Here's everything Google announced at Made by Google 2024

At its Made by Google 2024 event, Google unveiled a bunch of exciting products, including new flagship Pixel phones, Pixel Buds Pro 2, and more. Let's dive into everything Google announced at the event.

1 Pixel 9

The Pixel 9 has a completely new look, with the camera bump now more prominent this time around, but it no longer extends across the back of the phone. The phones also now feature a flat-edged design, similar to recent iPhones, which I personally prefer because it provides a better grip.

The main upgrades are in the display, camera, and performance departments. The display is now brighter than the previous model, reaching 1,800 nits for HDR content (up from 1,400 nits before) and peak brightness reaches 2,700 nits (up from 2,000 nits).

While the main wide-angle and front-facing cameras remain unchanged, the Pixel 9 now features a new 48MP ultrawide camera for sharper photos. Google also increased the RAM from 8GB to 12GB, and the phone now has the Tensor G4 chip, which is meant to improve AI performance. The Pixel 9 starts at $799 for the 128GB model.

2 Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Pixel 9 Pro now comes in two sizes: the standard model with a 6.3-inch display and the Pixel 9 Pro XL with a 6.8-inch display. Both models feature the same design changes as the Pixel 9.

Both displays are also brighter than the Pixel 9, offering up to 2,000 nits of brightness for HDR content and 3,000 nits of peak brightness, making them among the brightest phone displays on the market.

In terms of camera components, most of the features remain the same as the Pixel 8 Pro, except for the front camera. The Pixel 9 Pro now features a much-improved 42MP selfie camera with a slightly wider field of view for better group selfies.

You can now shoot 8K videos with the rear camera, but there’s one catch. The camera uses Video Boost to upscale the video, so you’ll need to wait a bit for it to be processed in the cloud. In the meantime, you can see a preview at a lower resolution.

Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL have the same Tensor G4 chip along with 16GB of RAM, which should be more than enough for all sorts of tasks.

I’m particularly excited about the Pixel 9 Pro, as Android flagships are becoming increasingly rare these days. However, if fast charging is a priority for you, the Pixel 9 Pro XL might be a better option as it can charge up to 70 percent in just 30 minutes using a 45W charger.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL start at $999 and $1,099, respectively, for the 128GB version, with storage options up to 1TB.

3 Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold gets the biggest upgrades over its predecessor, with the outer display expanding from 5.8 inches to 6.3 inches, while the inner display now has much thinner bezels and an 8-inch display, making it one of the largest and thinnest foldable phones. Both displays can reach a peak brightness of 2,700 nits.

The camera setup remains largely the same, with only minor upgrades to the front-facing selfie modules. However, new AI photography features make up for the lack of camera upgrades. One such feature is Add Me, which lets you take a group photo and then have someone else in the group take another photo. The feature will merge the two photos, making it look like a single group shot.

Another new AI feature is Pixel Screenshots, which is similar to Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature. It uses on-device AI to remember the contents of your screenshots and allows you to recall any information you need from them in a conversational manner. These AI features aren’t limited to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold; they’re available on all Pixel 9 phones.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold also has a Tensor G4 chip and 16GB of RAM for flagship-level performance. And with its new design and a screen size that’s almost as big as an iPad mini, it can now truly compete with the best foldable phones on the market. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,799 for the 256GB version.

4 Pixel 3 watch

As someone who uses a 45mm Apple Watch, my main complaint with the Pixel Watch 2 was the lack of size options. The 40mm was a bit small for most tasks. Thankfully, Google has addressed this issue by adding a new 45mm version. And thanks to the thinner bezels, you get 10 percent more screen space on the 41mm model.

Google has increased the display brightness from 1,000 nits to 2,000 nits, making it much better for outdoor use. It can also be dimmed to just one nit in dark environments, ensuring that it doesn’t disturb you or others during situations like watching a movie at the theater. The larger display also allows for more customization options for watch faces and offers some cool features, like displaying your Nest Cam feed directly on your watch.

As for fitness features, the Pixel Watch 3 leverages AI to analyze and enhance your intense workout routine. It monitors how hard your heart is working during workouts and can suggest when to take a break or pick up your pace, helping you avoid overtraining or undertraining. You can get even more personalized suggestions if you have a Fitbit Premium subscription.

The Pixel Watch 3 starts at the same price as last year's $349 for the 41mm version, and the new 45mm version will set you back $399.

5 Pixel Buds Pro 2

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 may look the same as last year, but they've received major upgrades under the hood. They now feature the new Tensor A1 chip, which dramatically improves active noise cancellation (ANC) and AI capabilities.

You can expect nearly double the ANC performance and improved battery life compared to the previous version. Additionally, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 supports Google’s Find My Device network, making it easier to track your earbuds. However, at $229, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are $30 more expensive than their predecessor.

With all these upgrades, the Pixel lineup is finally a cohesive ecosystem that addresses many of the issues I’ve had with previous devices. I’m excited to see what Google does with these devices in the future with Pixel Feature Drops and OS updates.