Google has finished its “Made by Google” event in New York City, where it unveiled a range of new products, including the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
The company held the hardware event in New York City, and we suspected it would have quite a show for us, based on past autumn events where Google would announce everything from new phones to VR headsets. Plus, there have been several leaks over the past few months – all suggesting that Google was planning to update its existing product lines. Needless to say, we were right.
If you just want to watch the event for yourself, watch the video above.
When was the Google Pixel 3 event?
Google’s so-called Pixel 3 event, also known as its annual Made by Google event, kicked off at 11am ET (4pm GMT) on 9 October 2018.
How to watch the Google Pixel 3 event
You can watch the Pixel 3 event from the video above or via this Made by Google Event page on Twitter.
What happened at the Google Pixel 3 event
Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
- Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL official
Google announced its next-generation Pixel smartphones, following extensive leaks throughout the summer and early fall.
Called the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the most obvious difference between the two, aside from size, is that the Pixel 3 XL has notch in its display, as well as a “chin”, while the smaller Pixel 3 is notch-less with top and bottom bezels. Both sport a single rear camera. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL follows last year’s Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL (see our review of those phones here and here, respectively).
The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be available in the UK from 1 November, US from 18 October. Pricing starts at £739 in the UK, $799 in the US. You can pre-order the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones now from Google.com.
Google Pixel Slate
- Pixel Slate is here: Google debuts a detachable Chrome OS tablet
Google announced a Pixel-branded, Chrome OS-powered tablet with a detachable keyboard.
It’s called Google Pixel Slate, and it’s very much like the Surface Pro. It features front-facing and rear-facing camera with a Portrait mode and advanced camera technology, a fingerprint scanner, and a new keyboard cover with a kickstand. Google Pixel Slate follows last year’s Google Pixelbook, a hybrid device that functions as both a laptop and a tablet (see our review here).
The Pixel Slate will go on sale from November starting at $599/£549, while the Slate Keyboard will cost $199/£189 separately.
Google Home Hub
- Google Home Hub is Google’s answer to Amazon Echo Show
Google announced a new type of Google Home speaker.
Called Google Home Hub, it reminds us of Amazon’s Echo Show and even Facebook’s new Portal. It consists of a display mounted on a speaker base, and a minimal design with a grey and white colour scheme similar to other Google Home products. Google Home Hub joins the Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Max, the latter two of which debuted just last year (see our comparison here).
It’s available for the super price of $149 in the US, while the UK price is a very competitive £139, and it’ll be available from retailers such as Argos and Currys PC World. Pre-orders are open now — and it’ll be in stores from 22 October in the US, UK, and Australia.
Pixel Stand
- Google announces Pixel Stand wireless charging dock for your bedside
Google announced a charging stand that will let you juice up your phone while it’s propped up in portrait or landscape mode. It’s a dock that is powered over USB-C. It supports fast charging and can charge any Qi-compatible device, including the new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
It can even auto-switch the phone into Do Not Disturb mode when it’s docked at night.
Pixel Stand will play nicely with Google Assistant, too, so you can still use “Hey Google” commands when your phone is docked. But the Portrait mode is the key feature, because it will essentially let you cycle through photos in your Google Photos albums as if it were a live photo frame. It also works with Nest Hello, allowing a docked phone to display who’s at the door via your security system.
It seems like Google thinks you’ll want to keep Pixel Stand by the bedside. It’ll cost $79/£69 when it launches on 1 November.
Other devices introduced
New Chromecast
- New Google Chromecast now available
Although it wasn’t actually mentioned during the Made by Google 2018 event a new Google Chromecast is now available. Listed on Google’s own store and other retailers in the UK, such as Very.co.uk, it costs £30 and is available in two colours: chalk (white) and charcoal (black).
You plug the new Chromecast into a spare HDMI slot on your TV. requires power, which is provided through a Micro USB lead.Like the last Chromecast, and the other before it, you use your phone or computer to set off a video stream. Video output is up to 1080p 60fps (you need the existing Chromecast Ultra for 4K), and the latest device connects through dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac 2.4GHz/5GHz).
