It is now possible to connect pieces together by bringing them close to each other.
When the silhouette of the connection is visible, release the piece to make the connection.
The thumbstick can be used to adjust the relative position when working with axles.
Holding a piece steady for some time extends the range that the game looks for this type of connections.
Connection preview is on by default, but you can turn it off in settings if you prefer the previous behavior.