Google shows off
New phones are not the most exciting part of Google’s latest launch, writes David Court.
After similar high-profile events from Apple, Microsoft and Huawei in recent weeks, Google dutifully followed suit and took to a stage in New York this week to show off its newest hardware.
As usual, the new smartphone(s) – the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL – will attract the most attention.
But Google also used the event to tell us more about several other products, such as Nest Wifi, Pixlebook Go and Pixel Buds 2. In my opinion, these were more interesting.
Annoyingly, Google hasn’t revealed any details about the availability of the products in New Zealand. But form suggests that the Nest range will, eventually, make its way into Kiwi consumer electronic stores some time before Christmas. Those who follow technology closely might already be familiar with some of this phone’s new features, as the Pixel 4 has been unofficially dubbed the most-leaked phone in history.
The most exciting Pixel 4 feature was the introduction of a radar chip. Yes, actual radar. Google says this new chip gives the Pixel improved gesture-support, allowing users to interact with phone calls and alarms by waving their hands in the proximity of the phone.
The radar chip also allows the Pixel 4 to put the screen to sleep when it detects the user has moved away from the device. Likewise, the screen automatically wakes up when it registers a hand reaching towards it. This will no doubt improve battery performance.
There’s not too much to report regarding its camera. While other smartphone manufacturers are locked in an arms race to develop the most kick-ass camera, Google seems to have backed away from the fight. Which is odd, as it was arguably winning the battle with the Pixel this time last year.
But there have been improvements made to the Pixel 4 and 4 XL’s camera setup. The most noticeable is the addition of a second camera, which is also suspect after years of Google claiming that its single camera was so good it didn’t need additional support to compete in the market.
Now the Pixel 4 devices come with a 12MP and 16MP rear-facing dual-camera setup that boasts the now industry-standard 2x telephoto zoom with 10x hybrid zoom.
Facial recognition is the next area where Google has made clear progress. The news here is that the feature is now really, really fast. So fast, in fact, that it has made the lock screen a bit redundant (you won’t have time to see it). Pick up the phone and it will unlock instantly.
The 5.7-inch Pixel 4 and 6.3-inch Pixel 4 XL now share the same OLED ‘‘smooth display’’ screen technology. It’s called this because it boasts a 90Hz refresh rate. Which, in the real world, means its screen refreshes 90 times per second.
How good is this? Well, most other high-end phones, including the iPhone 11 devices, refresh at 60Hz. Google has made the sensible decision to only upscale the device to 90Hz when necessary, reverting to a more battery-efficient 60Hz for most of the time.
As I’ve said already, this phone probably won’t come to New Zealand’s consumer electronic shelves. However, those looking for a cutting-edge phone that runs a ‘‘clean’’ version of Android should consider treating themselves to the US$799 Pixel 4 or $899 Pixel 4 XL if they’re planning to visit the United States, Australia, United Kingdom or any other major Western market soon.
Pixel Buds 2
Despite practically every phone manufacturer dropping the headphone jack like a bad habit, smartphone makers – Apple, Samsung, Google, Huawei, etc – still haven’t managed to make a killer pair of wireless headphones. Yet. Sadly, it doesn’t look like the Pixel Buds 2 will provide that breakthrough, despite having a massive design change from the original Pixel Buds.
The new Buds 2 have transformed from the hard Apple Airpod-esque design into a diskshaped silicone-tipped ‘‘bud’’.
The earphones’ best feature is undoubtedly its range. Google claims they will stay connected from a distance of ‘‘three rooms’’ or a ‘‘football field’’.
Sadly, the battery life isn’t as impressive as it lasts just five hours on a single charge. Its carry case provides an extra 19 hours of juice.
The Pixel Buds 2 will cost US$179 (NZ price TBC) and, amazingly, won’t go on sale until the second quarter of next year. This is a product that excites me the most. Google has built on its excellent existing mesh router Google Wifi.
The new product is Nest Wifi. Frustratingly, it doesn’t support Wifi 6 (the next-generation standard in wi-fi technology). But it does dovetail with the, also new, Google Wifi Point, a device that combines the features of a Google Home Mini and a Google Wifi extender in one neat package.
Google claims a two-pack Nest Wifi router and Point are strong enough to handle more than 200 connected smart home devices and fast enough to stream multiple 4K videos at once – up to 350 square metres.
The Next Mini was also given a small refresh. It now comes with 2x bass performance, a third microphone and a wall mount. The twopack costs US$269 (NZ price TBC).
Google also announced that new Google Home devices would come with Nest Aware, a new AI service that uses the microphones in Google devices to listen out for smoke alarms or voices in your home when you’re not in. PixelBook Go Nest Wifi Next Pixel 4 and 4 XL I never understood Google’s Chromebook hardware. The whole point of the Google-led Chromebook, was that it was an affordable alternative to Windows-based laptops.
Yet, the 2019 PixelBook Go is Google’s first reasonably-priced Chromebook. For US$649 (NZ price TBC) you get a beautifully designed magnesium laptop that’s just 13 millimetres thick, available in two signature Google colours – Just Black and Not Pink.
On the standard Pixelbook Go you’ll find a 1080p display, but those who want to, can pay US$1400 for a 4K ‘‘Molecular Display’’, though I wouldn’t recommend this as a worthwhile option for anyone.
The Chromebook also comes with a 12-hour battery and ‘‘ultraquiet Hush Keys’’.
Note: Google has also upped its green credentials, using 100 per cent recycled plastics in all-new Nest devices and investing about $150 million into renewable energy projects in key manufacturing regions.