Google goes big on devices at its Pixel 2 Made by Google launch event.
Google went gaga for devices at its Made by Google event. We expected Google to announce both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, alongside the Google Home Mini and Pixelbook, but it turns out they had much more to show off.
You can watch a recording of the event below, or read on to see a quick roundup of everything Google announced.
Google Made by Google event: What was announced
Although Google has tried its hardest to be opaque in what it’s showing (“Come check out a few new things made by Google.” the original video placeholder reads), it basically hit everything we knew was coming – alongside a couple of total curveballs.
Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
The main event: a follow-up to Google’s flagship Pixel phone. It looks like it’ll be powered by the Snapdragon 835, and see improvements across the board – although, it looks like it’s lost the 3.5mm headphone jack in the process.
Everything here was as we expected. The Google Pixel 2 has a Full HD screen and some tasteful design changes, while the Pixel 2 XL has a lovely edge-to-edge QHD screen. Both phones are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and come with 4GB of RAM. They’re pricey, but they’re very nice.
Pixelbook
Google has brought its Chromebook into the modern age with the Pixelbook, a hybrid 2-in-1 Chrome OS laptop. It has a gorgeous high-resolution display and support for Google’s new Pixelbook Pen stylus. It features similar styling to Google’s Pixel phones, and it’s super lightweight and thin to boot.
New Daydream View
Google has updated its Daydream View VR headset, but not a lot has changed. Google has increased the View’s field-of-view thanks to new lenses. It’s also made it lighter than ever before and opened its design up to allow for better cooling than last year’s version.
Google has also added an extra strap that goes over the top of your head to add some extra support.
Google Home Mini
Google has taken a leaf out of Amazon’s book by creating a Google Home Mini – a little Google-Assistant device that connects to Google Home.
Interestingly, it comes with a built-in speaker and you can use it to relay information or commands through your main Home device to Home Mini’s located around the house. Google has also competitively priced it to push out the Amazon Echo Dot – which doesn’t contain a speaker nor work as a networked device with other Echoes.
Google Home Max
Currently only slated for the US, Google Home Max is a powerful home speaker system with integrated Google Assistant support. It looks beautiful, and should be able to deliver some serious sound. From the promotional video it showed, along with the stage time Google devoted to it, it can apparently acoustically read a room and then adjust its sound output and equaliser to make your audio sound excellent no matter where it is.
Google Clips
Google Clips is a curious little camera that can clip onto objects or stand on surfaces and be operated remotely from you phone. It’s a bit of a bizarre product, but we remain optimistic about its appeal.
It’s not available in Australia just yet, but Google says it “hopes to make it available in the future”. Until then, you’ll just have to imagine all the possibilities for photos.
Pixel Buds
Google’s Pixel Buds is its answer to bluetooth headphones. Not only are they a beautiful pair of earphones that come in a charging box all wrapped in Google’s bespoke fabric, they’re Google Assistant-enabled too. On-stage they were demoed as using Google Assistant to translate a conversation on the fly – meaning someone could speak in their native tongue, and the Pixel Buds would relay it back in the listener’s chosen language – impressive.
Pixel Buds will be available from 22 November.