Google Unveils New Pixel Phones With Enhanced AI, Slimmer Cameras

Google on Wednesday announced its newest Pixel phones, highlighting slimmer camera designs with enhanced zoom and a suite of artificial intelligence features aimed at streamlining user interactions. The company hopes these advancements will encourage consumers to purchase the latest models and increase adoption of its AI tools.

Forrester senior analyst Andrew Cornwall noted that Google is emphasizing new software features, particularly those powered by AI, as key motivators for upgrades. These new features include the ability to extract photos from videos, a teleprompter function, improved video stabilization, and a more advanced speech-to-text capability.

While Pixel phones have not reached the popularity of Apple's iPhone, Google has progressively integrated more AI into its devices since 2023. Apple, in contrast, announced its own AI advancements in June, focusing on practical, privacy-conscious applications for daily life.

Google stated that the new Pixel phones will offer double the storage capacity of previous models, starting at 256 gigabytes. They are also designed to provide up to 30 hours of battery life and support faster wireless charging. The company has discontinued the 128-gigabyte Pixel 11, which was previously its most affordable option at $800.

US customers can now pre-order the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL, with prices beginning at $900, $1,100, and $1,300, respectively. The Pixel Pro Fold will be available starting at $1,900. These prices represent a $100 increase for each model compared to last year's offerings.

New functionalities include live translation for videos, podcasts, and voice messages. For the Pro models, a feature called HiLight allows users to assign specific colors to favorite contacts, causing the phone to light up in that color when it rings and is placed face down, complementing the existing "Flip to Shhh" feature.

Google is also including a complimentary six-month subscription to its AI Pro plan with the purchase of the more premium Pixel 11 Pro or Pixel 11 Pro XL models. This initiative aims to encourage users to engage with Google's Gemini AI toolkit, developed as a competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Camera upgrades feature a new "Magic Capture" mode that automatically records a burst of photos and video with a single press of the shutter button. Google reported enhanced light sensitivity and, for Pro models, an "Instant Night Sight" function designed to capture clearer shots in low-light conditions more quickly.

Additionally, Google has introduced its first tracking device, the Pixel Tag. Priced at $30 for a single unit or $100 for a four-pack, the Pixel Tag is compatible with phones running Android 9 or higher.