Google Wallet and Play Store Just Got Smarter: New Features from Google I/O 2025
If you’re searching for the latest Google Wallet updates, new Google Play Store features, or what’s new in Wear OS, the 2025 Google I/O conference delivered major enhancements across these platforms. While AI took center stage, several impactful changes flew under the radar—updates that could significantly improve your everyday tech experience. From smarter boarding pass prompts to payment request features, Google is refining convenience across devices.
Smarter Wallet, Smarter Travel
One of the most practical updates comes to Google Wallet. A new feature called Nearby Passes now alerts you to pull up your boarding pass, gym pass, or coffee shop loyalty card exactly when you need it. Imagine arriving at the airport and your boarding pass automatically surfaces—no more digging through apps. This small but powerful tweak is powered by location-based notifications, enhancing user experience with seamless access.
In addition, digital IDs are expanding to Arkansas, Montana, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. UK travelers can now also store UK passports digitally. Airlines with loyalty programs will soon be able to automatically push boarding passes to users after check-in—saving both time and hassle.
Google Play Store Adds Payment Requests and More
The Google Play Store is evolving to support more flexible transactions. A standout new feature, “Ask someone else to pay”, allows users to request payment from someone outside their Google Family by generating a shareable payment link. Initially launched in India, this feature is now rolling out to the US, Japan, Indonesia, and Mexico. It's perfect for gifting apps or enabling kids to request app purchases from parents—increasing monetization opportunities for developers and boosting conversion rates.
Additionally, the Play Store now supports unified checkouts for subscription add-ons—bundling everything into a single transaction. For developers, enhanced listings with content carousels, YouTube playlists, and even audio previews are now supported, particularly benefitting health and wellness apps. This creates a richer, more dynamic app discovery experience and could lead to higher engagement and click-through rates.
Wear OS Gets Live Updates
Wear OS is catching up to its smartphone and Apple Watch counterparts by introducing Live Updates. These real-time notifications for rideshare, food delivery, and navigation apps will soon be available on smartwatches. Confirmed for rollout “later in 2026,” this enhancement ensures you won’t need to check your phone to track a delivery or navigate your route—making wearables more practical and increasing smartwatch utility.
Enhancing Google TV and Developer Tools
Over on Google TV, Android 16 is bringing a refreshed Material 3 Expressive design along with a new MediaQualityManager, which allows apps to auto-select optimal picture profiles for better viewing. Google TV will also support the Eclipsa Audio codec, a spatial audio format developed in partnership with Samsung—marking a big step forward for immersive home entertainment.
Developers also benefit from a new “halt release” option that can pause buggy app rollouts, preventing issues from reaching more users. Meanwhile, new topic pages on the Play Store will surface curated content around trending shows, sports, and movies—helping users discover more of what they love.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, traveler, or developer, these new features aim to streamline digital life with smarter payments, seamless travel tools, and enhanced content discovery. Keep an eye out as these updates begin rolling out—and get ready for a more intuitive, connected Google ecosystem.
