Everything announced at Made by Google 2024, including the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel Watch 3, and Gemini Live

Share
  • August 13, 2024

The Made by Google 2024 event on Tuesday brought major Pixel news. Chief among those headlines: The Pixel 9 Pro XL is here. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a larger third edition to the Pixel 9 series.

It might not be, exactly, a major advancement but hey it’s bigger than the other phones, as Mashable’s Alex Perry pointed out.

Still, that was far from the only big announcement on Tuesday. There was even more Pixel news, AI advancements, and a new watch. We’ve got all the news you need to know.

Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro

Google dropped the Pixel 9 on Tuesday, a highly anticipated new version of its flagship phone. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, in short, are a bit smaller compared to the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, have great cameras, and impressive AI features, Mashable’s Kim Gedeon noted after testing out the new phones.

Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro xL
From left to right: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Gedeon wrote: “Overall, this year’s Pixel 9 series proves that Google is serious about competing against the major players in the mobile industry and this bold move will challenge Samsung and Apple’s dominance like never before.”

Plus, the Pixel 9 comes in a rich shade of pink.

The entry-level Pixel 9 starts at $799 while the Pixel 9 Pro will run you $999.

Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Pixel 9 Pro XL was one of the biggest announcements of the day.

Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Pixel 9 Pro XL in all of its glory.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Literally. It’s the biggest device in the Pixel 9 lineup. But, as Mashable’s Alex Perry pointed out, the display on the 9 Pro XL is actually about the same than that of a Pixel 8 Pro.

Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s display.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

So, really, Google downsized the Pixel 9 Pro and made an “XL” phone that’s basically the same as last year’s Pixel 8 Pro. It starts at $1,099.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Pretty much every phone company not named after a fruit is experimenting with foldable phones. Google is no exception. It announced the Pixel 9 Pro Fold on Tuesday and it’s the thinnest foldable yet.

the pixel 9 pro fold being held
Look at all that screen.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It unfolds into an 8-inch screen with fantastic resolution and features that allow users to make the most of that screen space. You can, for instance, stream up to four different videos in different quadrants of the screen.

It’ll cost you, however, starting at $1,799.

Pixel Watch 3

Google’s Pixel Watch got it’s latest update at the Made by Google event on Tuesday. And, since folks have different size wrists, it finally comes in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.

the pixel watch 3 on a wrist showing a running app
Get to running with the Pixel Watch 3.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Mashable’s Stan Schroeder broke down some of the upgrades over the Pixel Watch 2, including more display real estate, improved brightness, and better, more-detailed workout tracking.

Pixel Watch 3 (41mm size) will start at $349.99 for Wi-Fi and $449.99 for LTE. Pixel Watch 3 (45mm size) will start at $399.99 for Wi-Fi and $499.99 for LTE

Pixel Buds Pro 2

Google dropped its latest Pixel Buds model, and like plenty of tech in 2024, they’re AI-powered. Google says its newly installed Tensor chip’s AI capabilities should vastly improve the buds’ noise cancellation features, create crisper sound on phone calls, and automatically detect an IRL conversation so you won’t have to remove a bud to talk to someone.

pixel buds pro 2 in a case

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As Mashable’s Matt Binder wrote, another major feature is a twist-to-adjust stabilizer that Google says will keep your buds from falling out. If that really works, it’ll be huge for runners and folks exercising with buds in. The buds are $229.99.

Gemini Live

Speaking of AI, it’s 2024 and AI is everywhere, so of course Made by Google had AI announcements. Perhaps chief among those announcements was Gemini Live, which Mashable’s Kim Gedeon called “the biggest threat to ChatGPT right now.”

gemini live on a screen
Gemini Live, in action.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Gemini Live, Google’s AI chatbot, has an impressive voice and listening mode, Gedeon noted, and comes close to performing as well as ChatGPT.

Lots of AI features

Gemini Live is hardly the only new AI feature Google announced on Tuesday at the Made By Google event. Here are a few of the biggest and coolest features.

An AI-powered Pixel weather app

The new Pixel phones, the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. got a new weather app with AI features.

a hand holding a phone with the weather app open

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Basically it has all the normal weather app features plus a an AI-powered summary that’ll give you a rundown of the day’s weather and any recommendations like to wear sunscreen.

Made You Look

This one’s for all the parents out there.

Chicken animation on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold for Made You Look
A chicken animation from the Made You Look feature.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has an AI-powered feature called Made You Look that displays an animation on the display facing the subject of a photo. The AI-powered feature can then detect when the subject is looking at the animation, draw their attention further, then snap a pic. Basically, it’ll help folks get good snaps of their kids, which is pretty neat.

Add Me

Google dropped another neat AI-powered photography feature called Add Me.

New Add me feature on a Pixel 9 device
You didn’t see her, but now you do.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The idea is simple enough to understand. You can take a group pic, then snap a picture of the photographer, and then the AI will merge those pics and drop the photographer into the group picture. You no longer need to ask a stranger for help.

Pixel Screenshots

This is a big one for me, personally, a person who takes far too many screenshots.

Pixel Screenshots feature shown on a Google Pixel 9 series phone
Pixel Screenshots in action
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Google’s new Pixel phones has a feature the creates a title and summary for screenshots, making them searchable. It’ll be so much easier to find memes now.

This story is developing…

Source : Everything announced at Made by Google 2024, including the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel Watch 3, and Gemini Live