The latest Pixel devices were unveiled at the Made by Google launch event on October 6, 2022. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the all-new Pixel Watch, adding to the Nest smart home portfolio, as well as a teaser for an upcoming 2023 Pixel Tablet were all part of the lineup. Google also announced the second generation Tensor chip, which improves performance on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The majority of the products on display had been previewed at the previous I/O 2022 event in May.
Preorders for the new Pixel phones and Pixel Watch are now available on Google Store. The preorder period is only seven days long, after which general availability for all devices is expected. By keeping prices low, the company attempts to differentiate itself from competitors and, arguably, allays consumers’ concerns about how the economic slowdown, inflation, and supply chain disruptions will affect the price of the new Pixel lineup.
What’s new in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro?
The new Tensor G2 chip is one of the major updates for the new Pixel phones, as the product remains centred on software. While the G2 does not significantly improve on the G1, Google claims that it allows for better performance and can “run machine learning 60% faster” than the previous generation. Minor case design changes, new colours, and improved camera features are among the other updates. If the Pixel phone is known for anything, it is its camera. Google improved its computational photography by offering an impressive 30x zoom with clear details, new image stabilisers, and improved night photograph quality.
According to the Statista Global Consumer Survey conducted in the United States in 2021, Google’s phones rank fifth among the primary phones used by Americans. While the brand has been increasing its sales and fan base, it falls far short of the leader: Apple’s iPhone. In 2021, only 4% of Americans owned a Google phone. The iPhone is used by 46% of Americans, Samsung phones by 29%, LG phones by 9%, and Motorola phones by 5%.
Pixel 7 and 7 Pro: Details and specifications
The main strengths of the Pixel phone, according to users, are the high quality for the low price, familiarity with Google software such as Maps as well as Lens, and the phone’s camera. The Pixel 7 starts at $599, or $24.96 per month for 24 months, and features a simple design and a powerful chip. It has a slightly larger screen than its predecessor, the Pixel 6, measuring 6.3′′ and featuring a responsive display. The phone is also water resistant, and the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus cover has been upgrad to be scratch resistant.
It costs only $100 more than the Pixel 6 and has improved luminosity as part of its new features. The company claims that it is 25% brighter outside, even in direct sunlight. Another upgrade, as stated earlier, is the Tensor chip, which is in its second generation in the Pixel 7. The phone’s battery is designed to last 24 hours, but Google claims that in Extreme Battery Saver mode, the battery can last up to 72 hours.
The Pixel 7 will receive a software update this year that will include the Clear Calling feature, which reduces noise for better voice messages, calls, and video recordings. The new phone includes all of Google’s landmark products, such as Maps, Calendar, and Google Lens, and it encourages them to develop mobile features such as Live Translate, which can translate different languages in real-time.
The number of dual cameras remains unchanged, but the dual camera system has received hardware updates, such as a 92.8° ultrawide field of view for group selfies. The cameras also have a larger sensor, sharper lenses, and better low-light photography in 4K resolution. The Pixel 7 now has super-resolution zoom, which improves zoom detail and quality significantly.
The Pixel 7 has 8GB of RAM as well as new fast wireless charging, as well as an improved Titan M2 security core chip with fingerprint and face unlock. It is available in three colours: new Lemongrass, Snow, and Obsidian. Users can choose between 128GB and 256GB of storage space when purchasing the phone.
Pixel Watch
The much-anticipated Google Pixel Watch was the event’s main attraction. Since Google purchased Fitbit—robust health and sports smartwatch and wrist maker—in November 2019, the company has been teasing a product that combines the best of Google features with the best of Fitbit.
The Pixel Watch, unlike other Fitbit watches that have been available on the Google Store for years, has a circular domed design. The design immediately distinguishes the product from Apple, Google’s main competitor in the smartwatch market. To differentiate itself, the company once again turned to price. The Watch starts at $344.99, which is less than the $399 starting price of the Apple Watch 8 Series.
Fitbit Premium for six months is included with the Pixel Watch. Users have access to exercises, health and sports advice, exclusive workouts, and the ability to track their health and performance. The watch, like all Pixel lineup products, connects and integrates seamlessly with the Pixel portfolio via Android 13.
Customers can select from over 20 bands and a wide range of customizable watch faces, resulting in over a thousand different combinations. The Pixel Watch comes in four colour options: Champagne Gold with Hazel Active band, Matte Black with Obsidian Active band, Polished Silver with Charcoal Active band, and Polished Silver with Chalk Active band.
Price and Features
For the watch’s finishes, Google chose premium recycled stainless steel. The watch costs $344.99 and includes 4G LTE.5, allowing users to leave their phone at home. This smartwatch is powered by Google’s new Wear OS experience, which includes Google Maps on your wrist, Google Voice Assistant, Google wallet to pay with your phone Email, Calendar, and Youtube for streaming video and music. Users can also use the smartwatch to take photos with their Pixel or ask the Watch to help them find their phone if they misplace it.
The Pixel watch is waterproof to 50 metres (5 ATM). You can swim in the ocean, play in the pool, take a shower, and do other things without fear. Fitbit also included stress management, a built-in GPS, a cardio fitness score, and 40 different exercise modes. Moving calls, audio, video, and content, as well as connecting devices, is simplified.
While the Pixel brand still has a long way to go in terms of market dominance, and the company faces fierce competition from all sides, the new Pixel lineup is simple, potent, smart, and affordable, making its products an appealing option.
