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Made by Google event – live: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel Watch 3 announced

The tech giant unveiled four new phones, the Pixel Watch 3, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and new Gemini AI features

Steve Hogarty
Tech writer
Tuesday 13 August 2024 20:50 BST
We’re live on the ground at Made by Google in Mountain View, California, where Google’s newest products are revealed
We’re live on the ground at Made by Google in Mountain View, California, where Google’s newest products are revealed (The Independent)

Google’s annual Made by Google presentation has come to a close. As anticipated, this year’s show was all about bringing Gemini AI to every corner of the Google product portfolio.

That includes the freshly unveiled Pixel 9 range, which this year includes a folding phone in the form of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. There’s also the new Pixel Watch 3 with much-improved workout tracking features, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 (£219, Amazon.co.uk), which get a significant upgrade to active noise-cancellation, plus the ability to have ongoing chats with the Gemini assistant in your ear.

We also saw live on-stage demos of many of Gemini’s new features, like Pixel Screenshots, which lets the assistant effectively memorise and recall important information for you just by saving a screenshot. Magic Editor on Pixel 9 also gets an overhaul with more ways to use generative AI to improve your shots, reframe your subjects, add yourself into group shots and add goofy little details.

Our Made by Google liveblog rounds up some of the biggest updates and news from the event.

Project Astra is back

Gemini Live has one last feature up its sleeve.

The assistant will soon be able to “see” through your phone’s camera, and respond in real-time to things in the physical world. It sounds similar to the Project Astra showreel Google shared earlier this year.

Steve Hogarty13 August 2024 19:20

Thanks, Google... Thoogle

And that’s all from our friend Rick Osterloh, who signs off on a very Gemini-heavy Made by Google conference.

The biggest news was the reveal of those four new Pixel 9 phones, with huge improvements promised for camera performance and AI assistance.

Google Pixel 9 series revealed: Here’s where to pre-order now

This year’s Pixel line-up includes a folding phone and a more pocket-friendly 6.3in variant of the Pro

The new Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 were also big highlights, with both the watch and the earbuds getting the full Gemini treatment this year.

Pixel Watch 3: Where to pre-order Google’s new fitness wearable

The new Android wearable integrates seamlessly with Pixel phones and comes in two sizes for the first time

Steve Hogarty13 August 2024 19:25

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