custom clock reset to default in certain conditions
• Fix for email notification overlays that are not removed in certain conditions
• Fix for empty home screen post unlocking via fingerprint in certain conditions
• Fix for home screen blank background post unlocking in certain conditions *[4]
• Fix for incorrect date/time showing in status bar in certain conditions
• Fix for issue causing quick settings tiles to not activate under certain conditions
• Fix for issue causing the clock and temperature to overlap on the At a Glance lockscreen
• Fix for issue with blank notifications in certain conditions
• Fix for messages SMS Icon not showing in certain conditions
• Fix for missing icons post unlocking via fingerprint in certain conditions
• Fix for missing mobile icons in certain conditions when multiple SIMs are used
• Fix for unable to unlock device in certain conditions *[5]
• Fix for Wallpaper on home screen showing black in certain conditions
• Fix for Wi-Fi icon not displaying in certain conditions
• General improvement to the setup wizard flow pertaining to the navigation mode selection *[1]
• General improvements for performance and Memory management in certain UI transitions
• General improvements for performance and stability in certain UI transitions and animations
• General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions

Wi-Fi

• General improvements for Wi-Fi stability and performance in certain conditions