The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have been officially revealed by Google, but there are still a few unknowns about them. Namely, when will they launch, how much will they cost, and when we’ll we be able to buy them and put them in our pockets. A new report today from tech YouTuber Brandon Lee, which is based on information from a European carrier source, sheds some light on pricing, availability, and color names.
The first major bit of information is the pricing. The Pixel 6 is rumored to cost 649 euros and the Pixel 6 Pro 899 euros. This translates to $760 and $1,050, respectively, if we were to do straight conversions to U.S. dollars. But taking into account taxes mean that the Pixels would more likely than not be priced between $699 to $799 and $999 to $1,099, respectively. By comparison, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro start at $799 and $999, respectively, and the Pixel 5 started at $699.
Aside from the pricing, the video also provides some corroborating information about the release date of the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are expected to launch on October 28. An earlier report from XDA had noted the Pixel 6’s camera app was set to go live on October 27 for launch day availability, so the latest report makes this date seem more plausible than before.
Google is also reportedly switching from its playful color naming scheme and assigning names like “carbon” for the black color option and “fog” for the green. It’s a change from Almost Black or Sorta Sage, but what’s in a name?
While Google has been popular as a brand for Android users, it has had less of an advantage in terms of mobile hardware. The Pixel series has yet to make a dent in the premium segment of smartphones, and Google is trying to win big here. And not just with something as pedestrian as pricing — Google is also going all out with the specs.
Massive batteries, smooth screens with high resolutions, updated cameras, and a new Google-made Tensor chip are just some of the hardware investments Google has made with the Pixel 6 that separate it from older Pixels and other Android flagships. If the report is to be believed, Google will make its sales pitch on October 19, opening pre-orders then. With the iPhone 13 already receiving rave reviews, Google has its work cut out for it.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.