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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
