The big Google livestream today hid a lot of important details, like the Pixel 3 XL specs and price. There was no mention of new Google Buds, Daydream VR, or the heavily leaked Chromecast update, but we finally have Google Pixel 3 release dates, specs, and a nifty new tablet and laptop hybrid.
The big Google livestream earlier today had a lot of important information including the Pixel 3 XL specs and price, but hid those details in external websites. There was no mention of new Google Buds, Daydream VR, or the heavily leaked Chromecast update, but we finally have Google Pixel 3 release dates, specs, and a nifty new tablet and laptop hybrid.
Starting with a video acknowledging the numerous leaks hitting the internet over the last few weeks, Google ultimately failed to rise above them to reveal anything far off what we already knew.
The Google Pixel 3 won’t suddenly go from an 18:9 notchless display to a completely full-screen device. The Google Pixel 3 XL notch turned out to be real, but its smaller sibling, the 5.5 inch Google Pixel 3, dodges the notch fate with a full-width display complete with traditional forehead and chin. They’re thin, but still there.
Shying away from showing the thick notch in all its glory during the early sizzle reels, the Google Pixel 3 XL could have been mistaken for last year’s model if not for the wide cutout at the top of the screen.
Featuring a 6.3 inch display, the Google Pixel 3 XL justifies its large top notch by tossing a second selfie camera in there to create a wide-angle selfie shooter that can harness the power of Google’s cloud-based imaging algorithms to spruce up your group selfie shots.
Full Pixel 3 specs were later revealed on the product pre-order page, with the entire Pixel 3 lineup totting a 12.2MP dual-pixel rear camera and 8MP wide-angle and normal FoV front-facing cameras for wide selfies. The latest Pixel devices maintain the 4GB RAM seen in last-gen models, but swap out the older Snapdragon 835 SoC for a more powerful Snapdragon 845.
Most of what Google’s on-stage representatives used to excite audiences came from software improvements and cloud-based algorithms allowing for new camera tricks on new and old Pixel devices.
Most of these, like new Playground AR stickers and models based around The Avengers, will launch on the new Pixel devices later this month before making their way to older Pixel devices next month and beyond. Another such feature was dubbed “flip to shush”, and is exactly what it sounds like — the ability to turn your phone face down and have it automatically silence incoming notifications.
As for price, the Pixel 3 XL price starts at $899. It’s a big chunk of change, but the Google Store does mention discounts available for recycling an old device when putting down your pre-order. The Pixel 3 XL release date is set for October 18 in the U. S., with a wider release planned for early November.
USB-C Google Earbuds are included.
Similar to what are now official last-gen Google Pixel devices, the Pixel 3 shares most of the same specs with its larger sibling. It really is just the difference in screen size that separates the two new phones.
Unlike the Pixel 3 XL, the smaller 5.5-inch screen dodges the notch trend yet again, leaving the Pixel 3 easier to use in one hand.
Pricing starts at $799 with a release date set for October 18 in the U. S., with a wider release planned for early next month. Pre-orders are live now.
For those looking to bump up the capabilities of their Pixel devices, the Pixel Stand is a wireless charger that turns your Pixel phone into capable device even while idle. The Pixel Stand props up your phone while delivering juice wirelessly to Qi-compatible devices.
Once docked, the Pixel 3 device turns into smart display that swaps out the usual lock-screen UI for one more suited to being tapped while not held. Smart features like an ambient clock and morning routine reminders adjust to the time of day, with the device even switching to a compatible Nest camera feed when your smart home devices are triggered.
A release date for the Pixel Stand wasn’t specified during today’s Google livestream, but pre-orders are available now for $79 through the Google Store.
The latest in an ever-growing list of smart home devices, the Google Home Hub was the first new piece of Google hardware to debut during today’s Google livestream.
Set to compete against options like the Amazon Echo Show or newly revealed Facebook Portal, the Google Home Hub will retail for $149 with pre-orders for the late October release already live on the Google Store website.
We’ve put together a separate Google Home Hub page here with all the necessary details of this handy new device.
Following on from the expensive Pixel Book released last year, today’s Google livestream introduced the Pixel Slate. Based on the idea of a tablet and laptop hybrid similar to the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Microsoft Surface lineup, the Pixel Slate pulls much of its functionality as a laptop from the newly upgraded Chrome OS.
The machine, which packs a 10-hour battery life and compatibility with the Pixelbook Pen, will undercut last year’s Pixel Book and fall more in line with Apple and Microsoft pricing by releasing for $599 in the U. S. with a three-month YouTubeTV subscription tossed in. Similar to the Microsoft Surface series of devices, however, is the additional cost added on by the official Google Pixel Slate keyboard.
There’s a wide-angle 8 MP camera on the front for video calls, and a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power key. As for IO, the Pixel Slate has two USB-C ports so you can charge the device while outputting 4K video to an external display.
Mentioning rave reviews of the Pixel Book keyboard in the past, the Pixel Slate keyboard improves upon the design by baking the keyboard into a folio case with key backlighting for an $199. With the compatible Pixelbook Pen thrown on top for $99, that brings the purchase price of a basic Google Pixel Slate setup to $899.
The Google Pixel Slate will run a modified version of Chrome OS designed to better replicate a desktop or laptop experience rather than an enlarged mobile interface. With Google Play app and Linux-based developer tools being fully compatible with the Google Pixel Slate, Google seemed to be targeting app developers toward the end of the presentation segment, but it’s clear anyone deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem could view this as their next laptop replacement.
Again, Google failed to deliver a full list of system specs during the presentation, leaving it up to the purchase page to reveal some of the most important internal specs of the machine.
