Pixel 9 S New Ai Features Could Expand To Older Models Soon

Spotted by Android Authority‘s Assemble Debug, a future server-side switch could bring the two new features to Pixels launched after 2021, i.e., Pixel 6 and above devices. According to him, there are three versions of Google Photos apps. There’s one for Pixels launched between 2021 and 2023, one for all Android devices, and one for Pixel 9.
The tipster spotted strings pertaining to the features in the latest version of the Photos app, i.e., version 6.99 for Pixels 6, 7, and 8 series, deducing that Google may bring the new features to older Pixels. They also found that the feature works on custom ROMs like Evolution X and LineageOS by spoofing the device ID to Pixel 9, even on devices failing Play Integrity.
This isn’t the first time new Pixel features will make it to older Pixel devices. Magic Editor, a Pixel 8-exclusive feature during launch, made it older Pixels in a few months, followed by all Android phones with a Google One subscription. The same goes for the Photo Unblur feature, which was announced exclusively for Pixel 7 series but was made available on all Android phones.
This increases the probability of Auto Frame and Reimagine features arriving on non-Pixels in the future. What are your thoughts on Google bringing new features to older Pixels? Let us know in the comments.