Google Releases New Pixel 10 Smartphones

On Wednesday, Google from Alphabet released a fresh range of Pixel smartphones and devices, ramping up its push to integrate artificial intelligence throughout a broad array of products.

The products were introduced at the yearly “Made by Google” event in New York, which took a different approach this time by focusing more on appealing to everyday consumers rather than diving deep into technical specifics.

The presentation prominently featured talk show host Jimmy Fallon, the Jonas Brothers, and other celebrities, who showcased how Google’s AI is integrated into the hardware in practical ways. When it comes to the hardware itself, the updates were rather modest.

“Made by Google and the 10th (!) generation Pixel just wrapped up a summer filled with launches from the teams at Google.Week after week, we saw new models, new products, and features, and now, new devices, all aimed at making AI genuinely useful for you, no matter where you are. We’re not hitting the brakes now – there’s more on the way for fall”, shared CEO Sundar Pichai on X.

During its developer conference in June, Apple, the maker of iPhones, scaled back its AI claims a year after it didn’t manage to roll out AI updates for major products like Siri.

Apple is set to reveal its new iPhone lineup this fall. Although Google’s hardware updates were pretty modest compared to its ambitious overhaul in 2024, the company is still making strides towards its goal of creating a universal AI assistant.

The new AI features being introduced with the Pixel 10 lineup include a camera app ‘coach’ that assists users in capturing better photos, along with an assistant that provides relevant info without needing a user to ask for it, like showing a flight confirmation email when they contact an airline.

Employees also showcased AI features that were previously revealed at Google’s developer conference in May, including a real time language translation feature for phone calls.

The phone designs haven’t changed much, but Google has added a telephoto lens to the base model to match the camera capabilities of its more expensive models.

The prices start at $799 for the base version and $1,799 for the foldable model, remaining stable despite earlier worries this year that some smartphones might see significant price increases due to U.S. tariffs.

“A lot of the things they demonstrated today would likely function almost identically on last year’s hardware. Their message is that it’s not just about the hardware anymore”, stated Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research.

Google’s yearly hardware event has always been a platform for the company to showcase the capabilities of Android to device manufacturers and software developers, which is crucial in competing against Apple, who has its own OS for iPhones.

Even though Google creates the Android operating system that powers over 80% of smartphones globally, its Pixel series accounts for just a small portion of the sales compared to other companies like Samsung and Xiaomi that also sell Android devices.

Analysts mentioned to Reuters that this year’s event seemed like Google’s effort to expand the Pixel’s appeal beyond its usual audience.

“Last year, there was a significant leap in hardware, both in design and features”, said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies. “This seems more like a strong marketing effort”.

Google has mainly concentrated on the high end market up to now.

Research firm IDC reports that almost 75% of Pixel shipments took place in the US, Japan, and the UK.

On Wednesday, the company revealed it would start selling Pixel devices in Mexico for the first time.

The Pixel 10, along with the upgraded Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, will be available later this month, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is expected to ship in October.

All Pixel phones come with Google’s latest mobile processor, Tensor G5, and for the first time.

They feature a magnetic charging technology called Pixel snap, which is similar to the MagSafe functionality found on Apple’s iPhones.

Google introduced a range of Pixelsnap chargers, cases, and phone stands to go along with the launch.

Additionally, Google announced new versions of its smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4, and its more affordable Pixel Buds 2a wireless earbuds, although there were no updates for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 apart from a new color and upcoming device specific software enhancements.

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