The Pixel VIPs widget is my favorite Google Pixel feature in ages

Pixel VIPs Is Quickly Becoming a Must-Have Shortcut for Messaging and Calling on Google Phones

Since Google introduced Pixel VIPs back in June, the widget has quickly become one of the most convenient ways for users to message and call their favorite contacts. For many — including longtime Pixel users — it’s now a tool used multiple times a day, and for some, it’s even on the verge of becoming a permanent spot on the home screen.

The Pixel VIPs widget is available through the Google Contacts app, although it’s powered by its own dedicated service. Its design makes it feel less like an app feature and more like an extension of the system UI itself.

A People-First Launcher on Your Home Screen

Tapping on a contact’s avatar opens a sleek bottom sheet while keeping the top half of the home screen visible. This thoughtful UI approach gives Pixel VIPs a clean, lightweight feel. The sheet, which recently picked up some Material You Expressive design enhancements, provides quick access to:

• Your most recent RCS messages

• The latest call history

• Quick shortcuts for calling and messaging

• A direct link to the full Contacts page

The phone and message pill at the top of the interface has become the main way many users — including the writer — initiate conversations. It’s faster, cleaner, and more intuitive than digging through apps.

Smarter, More Visual Notifications for VIPs

Earlier this month, Google added another small but meaningful upgrade: VIP messages now display the full contact avatar directly in the status bar. The tiny circular image brings a noticeable pop of color, and although it takes a moment to get used to, it makes incoming messages extremely hard to miss — especially on the always-on display.

The notification system also highlights VIP messages with a distinctive yellow ring around the avatar. While the highlight is useful, a future customization option could make the feature even better — for example, allowing users to choose different colors for different VIPs.

Notes and Shared Info Make Pixel VIPs Even More Useful

Another part of Pixel VIPs that’s quickly become essential is the Notes section, which appears when you swipe the bottom sheet upward and the interface expands to full screen. This feature has completely replaced the old method of using Google Keep with special labels to track personal details about important contacts.

Still, there’s room for improvement. A particularly helpful addition would be the ability to set reminders that sync directly with Google Tasks and appear in the main app — potentially as part of a dedicated “VIPs list.”

Even without enabling location sharing, Pixel VIPs provides helpful context by showing the local time, date, and weather for your VIP. This small detail makes it easier to know when someone might be available before starting a conversation.

“Things to Do Together” Still Feels Underdeveloped

At the bottom of the interface, the Things to Do Together feature attempts to spark conversations by recommending movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, sports, and other mutual interests. However, even after setting preferences, the suggestions still feel somewhat generic and not truly personalized.

It’s a thoughtful idea, but it currently lacks the depth needed to feel like a meaningful part of the VIP experience.

Pixel VIPs Could Become Even More Powerful With Smarter Photo Features

One feature that would feel perfectly at home inside Pixel VIPs is a rotating photo gallery, especially one that highlights pictures taken “X years ago.” Using Google Photos’ Face Groups, this could work similarly to the existing “People & pets” widget — but built directly into VIPs. With a quick-share button added, these throwback photos could become natural and meaningful conversation starters, far more engaging than the current generic content suggestions.

Pixel VIPs: Google’s Most Impactful UI Innovation in Years

For many users, Pixel VIPs stands out as one of Google’s most thoughtful and impactful Pixel features in a long time. It brings a more personal, relationship-focused layer to the smartphone experience by making it easier to stay connected with the people who matter most. This aligns with Google’s broader belief that Call Assist and communication features are core pillars of the Pixel ecosystem.

Outside of full standalone apps like Weather and Now Playing, Pixel VIPs joins features that complement At a Glance, such as:

• The flashlight indicator with a tap-to-turn-off shortcut

• The prominent next calendar event display

• Other subtle but highly useful micro-features that reduce friction in daily phone use

A Quick Tangent: At a Glance Still Has Untapped Potential

Speaking of At a Glance, one feature that could be incredibly helpful is automatically showing a membership QR code when a user enters a grocery store. This concept appeared in Google’s original Material You design reel and would save users from opening retail apps manually — something many Pixel owners think about every time they walk into places like Whole Foods.

VIPs Needs More Integrations and Stronger Visibility

As much as Pixel VIPs has improved since launch, it still needs deeper investment. Expanding compatibility beyond Google Messages and WhatsApp is essential if Google wants the feature to be a true universal hub for communication.

There’s also a sense that Pixel VIPs deserved a bigger spotlight — ideally launching as part of a major Pixel event instead of quietly arriving in a Feature Drop. Bundling it into the initial setup process and automatically placing the widget on the home screen would have emphasized its importance.

A Strong Candidate for Going Beyond Pixel Devices

With continued improvements, Pixel VIPs could eventually become a feature adopted across the wider Android ecosystem. In many ways, it embodies what the Android team originally envisioned with the now-overlooked Conversations widget — but executed with far more polish, context, and usefulness.