Google is bringing new features to its line of devices in order to compete with Apple and Samsung.
Key Details
- On Thursday Alphabet’s Google announced its new Pixel phone will have updates providing the user with better camera and voice features and will bring back facial recognition to unlock devices.
- Google’s real edge against its competitors, however, is the price. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro cost $599 and $899 respectively.
- The new models improved on the previous generations’ memory and display.
- Google’s new devices will be available October 13.
Why it’s news
Despite being a major player in the tech industry, Google’s line of devices has struggled to gain any momentum. A single generation of Pixel phones have yet to sell over 10 million.
Apple currently dominates the North American smartphone market at 52%. Pixel holds 2% of the market, but Google representatives claimed ahead of Pixel’s launch event that it is the fastest-growing smartphone developer.
Though the phones haven’t generated much excitement, they serve as a platform for Google to display its artificial intelligence systems like the Google Assistant.
The Recorder app can now transcribe voice memos more accurately thanks to upgraded AI software. It has the ability to label different speakers in a conversation and transcribe the recorded voice memo.
Pixel phones will also feature a 72-hour battery life when switched on to low power mode. The Pixel 7 Pro has improved cameras with a 50 megapixel wide angle lens capable of taking macro shots and a 48 megapixel telephoto lens with a 5X optical zoom.
Video quality on the phones has also been improved. The phones are capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second.
Facelock options have returned to the phones after being removed from the previous two generations.
Google also introduced new devices including the Pixel Watch, starting at $349. The device will be equipped with Google Wallet and Fitbit health sensors. Some models will have the ability to connect to cellular, and the company promises the devices will have 24 hours of battery life.
The company also hinted at details of the Pixel Tablet, though the device isn’t scheduled to be released until 2023.