At the Made by Google launch event on October 6, 2022, the company showcased the latest Pixel devices. The lineup included the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the all-new Pixel Watch, additions to the Nest smart home portfolio, and a teaser for an upcoming 2023 Pixel tablet.
Google also announced the second generation of the Tensor chip that brings performance improvements to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. Most of the products presented were previewed in the past I/O 2022 event in May.
The new Pixel phones and Pixel Watch have been made available for pre-order on google store. The pre-order window is short, just seven days, after which general availability for each device is expected. By keeping prices low, the company is trying to differentiate itself from its competitors and arguably allays consumer concerns about how the economic slowdown, inflation and supply chain disruptions could affect the price of the new Pixel range.
What’s new in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
One of the major updates to the new Pixel phones is the new Tensor G2 chip as the product still revolves around the software. While the G2 doesn’t bring significant improvements over the G1, Google claims it allows for better performance and says it can “run machine learning 60% faster” than the previous generation.
Other updates include minor changes to the case design, new colors, and improved camera features. If there’s one thing the Pixel phone is known for, it’s the camera. Google has taken its computational photography to the next level to offer an impressive 30x zoom with clear details, new image stabilizers and improved nighttime photo quality.
TO SEE: Google Pixel phone: a cheat sheet (TechRepublic)
results of the Global consumer research from Statista conducted in the US in 2021, Google’s phones rank fifth among the primary phones Americans use. While the brand has increased its sales and built its fan base, it underperforms the leader: Apple’s iPhone.
In 2021, only 4% of people in the US had a Google phone. The iPhone is used by 46% of Americans, Samsung cell phones by 29%, LG by 9% and Motorola by 5%.
Users report that the main strengths of the Pixel phone are the quality it gets for the low price, its familiarity with Google software such as Maps and Lens, and the phone’s camera.
Pixel 7 and 7 Pro: technical details and specifications
With a simple design and a powerful chip, the Pixel 7 starts at $599 or $24.96 per month for 24 months. It has a slightly larger screen than its predecessor, the Pixel 6, at 6.3″ with a responsive display. The phone is also water resistant, and upgrades to the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus cover now have scratch-resistant capabilities.
It costs just $100 more than the Pixel 6 and has better brightness as part of its new upgrades. The company claims it is 25% brighter outdoors, even in sunlight. Another upgrade, as mentioned before, is the Tensor chip, which comes in its second generation in the Pixel 7. The phone’s battery is designed to last for 24 hours, and in Extreme Battery Saver mode, Google ensures the battery lasts up to 72 hours.
The Clear Calling feature, which dampens noise for better voice messages, calls, and video recording, will be coming to the Pixel 7 via a software update soon this year. The new phone features all of Google’s products, including Maps, Calendar, and Google Lens, and forces them to create mobile features like Live Translate to translate different languages in real time.
The number of dual cameras remains the same, but the dual camera system includes hardware updates such as an ultra-wide 92.8° field of view for group selfies. The cameras also have a larger sensor, sharper lens and better 4K resolution low-light photography. The super-resolution zoom is a newly added feature to the Pixel 7, greatly improving zoom details and quality.
The Pixel 7 has 8GB of RAM and new fast wireless charging, and it improves on the Titan M2 security core chip with fingerprint unlock and face unlock. It is available in three colors: the new Lemongrass, Snow and Obsidian. Users can choose to buy the phone with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage.
Pixel 7 Pro: ‘The most powerful Pixel phone’
The Pixel 7 Pro starts at $899 and comes in three colors, Hazel, Snow and Obsidian. Google says it’s the most powerful Pixel ever built. The phone can be used to unlock your car as you approach, thanks to its ultra-wideband technology that measures range and direction. The screen is the largest of all Pixel phones, set at 6.3.” With Quad High Definition and LTPO (Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide), the Pixel 7 Pro enables the dynamic refresh rate on the screen and can be lowered to 10 Hz to save battery.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a triple rear camera system: wide-angle, ultra-wide, and telephoto. It uses the same second-generation chip as the Pixel 7, but has 12GB of RAM. Google Store allows customers to compare all Pixel phone models with comprehensive details.
Pixel Watch: Technology and Specifications
The star of the Made by Google Launch event was the highly anticipated Google Pixel Watch. Since November 2019, when Google bought Fitbit, a rugged smartwatch and wrist maker for health and sports, the company has been teasing a product that combines the best of Google features with the best of Fitbit.
Unlike other Fitbit watches, which have been sold in the Google Store for years, the Pixel Watch has a circular domed design. The design immediately distinguishes the product from Google’s main competitor in the smartwatch market: Apple. The company again turned to price to differentiate itself. The Pixel watch starts selling for $344.99, cheaper than the Apple Watch 8 series which starts at $399.
The Pixel Watch comes with six months of Fitbit Premium included. Users can access exercises, health and sports guidance, exclusive workouts, and track their health and performance. Like all Pixel lineup products, the watch plugs in and integrates seamlessly with the Pixel portfolio using Android 13.
TO SEE: Android 13 cheat sheet: everything you need to know (TechRepublic)
Customers can choose from over 20 bands and a wide variety of customizable watch faces that can result in over a thousand combinations. The Pixel Watch is available to order in four color combinations: Champagne Gold case with Hazel Active band, Matte Black case and Obsidian Active band, Polished Silver case with Charcoal Active band, and Polished Silver case with Chalk Active band.
Google chose high-quality recycled stainless steel for the finish of the watch. For $344.99, the watch comes with 4G LTE.5 so users can leave their phone at home. The new Wear OS by Google experience powers this smartwatch, offering Google Maps on your wrist, Google Wallet to pay with your phone, Google Voice Assistant, email, calendar, and YouTube for video and music streaming. The smartwatch also allows users to take photos on their Pixel or ask the Watch to help them find the phone if they’ve lost it.
Exclusively for this watch, Fitbit created what they call the “most accurate heart rate tracking system.” Users can assess heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation with EKG app and easily share results with their doctor, track night’s sleep and be monitored by fall detection and Emergency SOS.
The Pixel watch is water resistant to 50 meters (5 ATM). You can swim in the ocean, play in the pool, shower and more without worry. Fitbit also included stress management, built-in GPS, cardio fitness score, and 40 workout modes.
At the event, Google highlighted how interconnected and integrated all Pixel products are. From smart homes powered by Nest to the Pixel Watch, new Pixel phones and the upcoming new Pixel tablet — which is intended to act as the center console of a smart home — the company has a vision where each device ends where the other begins. and made it happen.
Moving calls, audio, video and content or connecting Pixel devices is made easy.
While the Pixel brand still has a long way to go to lead the market and the company faces stiff competition from all sides, the new Pixel range is simple, powerful, smart and affordable, giving its products an attractive appeal. be an option.
