Every year's Google hardware event is like a "checking of answers," and we find that the "cheat sheets" we received earlier might have been handed out by top students.

Early this morning, as many leaks had previously foreshadowed, Google launched a slew of new products, including the Pixel 9 series, Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Buds Pro 2, and more, all at once. This article will sort out the key highlights of this event for you.

Multimodal capabilities support the arrival of the Gemini era

Just as during Google I/O 2024, even the birds flying over Google's Mountain View headquarters had to chirp "Gemini," the first thing that naturally took the stage at this Google event was AI. Rick Osterloh, the head of Google's hardware and services, emphasized on stage that the AI features mentioned in this event are "authentic," with all demos being live and not pre-recorded, and all features will be pushed to users soon—despite the Zoom Enhance feature demonstrated at the launch of the Pixel 8 Pro last year, which was quietly announced in a blog post after the event today.

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And the live demonstration of Gemini's Workspace expansion really "crashed":

It seems that the live event, like in China, also encountered network issues.

But it is indeed the era of Gemini. At this event, Google once again showcased Gemini's integration capabilities with its own applications such as Calendar, Keep, YouTube, YouTube Music, Gmail, etc., and for the first time introduced the concept of Gemini Assistant, which also laid out a blueprint for the future of Google Assistant.

As a new form of real-time conversational interaction with Gemini, Gemini Live is similar to the advanced voice conversation feature that ChatGPT has recently started to push in a small range, but at least it provides 10 voice tone options from the live demonstration, and it does not insert some eerie tones and pauses like ChatGPT during the conversation, still taking the route of the "smart assistant" of the new version of Google Assistant in previous years—only this time with the creative generation capabilities of Gemini.

Gemini Live will be pushed to English users who have subscribed to Gemini Advanced starting today, and in the next few weeks, it will be pushed to Android devices such as Pixel and Samsung, but it is not yet clear whether a subscription is also required.Considering that the Chinese voice of the new Google Assistant is still a mechanical, unnatural voice, the probability of Gemini Live supporting Chinese voice should be less than the probability of Siri using Gemini.

Pixel 9 Series: Not strong on paper, but plenty of Pro options

On the hardware front, as leaked, there are a total of four new models this year. In addition to the regular Pixel 9, the Pro model has further split into two sizes, Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold foldable screen product line.

Despite the weak competitiveness of the Tensor G4, Google has addressed many pain points for its Pixel users in one go. For example, those who like the telephoto of the Pro but not necessarily the large phone, or the cheap frame with asymmetrical width at the top and bottom of the regular model, and the optical under-screen fingerprint that has been unsatisfactory in speed and accuracy for several generations. In the Pixel 9 series, the symmetrical front frame on all four sides, the industry mainstream ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint, the small size Pro with a 6.3-inch screen, and the cooling plate specially built for the Pro series are all arranged. Except for the processor performance and power consumption, all the corners seem to have been polished as smooth as the corners of the Pixel 9 series.

The Pixel 9 series will be the first to carry the multimodal Gemini Nano model, but it should be noted that the Gemini Nano model promoted in the Pixel 8 series, apart from the early controversy of deliberately limiting it for the basic model, still exists in the form of a developer option and has not been widely used.

So back to the phone itself, in terms of configuration, the screen is still the strength of the Pixel 9 series. The Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL is equipped with a Super Actua display with a peak brightness of 3000 nits and a refresh rate of 1-120Hz. The external screen specifications of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are the same, both with a refresh rate of 60-120Hz, a peak brightness of 2700 nits, and a resolution of 1080x2424. The internal screen of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses an 8-inch Super Actua Flex screen with a resolution of 2076x2152 and a refresh rate of 1-120Hz.

Perhaps it has been realized, or perhaps the demand for AI capabilities is really rising as Apple has shown, the Pixel 9 series is also very generous in terms of RAM, with the basic model and Pro model reaching 12GB and 16GB RAM respectively. In contrast, the storage this time is a bit stingy, with the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro starting with versions of 128GB storage space. It seems that Google has completely ignored the fact that full-pixel output photos, if RAW format is turned on, occupy 100MB of space every time the shutter is pressed (after all, it does not support efficient photo formats) - or it simply wants to encourage users to pay more for capacity.

In addition, with the leadership of companies like Huawei and Apple, and the foundation and interaction of Android 15, Google cannot help but prepare a satellite SOS call function for the Pixel 9 series. However, this function is not surprisingly only available to Pixel 9 series users in the United States first, regardless of the operator.

On the Pixel 9 Pro Fold side, compared with the Pixel Fold that is out of place compared to the contemporary competitors, Google has also barely kept up with the mainstream route of the folding screen market this time, and the overall is more lightweight. It is interesting that the small print at the bottom of the PPT page of "the thinnest folding screen device" - does not count the camera protrusion, compared with other competitors in the US market.

The screen size of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in the folded state is the same as the Pixel 9 Pro, which is 6.3 inches, and after unfolding, it is an 8-inch Super Actua Flex large screen, which is said to be the largest in the industry, but the small print is the same. Although the screen ratio close to 1:1 is likely to bring many problems in the software experience, Google still called on its own YouTube to prepare a new feature called MultiView, allowing users to take advantage of the large screen to watch sports events from multiple angles.After discussing the hardware highlights, the focus naturally shifts to the software side. However, the first to take the stage is not the camera but AI. Google has introduced a new version of the weather app for the Pixel 9 series with built-in AI weather forecast summaries. However, the APK package of the app has already been leaked before, so the audience's reaction on site seemed quite lukewarm; on the call function side, the newly added Call Notes is very valuable. In addition to being able to automatically generate call summaries, it can also keep a copy of the call transcription text locally, and all content recognition and transcription are completed locally, supporting subsequent retrieval. To some extent, it can be considered a clever move to avoid the privacy controversy of call recording functions.

Another major feature, Pixel Screenshots, is also consistent with the details previously revealed. When enabled, it will use the Gemini multimodal model to recognize information in screenshots and create an index, and all calculations are based on Gemini Nano and executed locally; if it is web content, it even supports link jumping. To some extent, it can be considered an official entry into creating a Snapseek. In addition, there is a pure image generation tool called Pixel Studio, but the scope of availability and the launch time are to be determined.

Finally, let's talk about the camera.

The hardware parameters of the lens are consistent with the previously exposed information, which can be referred to in the minority's forward-looking summary article. On the software and algorithm side, the old foundation of HDR+ cannot be chewed, so this year Google, drawing on the experience of earlier tuning of the Real Tone skin color restoration function, reconstructed the HDR+ photo processing pipeline to more truly and accurately restore the real sense of exposure, white balance, color mapping, details, and contrast. However, from the on-site demonstration, the algorithm's over-sharpening is still a problem worth noting. Interestingly, the panoramic photo function that was cut after a certain Google camera update seems to have been reforged. In the Pixel 9 series, the new HDR+ algorithm is also applicable to panoramic photos, and panoramic shooting also supports night vision algorithms. Here, Google still followed the tradition of naming the old rival for comparison:

Retained program

In addition, there is the previously exposed Add Me group photo function, which uses a variety of exposure and viewfinder auxiliary functions to synthesize two photos taken, ensuring that the photographer can take turns entering the frame. For foldable screen devices, Google has prepared a feature called Made You Look - displaying content on the outer screen that attracts the attention of the subject to assist in shooting, making the photo effect more controllable; the professional control shooting options introduced in the Pixel 8 series have also been extended to foldable screens.

Made You Look

In addition, the Pixel magic editing function has added an Auto Frame feature, which is similar to Photoshop's generative background filling, and can re-compose the photo according to the basic composition rules.

Video shooting capability is also one of the key updates of the Pixel 9 series. Night vision video shooting and video enhancement functions have been integrated with the Super Res Zoom algorithm in the Pixel 9 series, supporting up to 20x zoom shooting, which will not surprise the Pixel 9 Pro to become another concert.Google Pixel 9 comes equipped with a 4700mAh battery and offers four color options: Berry Pink, Sprout Green, Ceramic White, and Obsidian Black, starting at $799 (12+128GB); Google Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL offers four color options: Quartz Pink, Misty Grey, Ceramic White, and Obsidian Black, with the former having a battery capacity of 4700mAh and starting at $999 (16+128GB), and the latter with a battery capacity of 5060mAh, starting at $1099 (16+256GB); Pixel 9 Pro Fold is powered by a 4650mAh battery, starting at $1799 (16+256GB).

The entire Pixel 9 series has begun pre-orders today in the United States, Japan, and Europe, with the Pixel 9/9 Pro XL set to be released on August 22, and the remaining models to hit the market in September. Customers purchasing the Pixel 9 Pro series will also receive a one-year subscription to 2TB Google One cloud storage and AI premium features.

Pixel Watch 3: Brighter Screen, More Choices

The basic content of the Pixel Watch 3 is also consistent with previous leaks. Without significant changes in the design, it offers two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. The 45mm version not only has a larger screen size but also a 35% larger battery capacity compared to its predecessor.

Key Highlights of Pixel Watch 3

The screen upgrade is quite noticeable. Like Pixel phones, the Pixel Watch 3 now features an Actua display, supporting a brightness range of 1-2000 nits. Additionally, the 41mm version has narrower bezels than the previous Pixel Watch 2, offering 10% more screen content. In terms of other specifications, the Pixel Watch 3 is powered by the Qualcomm SW5100 platform, equipped with a Cortex M33 co-processor, 2GB RAM, and 32GB eMMC storage, with 307mAh and 420mAh battery capacities for the 41mm and 45mm versions, respectively.

Functionalities of Pixel Watch 3

In addition to deep integration with Google services, the software experience of Pixel Watch 3 continues to rely on Fitbit, bringing new features such as readiness scores, professional running data tracking, calorie burn, and morning summaries. It supports customizing workout moves and plans through the Fitbit app and also features arrhythmia detection with built-in workout classes from Peloton.

Based on Fitbit's exercise customization,Pixel Watch 3 is priced at $349 (41mm) / $399 (45mm).

Pixel Buds Pro 2: Custom chip, improved noise cancellation, and battery life

Lastly, the Pixel Buds Pro, which has been on the market for over two years, has also been updated as rumored.

The new Pixel Buds Pro 2 has received minor design updates, with an overall smaller size and a weight reduction of 27% compared to its predecessor; this generation also includes ear fins for added stability.

Pixel Buds Pro 2

In terms of hardware, it is equipped with the Google Tensor A1 chip, capable of processing 3 million active noise cancellation calculations per second, offering twice the noise cancellation effect of the previous generation; in terms of connectivity, it supports Bluetooth 5.4, LE Audio, and UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology, and the charging case also has a dedicated speaker for device finding features; in terms of battery life, with active noise cancellation turned off, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 can provide up to 48 hours of use in combination with the charging case, and 30 hours with active noise cancellation turned on.

Key highlights of Pixel Buds Pro 2

As mentioned above, who can escape Gemini? The Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the first Pixel earbuds to feature Gemini capabilities and support for Gemini Live, which to some extent suggests that the days of Google Assistant might be numbered...

Pixel Buds Pro 2 color options

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 is priced starting at $229 and is now available for pre-order.At the end of this press conference, Google also shared the Gemini visual capabilities based on Project Astra that will be rolled out in the coming months, benchmarking against ChatGPT, as well as Research with Gemini, benchmarking against Perplexity— these fall into the 'coming soon' category.

Research with Gemini follows the path of Perplexity.

These are the main highlights of Google's hardware launch event. After the event, Google also revealed more details about the new hardware and features through its official blog. If you are interested, you might want to visit the Google Blog. Additionally, if you are interested in the Pixel 9 series, feel free to discuss in the comments section. We will also be releasing more content related to it in the future, so stay tuned.