Google Kicks Off Fall Tech Season with Major Pixel 10 Hardware and AI Reveals
Google has officially started its fall event season, albeit in late summer, with its Made by Google showcase. The event was headlined by the new Pixel 10 smartphone lineup, but also included significant reveals for the Pixel Watch 4, Pixel Buds 2a, and a suite of new AI features. The company also confirmed the long-rumored Pixelsnap, its magnetic accessory and charging system akin to Apple’s MagSafe.
The standard Pixel 10 marks a major upgrade as the first non-Pro model in the series to include a telephoto lens. It features a 5x optical zoom that uses computational photography for 10x optical quality and a Super Res Zoom for a 20x equivalent. The camera system also includes 48MP wide and 13MP ultrawide sensors. It is powered by the new Tensor G5 chip, which Google claims is 34 percent faster than its predecessor and is the first to run the Gemini Nano model locally, enabling over 20 on-device generative AI experiences. The phone has a brighter Actua display and improved battery life rated for over 30 hours. It starts at $799 and arrives on August 28.
The Pixel 10 Pro and larger Pro XL models feature a more advanced 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP 5x telephoto camera array, which Google calls its best smartphone camera system yet. They boast brighter Super Actua displays and come with 16GB of RAM. The Pro XL supports 45W wired charging and, in an industry first, 25W wireless charging via the new Qi2 standard. The Pro starts at $999, while the Pro XL starts at $1,199. Both are available for pre-order now.
Completing the phone lineup is the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Google focused heavily on durability, giving it an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, a first for a foldable. It features a new, more durable hinge and is designed to withstand over a decade of folding. It has the largest battery in a foldable phone and also supports Qi2 wireless charging. It starts at $1,799 for 256GB of storage, with a 1TB option available for the first time, and will be released on October 9.
A key ecosystem announcement was Pixelsnap, Google’s new magnetic accessory system. All Pixel 10 devices have built-in Qi2 support, and Pixelsnap offers a range of magnetic cases, charging pucks, and stands designed to work seamlessly with the phones.
AI was a central theme across all announcements. New features include Magic Cue, which offers proactive suggestions by pulling data from apps like Gmail and Calendar. Camera Coach uses AI to give real-time framing and composition advice. Other tools include Auto Best Take for selecting the best group photo, Conversational Editing for adjusting photos with voice commands, and Voice Translate for real-time call translation in your own voice. The phones are also the first to implement C2PA content credentials directly in the camera to label AI-generated images.
For wearables, the Pixel Watch 4 features a larger, brighter dome-style display and improved battery life of up to 40 hours. New health features include satellite connectivity for emergencies and the ability to detect when a wearer’s heart stops. An AI-powered personal fitness coach is coming for Fitbit Premium subscribers. It starts at $349 and arrives on October 9.
In audio, Google introduced the Pixel Buds 2a, bringing active noise cancellation to its A-Series for the first time, powered by a new Tensor A1 chip. They offer 10 hours of battery life and cost $130. The existing Pixel Buds Pro 2 are getting a new Moonstone color and a software update adding features like loud noise protection and gesture controls for calls.
Pre-orders for the new phones and watch are now open, with the Pixel Buds 2a and Pixel 10 Pro Fold following in October.