Google just hosted an event on October 19 to unveil its new Pixel phones, but the company ended up doing a bit more than that. Yes, Google is launching the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro — something it had not been shy about sharing details on in the months leading up to the event. However, additional reports have claimed that Google could be launching a Pixel Fold, a Pixel Watch, and a new Pixel Pass service as well. Those reports ended up being only partly true. There was no Pixel Fold or Pixel Watch, but Google did manage to show off a new Pixel Pass plan today.
The Pixel Fall Launch event happened October 19. Did you miss it? You can rewatch it right on Google’s Pixel event landing page or on YouTube. With the depth of the leaks that occurred before the event, we didn’t expect many surprises — but Google surprised us anyway.
The stars of the show are obviously the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6 will start at $599 for the 128GB model, while the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899 for the same 128GB model. This means Google’s new phones will be more affordable than other flagship phones like the iPhone 13.
With large 6.4- and 6.7-inch screens, repectively, advanced camera systems, Tensor chips designed for A.I./machine learning, and funky colors, Google is leaning into the strength of its hardware in a way it didn’t with the Pixel 5 last year.
Pre-orders open today, October 19, both directly from Google and from carriers, but you won’t get the phone into your hand until October 28.
Google is also launching the first subscription service for its Pixel phones called Pixel Pass. This is an amalgamation of offerings similar to Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program and the Apple One service.
It is to be a U.S. exclusive service (at least for now) and will combine YouTube Premium, Google’s Play Pass app and game subscription service, Google’s Fi cellular service, and Google One, as well as a Pixel phone financing plan.
It’ll make buying Pixels a little bit more affordable. For those who were planning to use Google Fi anyway and aren’t wedded to their specific carriers, this could be a pretty good deal.
Although not directly mentioned at the event, Google is releasing a successor to the original Pixel Stand from 2018. The latest Pixel Stand costs $79, and it serves as both a stand and a charger. The Qi charger works with all sorts of devices (from Pixel Buds to other phones), and you can use it while making video calls, or if you just want to use your phone hands-free. The Pixel Stand can help your Pixel phone serve as a smart home controller, allowing you to adjust your lights or keep an eye on your Nest cams.
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.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.