Google today unveiled new versions of its Pixel phones, with a focus on speed through 5G and the promise of never having to listen to hold music again.
The new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A phones will be the first Google phones to be 5G compatible, with Google focusing on providing a lower-cost option for this technology with upgrades to software.
“These products bring together the best of Google’s hardware, software and AI to deliver helpful experiences built around you,” Google said. “Not only are these products more helpful; they’re more affordable too.”
The Pixel 5 will be available on 15 October and set you back $999, while the Pixel 4A will cost $799 when it is released in November.
Both devices will feature the same 12.2 megapixel camera with a new ultrawide lens, and Night Sight will be added to portrait mode, while there will be better editing options to improve lighting too.
The 5G phones will provide much quicker data speeds for users.
“Either you’re downloading the latest movie, listening to your favourite music on YouTube Music, catching up on podcasts with Google Podcast or downloading a game, Pixel 4A and Pixel 5 can provide you with fast speeds at a helpful price,” Google claimed.
The phones will also offer Duo mode where two users can watch the same video or sporting event together while on a video chat.
They will come with an Extreme Battery Saver mode with a promise of running for 48 hours, while adaptive battery technology will learn a user’s favourite apps and reduce power to the ones more rarely used.
The Pixel 4A will be entirely made of plastic, while the Pixel 5 has Gorilla Glass on the front only.
Perhaps most interestingly, a new Use Hold For Me mode promises to stop you from ever having to listen to annoying hold music again.
The new feature uses Google Assistant when a user is put on hold, notifying them when someone is ready to speak on the phone. Following the call, the audio and transcript can be shared with Google to assist in developing the technology.
The feature will initially only be available in the US and only in English, with Google warning it “may not detect when the representative returns to the call in every situation”.
The two new Pixel phones will be equipped with a new feature that is able to detect if a user has potentially been in a car accident, and quickly prepare to dial 000. The user can then select whether they are okay or to call emergency services.
At the virtual launch event, Google also announced a new Chromecast which doesn’t require a phone to use and comes with a remote with its own Assistant feature.
A new smart speaker named Nest Audio was also announced, which will be 75 percent louder than the previous Google Home and have 50 percent stronger bass response, the company claims.
