Google Event announcements — Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2 and AI news

Like we've been saying, it doesn't take a lot of guesswork to figure out what Google plans to show off today. 

Pixel 8: Google's entry-level smartphone is set to get a brighter display, according to reports, and its refresh rate could jump from 90Hz to 120Hz, as the phone maker looks to add more of a gap between its flagship devices and the midrange Pixel 7a. We're expecting camera improvements supported by the AI capabilities of the new Tensor G3 chipset. Unfortunately, we're also expecting a $100 price hike to the starting price, meaning a Pixel 8 will cost $699. 

Pixel 8 Pro: Like the Pixel 8, we expect a Tensor G3 processor to add new capabilities to the high-end phone's feature set. And while rumors point to the Pixel 8 display shrinking to 6.2 inches from 6.3 inches on the Pixel 7, the Pixel 8 Pro is likely to retain its 6.7-inch size. Rumors of camera improvements point to a potential boost in the megapixel rating for the Pixel 8 Pro's ultrawide camera sensor. The Pixel 8 Pro could also see a price hike from its predecessor. 

Pixel Watch 2: Like the Pixel phones, the new Pixel Watch could be getting a new chipset as well, and that's fueling speculation about improved battery life for the smartwatch. The watch could also go with an aluminum frame instead of stainless steel, making the Pixel Watch 2 lighter than its predecessor. Rumored features include more accurate heart rate tracking, the ability to detect stress and new safety features that detect car crashes if your watch is paired with a Pixel phone.

Good morning! It's TG's assistant phones editor Richard here to kick off this live blog on the day of the latest Made by Google event.

New Google products will be launching today. And TG's Phil Michaels has some questions about just what exactly Google has to say about its new products. We know what’s coming — the Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2 teaser videos have made it very clear what products to expect to hear about today. But there are some specific questions that we're hoping to get answers to before the Made by Google event wraps up.

One of the key things we want to find out about with the Pixel 8 series is how long Google’s phones will last on a charge. That’s because the Pixel 7 fell well short of expectations when we tested those phones last year.

Specifically, the Pixel 7 lasted 7 hours and 13 minutes on our battery test, in which phones surf the web continuously over cellular until they run out of power. An average smartphone lasts just short of 10 hours on that test, so obviously, that’s a disappointing performance by Google’s phone. At 8 hours and 4 minutes, the Pixel 7 Pro turned in a slightly better result, but only barely.

So how does the Pixel 8 improve on that figure? Some of it could come from the Tensor G3, which could be more power efficient than its predecessor. We’re also eager to see if Google goes for bigger batteries than the respective 4,355 mAh and 5,000 mAh cells used by the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Anytime Google introduces a new phone, the focus is going to be on camera improvements. To that end, we have a look at possible camera changes — both hardware and software — that you could see in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

The TLDR version: a popular rumor claims the Pixel 8 models are swapping out their main sensor for a Samsung ISOCell GN2 that’s physically larger than the main sensor in the Pixel 7 phones. That should allow the Pixel 8 to capture more light in darker settings for more detailed photos.

Potential software improvements are numerous and led by the Magic Editor feature Google demonstrated at Google I/O earlier this year. That allows you to change the lighting and perspective of a shot in a way that some of us find kind of creepy.

If Google follows its past behavior at these hardware events, then preorders for the products it announces are going to get underway right away. We’ve already put together a guide to Pixel 8 preorders that will get updated once the official information on pricing and preorder deals becomes available.

One preorder rumor that has us excited claims that anyone ordering a Pixel 8 Pro through Google will be able to pick up a Pixel Watch 2 for free. Pixel 8 orders get their own add-on, reportedly, with Google apparently planning to throw in a pair of Pixel Buds Pro with its entry-level flagship.

After we reviewed both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a, we were fascinated to see how closely Google’s midrange phone mirrored last year’s flagship in both price and features — so much so that we would recommend a Pixel 7a over the Pixel 7. The features like a 90Hz display and a 64MP main camera meant the features on the Pixel 7a were close enough to the Pixel 7 that you were better off saving the $100 difference in price by opting for the “lesser” phone.

It will be interesting to see how Google widens the gap between the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8. Our Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7a comparison looks at the potential differences between the two phones.

Colors are always a big consideration when it comes to smartphones, and we’re fortunate enough to have Pixel 8 rumors that clearly spell out just which colors you can expect to see on Google’s latest phones.

Both models are expected to come in three colors each. For the Pixel 8, that’s Peony, Grey and Obsidian Black according to a rumor from website MySmartPrice. (The black and grey options are pretty self-explanatory — peony would be kind of a pinkish option.) 

As for the Pixel 8 Pro, that’s tipped to come in Sky Blue, Porcelain and Obsidian Black. Those first two colors would be a light blue and a white, while Obsidian Black would be your traditional black option.

You’ve probably seen the Pixel 8 Pro renders that show the back of the phone with a new sensor just below the camera flash. According to rumors, that’s a temperature sensor, and it has nothing to do with photography. Rather, it’s meant to measure the heat of objects.

Here’s a full report on what the temperature sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro is expected to do.

Google already has one folding phone on offer - the Pixel Fold - and while we're not expecting any foldable news to appear today, a sequel feels inevitable.

A follow-up is on the way, according to new rumors, but we aren't sure if it will be a Pixel Fold 2 or a new flip-style foldable, as Google's been rumored to be working on in the past, and that the company's own reps have hinted at. Either way, we're interested to see what Google's second attempt at a foldable, with all it's learned from the original Pixel Fold taken on board, will be like.

We will see a Tensor G3 chip power both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the latest in Google's line of in-house-designed chips. While Google will no doubt be focusing on the AI and machine learning abilities of this chip, there are questions about its power.

Previous Tensor chips have been a little weak compared to similar chips from Apple or Qualcomm (supplier of most Android smartphone chips). Recent alleged benchmarks for the Tensor G3 suggest a big improvement since the Tensor G2 chip in the Pixel 7 series, but not enough of an increase to challenge the Apple A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it would seem.

Elsewhere in Google World, a new type of Chromebook, the Chromebook Plus, has arrived, with brands like Asus and HP on board to build them.

Unlike the budget-oriented Chromebook, Chromebook Plus machines are designed to be better-specced, and offer AI features to help improve video calls, photo editing and no doubt more on top. We've not tried these laptops yet but we're fascinated to see if these Plus models can differentiate themselves properly from typical Chromebooks, and whether they can rival cheaper Windows-powered laptops or Android tablets and iPads.

Anyone looking for new earbuds from Google may be happy to see rumors of alleged new Pixel Buds Pro models appearing at Made by Google today. But this could only be in the form of new colors.

The new claimed blue and white colorways will help users match the Pixel Buds Pro to a Pixel 8, but won't change anything about their functionality as far as we can see. The existing Pixel Buds Pro are just over a year old at this point, so it would not surprise us to see Google hold off on updating them fully for another 12 months or so.

Let's zero in on the Pixel Watch 2 for just a second as Google's second-generation wearable is all-but-certain to make an appearance today. Since the original Google Pixel Watch is currently one of the best Android smartwatches and among the best smartwatches overall, we're sure the next one will be just as enticing. While the design is expected to be pretty much identical, Google is likely to upgrade the internals making it speedier and, hopefully, improving the battery life. 

A rumor from by 91mobiles suggests that the Pixel Watch 2 will receive several upgrades to health and fitness tracking. Fitness tracking should still be powered by Fitbit, but now it'll reportedly bring the Fitbit Sense 2's stress-detection feature to Pixel Watch 2.

Generative AI is sure to play some part in today’s proceedings although by how much, we can’t say. Google made it obvious back at I/O in the summer that artificial intelligence is a priority going forward and is coming to just about every product Google currently offers. Our guess is that we’ll hear about AI integration with Android 14 and perhaps a couple of special features unique to the Pixel devices. Whether that’s limited to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro or rolled out to older devices remains to be seen.

One thing we have heard is there are a few neat AI tricks coming to the Pixel camera. Audio Eraser will apparently uses AI to detect unwelcome sound in captured footage while an official-looking promo video, uncovered by the prolific Google leaker Kamila Wojciechowska and published by 91mobiles, shows a family having their photo taken on a carousel ride, and typically not everyone is looking at their best. But the Pixel 8 takes a number of pictures, letting the user mix and match the faces from each snap to create the perfect single image. 

It's me, managing editor Philip Michaels, and I'm on hand to take you the rest of the way through Google's event, which starts in just about an hour as I type this.

That's not me in the photo, though. Rather, that's Kate Kozuch, one of several Tom's Guide staff members on hand at today's event, which is being held at Pier 57 on the west side of Manahattan. (Conveniently, that's just across the street from Google's New York headquarters, or so I'm told.)

Today's event is largely about hardware, but we're expecting at least some software news — specifically, Android 14. Usually, Google's big Android update for the year is out by now, at least for current Pixel phones, but a planned September launch was reportedly delayed. Now, all signs point to Android 14 coming out today, as part of the Pixel 8 launch.

Android 14 isn't a major overhaul of Google's phone software; rather, it sounds like a tune-up, with most of the enhancements focused on boosting privacy and customization. We're not sure how much depth Google will go in to today should Android 14 make its expected appearance, but our Android 14 guide has more details on what to expect once the update lands on your device.

Wondering how the Pixel Watch 2 Google's set to reveal today compares to the the one that came out last year? That makes all of us. Fortunately, we've put together a Pixel Watch 2 vs. Pixel Watch comparison that can walk you through the expected changes based on rumors about the smartwatch.

Thirty minutes to go before Google's big show, and who's got his press badge? Editor Mike Prospero, that's who. Expect more reports from Mike throughout the day from his vantage point inside the event venue.

Mark Spoonauer is also at the Google event in New York and files a video report from his seat near the front row.

Any time new phones get announced, there's a rush to see what changed from the previous model. Check out our Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 Pro vs. Pixel 7 Pro comparisons to see what the likely changes are, ahead of today's announcements.

And the Tom's Guide gang's all here, as the countdown to the Made by Google event goes below the 15-minute mark.

More from inside the building, this time from Kate Kozuch.

Last-minute prediction, time: It's not exactly going out on a limb to say we're going to hear about the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2 — Google has said we will — but throw in those products plus an Android 14 announcement, and that seems like a full day to me. In other words, I'm not expecting a mystery announcement or shock, though maybe we'll get a teaser on future foldable phone plans, given today's Pixel Fold leak. Google does love its teasers after all.

And we're underway, a minute or two late.

Rick Osterloh takes the stage to kick us off. "2023 is a big year for Google," the hardware executive says, calling it "a year of massive innovation."

Osterloh talks about the history of the Pixel — it's seven years old — and how it puts AI at the heart of thing: "Pixel as the AI-centered mobile computer." According to Osterloh, advance hardware needs state of the art AI and vice versa.

AI-centric mobile computing was a radical concept 7 years ago, Osterloh continues, but it's changed the industry. See the rise of computational photography across many devices, not just Pixel phones. 

And Google's approach to AI applies to devices other than phones, like the Pixel Buds Pro. Those are getting an update for clearer calling, Bluetooth super wide band support that removes background noise from calls and more. Pixel Buds Pro will pause audio and turn on transparency mode when you start talking to other people. 

We seem to have segued into a product announcement.

There's a Pixel feature drop coming today where the Pixel Fold is getting dual-screen translator mode.

There's some talk of experimental features coming to Google Home products next year, but the rest of today sounds like it's going to be about product announcements for the here and now, starting with the Pixel Watch 2.

Pixel Watch 2 gets an upgraded design with more durable cover glass, and 100% recycled aluminum. Last year's Pixel Watch bands will work with this smartwatch. There's a new quad-core CPU to improve performance, and battery life has improved to 24 hours of use on a single charge. You'll get a 12-hour charge in 30 minutes when charging the Pixel Watch 2.

New safety features are right on the watch, with Safety Check coming over to the watch from Pixel phones. Safety Check shares your location with emergency contacts after a timer you set expires and you don't check in.

There's three new sensors on the watch geared toward monitoring your health. The heart tracking sensor is now a multi-path sensor, measuring your heart beat in multiple locations on your wrist for more accurate readings. (Specifically, it's 40% more accurate.) 

New coaching features keep you in your heart rate tracking zone, Google says.

The other sensors detect temperature and monitor stress. You'll also get hints and tips on managing your stress.

Mark Spoonauer checks in with a video on the Pixel Watch 2.

Fitbit app gets a redesign on the Pixel Watch 2, and it's going to use AI to support new features. An example: Fitbit can analyze your data for runs, comparing runs of the same distance to the other to analyze your performance. It can also pull info from your sleep tracking to look at how that may be affecting pefromance.

The idea is to use generative AI to dig into your fitness details. It's rolling out next year as part of the Fitbit Labs program. Trusted testers get first crack at it.

You can preorder the Pixel Watch 2 today. They ship next week. The watch includes six months of Fitbit Premium, and you can order LTE or cellular versions of the Pixel Watch 2.

Pricing starts at $349 for LTE and $399 for cellular.

It's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro time — "the next generation of AI in your hand," Osterloh says.

Let's talk Pixel 8 design. Pixel 8 is described as an evolution of the design — it's smaller than the Pixel 7 with more contoured edges. The Pro has a matte glass back with an emphasis on higher end colors. And the Pixel Buds Pro are coming in new colors to reflect the ones for your phone.

Google is committed to going net zero by 2030, so it's using recycled aluminum in the Pixel 8. (This is actually the fourth generation of phones to use recycled aluminum.) There's no plastic in the packaging, either.

Google is partnering with iFixit to make the Pixels easier to repair. 

The Pixel 8 introduces something called the Actua display. It's said to be 42% brighter than the Pixel 7's display. Pixel 8 Pro is getting a Super Actua display — "our brightest display yet" with a peak brightness of 2400 nits. The refresh rate varies from 1 to 120Hz.

Google's confirming that temperature sensor on the back of the Pixel 8 Pro, and yes, it's just about measuring temperatures of objects. The company is going to the FDA to get it cleared for taking human temperatures, though.

The Tensor G3 is official, and it features some significant upgrades. Google's emphasizing the changes to the Tensor Processing Unit – it runs twice as many machine leaning modules as the first Tensor. So this isn't just about photos anymore. Tensor G3 can also run those models concurrently.

Pixel 8 can recognize what language you're speaking when dictating and switch back and forth. It can also read web pages out loud to you with the press of a button. (You can do this in iOS 17 on iPhones, too, but the Pixel feature sounds more streamlined.) Call Assist is getting more features thanks to the Tensor G3 — Call Screen has a more natural voice to answer calls, and it's able to more quickly separate spam calls out from actually important calls. The assistant will ask the caller what you're calling about and deliver that message to you.

Mark Spoonauer brings us the Pixel 8 Pro introduction: 

We're talking Pixel 8 camera upgrades now. Video capture is getting some big improvements, and that includes Audio Magic Eraser — a feature that removes unwanted sounds from videos. Say you've got a video with a baby cooing as a dog barks. Audio Magic Eraser separates them into layers, and you can get read of that distracting barking.

The Best Take feature uses a series of photos taken closely together to create the optimal photo. Google touts it as ideal for group photos, where people can be blinking or looking in different directions at different times. Best Take swaps in the best faces for each person. It's clever... and yet creepy at the same time.

Speaking of creepy, Magic Editor is on board the Pixel 8. You can move around the perspective of a shot, change the lighting and remove or enhance background objects

Here's that Magic Audio Eraser feature demo.

Every lens on the Pixel 8 Pro is getting an upgrade. The main sensor is larger and the ultrawide camera is now 48MP. That ultradwide lens gets a macro feature, too. (The Pixel 8 also supports macro photos via its ultrawide lens and gets the upgraded main sensor for better low light performance.) The telephoto lens on the Pixel 8 pro gets a larger aperture and better FOV which should let in more light.

While Google recaps its photo changes, here's our Pixel 8 hands-on with some early impressions about the new phone.

Video Boost will be coming to the Pixel by year's end. It lets users record RAW video and then upload it to the cloud for processing like color grading so that your video has more detail.

We're getting a summary of Google Bard, Google's chatbot. It's being integrated into Google Assistant. Here's what the merger of Bard and Google Assistant means for you.

Here's a Google Pixel 8 Pro hands-on with some early impressions on Google's high-end phone.

Assistant with Bard goes to selected testers shortly and then gets rolled out on an opt-in base over the course of the next several months.

Rick Osterloh is back to talk about what generative AI can do for phones. The Pixel 8 Pro is designed to run Google's foundational generative AI models right on the device. That's going to lead directly to improved Pixel 8 Pro experiences, such as an improved Magic Eraser to take out larger objects and people with no smudges on the photos. 

Ugraded Magic Eraser is available right away on the Pixel 8 Pro, and more features will come in the next few months. An example — the Recorder app is getting a summary feature that recaps the highlights of recorded meetings and presentations. Smart replies are coming to Gboard, too.

A Zoom Enhance feature can sharpen image details when you pinch in — Osterloh compares it to the zoom enhancement you've seen in sci-fi movies. Looking forward to hearing people yell "Pixel, enhance." Anyhow, look for these features to come via future Pixel feature drops.

You can preorder the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro today. Both phones come in three colors and are on shelves next week.

Google's not making a big deal about this, but the phones will cost more than their Pixel 7 equivalents. The Pixel 8 costs $699 and the Pixel 8 Pro starts at $999, just as the rumors foretold. 

The Pixel 8 phones are shipping with Android 14 on board, so there's your Android 14 announcement. And Pixel support is expanding to seven years — that includes OS upgrades and security updates. So these phones will be viable through 2030, which is more than I can say for me.

And that's a wrap from the Made by Google event. We'll be updating this blog throughout the day with observations from our writers and editors at the event, as well as all the Google-related coverage from Tom's Guide. So don't close that browsing tab just yet.

We haven't forgotten about you, Pixel Watch 2. Here's the Pixel Watch 2 hands-on with some initial thoughts about the changes Google's made to its smartwatch.

We've updated our Pixel 8 preorders story since you can preorder the phones right now. They hit stores on October 12. And we're pleased to confirm that the rumored preorder deal from Google is now a fact — order a Pixel 8 Pro directly from Google and they'll throw in a Pixel Watch 2 for free.

It's overshadowed by the phone and smartwatch news, but the Pixel Buds Pro got an upgrade, too. And no, it's not just the new colors. Nick Pino explains what the big deal is with the new Bluetooth Super Wide Band upgrade to the Pixel Buds Pro.

Are the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro look great with all of their upgrades, but are they worth $100 more? We went hands on with both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro prior to launch to check out everything that's new, including the brighter displays, smarter AI-powered cameras and new Tensor G3 chip.

The Pixel 8 Pro is our clear favorite because of the weird temperature sensor and especially the more powerful zoom and pro-level camera controls. 

Here's our first impressions. 

One of the biggest features that's been added to the Pixel lineup is the extensive software support Google is adding to the Pixel 8. Specifically, you can expect seven years of OS updates and security patches, up from three years of Android updates and five years of security support on previous Pixel phones.

As Tom Pritchard observes, extended Pixel software support puts phone makers like Apple and Samsung on notice.

Our guide to Pixel Watch 2 preorders is live, since Google is now taking orders for its latest smartwatch. Starting at $349, the Pixel Watch 2 arrives in stores next Thursday, October 12.

Looks like most places are offering trade-in rebates when you order a Pixel Watch 2. But buy the Pixel 8 Pro smartphone from Google, and you can include the new smartwatch for free. Google's got a trade-in program going, too, if you just want the Pixel Watch 2 and not the phone.