What you need to know
- Google is expanding the motion-sickness feature to more Android phones through Google Play services.
- You’ll need an Android 17 or newer device running Google Play services v26.37.
- Motion Assist uses your phone’s motion sensors to move on-screen bubbles in sync with the vehicle.
Google is taking one of the more unusual features from its September Pixel Drop and bringing it to a much wider audience. Motion Assist, the company’s attempt to reduce motion sickness while you’re using your phone in a moving vehicle, is now rolling out through Google Play services.
The feature arrived on Pixel phones a few weeks ago, but the latest update to Google Play services v26.37 extends support beyond Google’s hardware. You’ll need an Android 17 or later phone and the latest version of Google Play services.
For starters, Motion Assist places small visual bubbles around the edges of the display. Then, it uses the phone’s motion sensors to move those shapes in sync with the vehicle. This works pretty much like Apple’s own take on the feature, which has long been available on iOS devices.
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The idea is to provide your eyes with a visual reference that correlates more closely with what your body is experiencing. This might lessen the mismatch that can cause motion sickness.
The appearance of the feature can also be customized, including the opacity, color and shape of the bubbles. Motion Assist can turn on when your phone detects that you are in a moving vehicle, or you can turn it on manually through Quick Settings.
The September 21 update is not solely about motion sickness. Google is also working on making it easier to transfer real-time health metrics from Wear OS watches to phones, making it easier to find Driving Do Not Disturb, and creating larger, more refined system emoji fonts.
Google Play Store v53.3 also includes a few extras such as local-currency purchases in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Ethiopia; changes to Wear search results; and the ability to add a pre-registered paid app or game to your wishlist after it launches.
You can find the full changelog on Google’s help page. Keep an eye out for the system update rolling out to your device over the coming days — your stomach will thank you on your next road trip.