This morning hundreds of journalists, YouTube stars, and Instagram influencers were gathered to see what Google would reveal for its latest crop of hardware, software, and services. Here are some highlights from that announcement.
Stadia
If you recall, Stadia is Google’s foray into the streaming video game space and promises to deliver a console-quality experience on nearly any device with a screen that can connect to the internet. That includes computers, tablets, and even smartphones. We were reminded today that Stadia will launch on November 19th.
All-New Pixel Buds
Pixel buds are Google’s take on AirPods. With their circular design, Pixel Buds support Google Assistant and Google Translate and respond to the familiar “Hey Google” activation phrase just like last year’s model. These buds claim to have a 100-yard range and offer five hours of listening time on a single charge and 24 hours with the wireless charging case. These updated Pixel Buds will be available next spring for $179.
Pixelbook Go
The Pixelbook now has a new sibling in the Pixelbook Go. Offering an Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 chip, this Chromebook can be configured with 8GB or 16GB RAM along with a 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB SSD. Pixelbook Go comes in two colors: “Just Black” and “Not Pink” and starts at $649.
Nest Mini
The Google Home Mini gets an upgrade and a name change. Now called the Nest Mini, this device offers stronger bass and more natural sound for only $49.
Nest Wifi
And what better way is there to tie it all together than Google’s Nest Wifi mesh router featuring, you called it, a built-in smart speaker. It’ll set you back $349, which is quite a bit more than last year’s model.
Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
This latest update in Google’s flagship smartphone comes equipped with an all-new Soli radar chip. It uses “Motion Sense” to track your hand movements and allows the device to be more spatially aware of its surroundings.
The updated camera system offers a new HDR+ feature which can be viewed live on the screen before the photo is taken.
And speaking of screens, the Pixel 4 sports an OLED with a 90Hz refresh rate, promising a smoother scrolling experience. Pixel 4 ships October 24th and prices start at $799.
