- The Pixel 8 Pro gets a price bump and a temperature sensor
- A smaller but more powerful Pixel 8
- The Pixel Watch 2 gets more sensors and a better processor
- New colors and features for the Pixel Buds Pro
- The arrival of Android 14
- Seven years of software updates for the Pixel 8
- An AI-enhanced Google Assistant
Google’s most recent Pixel launch event has concluded. Even while some of the items Google presented had been widely anticipated, the corporation managed to throw in a few surprises.
Here are the most important announcements from the Made by Google event.
The Pixel 8 Pro gets a price bump and a temperature sensor
Google has finally introduced the Pixel 8 Pro, which has several enhancements. A Tensor G3 processor is included, as well as an improved back camera array with a 50MP primary sensor, a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x magnification, and a 48MP ultrawide camera. It will also have a new Zoom Enhance function that may add detail to an image when you squeeze to zoom in.
The Pixel 8 Pro also has a temperature reader, which Google claims can precisely assess the temperature of surfaces, objects, and — soon — even your body. The flagship smartphone will have the same 6.7-inch display as its predecessor, but it will use LTPO technology and a peak brightness of 2,400 nits.
All of these capabilities raise the starting price of the Pixel 8 Pro to $999, making it $100 more costly than the Pixel 7 Pro. It is now available for presale in black, porcelain, and light blue. Shipping is set to begin on October 12th.
A smaller but more powerful Pixel 8
The inclusion of Google’s G3 Tensor processor improves the performance of the new Pixel 8. The phone is somewhat smaller than its predecessor, with a 6.2-inch OLED display. Although it is not an LTPO display like the Pixel 8 Pro, it does have a faster 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits.
The Pixel 8 will also have a two-camera arrangement, with an enhanced 50MP primary camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will also have access to Google Photos’ new AI-powered editing capabilities, such as Magic Editor and Best Take.
Despite the smaller size, the Pixel 8 will be $100 more expensive than the Pixel 8 Pro, with a starting price of $699 (or $799 if purchased via Verizon). The Pixel 8 will be available in rose, black, or hazel, with preorders beginning today and shipment beginning on October 12th.
The Pixel Watch 2 gets more sensors and a better processor
Although the Pixel Watch 2 does not appear to be significantly different from the first Pixel Watch, it does have several advancements, such as a more efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 CPU that enables for up to 24 hours of battery life even with the always-on display switched on.
New skin temperature and continuous electrodermal activity sensors enable a new stress-detecting function, as well as the ability to automatically record exercise starts and stops for seven activities. The Pixel Watch 2 also includes a new multi-path heart rate sensor, which measures your heart rate in additional locations and ways.
The Pixel Watch 2 is now available for presale, priced at $349.99 for GPS and $399.99 with LTE. It will be available in silver and blue, silver and white, gold and hazel, and all-black, with shipment beginning on October 12th.
New colors and features for the Pixel Buds Pro
To complement the Pixel 8 range, the Pixel Buds Pro now come in two additional colors: light blue and porcelain. But new colors aren’t the only thing the buds are getting; Google also stated that it’s bringing out conversation recognition, which will pause your audio and activate transparency mode when it detects that you’re chatting.
Google is also attempting to enhance voice call quality by including Bluetooth Super Wideband, which it claims will make you sound “fuller and clearer.” The Buds Pro will also support Google’s Clear Calling function, which reduces background noise during phone calls. Both functionalities will be included in a future firmware upgrade.
The new blue and porcelain Pixel Buds Pro will retail for $199.99, the same as the other hues in the collection, and are currently available for presale.
The arrival of Android 14
Android 14 is now out, with enhanced passkey support, a new health tracking tool, and a slew of customization changes. AI wallpaper generation is a cool new personalization tool in Android 14, which allows you to generate a new backdrop by just describing a picture.
The most recent version of Google’s operating system will be accessible initially to Pixel phones 4A 5G and newer, while phones from other manufacturers, like Samsung, Nothing, and OnePlus, would receive compatibility “later this year.”
Seven years of software updates for the Pixel 8
Google has announced that it would provide seven years of “OS, security, and Feature Drop updates” for both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. That implies Pixel 8 customers will continue to receive updates until the year 2030. On earlier Pixel devices, Google previously only provided up to five years of security upgrades and three years of Android updates.
An AI-enhanced Google Assistant
Google has announced the release of Assistant with Bard, an AI-enhanced version of the personal assistant that will be available for Android and iOS “in the coming months.” The application will interact with Google programs such as Gmail and Docs and will be able to assist you with tasks such as creating a caption for a photo, creating grocery lists, and searching for information in your email inbox.
Update : Updated to clarify that the Pixel 8 starts at $799 when purchased from Verizon.
