Made by Google event 2024 live blog: Every major announcement, from Pixel 9 Pro Fold to Pixel Watch 3
Our live blog breakdown of every Made by Google announcement, from the Pixel 9 Pro XL to the newest watches and buds.
The annual Made by Google announcement event has officially come to a close, but if you missed all of the AI-heavy excitement, fear not: we dropped all the most important news and information below.
After all, the end of the event simply means that the preorder period has begun, so whether you're hoping to place your order today or find an answer to your most burning questions, we're going to keep this blog going with live updates and important news until the dust finally settles at Mountain View HQ.
Quick links
- Google Pixel 9 hands-on review
- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold hands-on review
- Google Pixel Watch 3 hands-on review
- Preorder deals: Google Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Pixel Watch 3
Live stream
Long-time Pixel users might be excited by this blast from the past: Google reportedly plans to bring back “XL” devices! After the Pixel 4 XL — which Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda had a “love-hate relationship” with in 2019 — you’ve been stuck with whatever size Google chose.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL leaked on TikTok, and even before that, a Google promo leak suggested that the Pixel 9 Pro would ship in 6.3-inch and 6.8-inch sizes. Phones aside, Google allegedly wants to sell a Pixel Watch 3 XL, so you can choose between 1.2- and 1.4-inch displays.
We hope this rumor ends up being true at the Made by Google event; fans of smaller phones will appreciate having all the bells and whistles, with extra display space as optional. The small size of the Pixel Watch 2 was one of our only complaints about the Android watch, as well.
We at Android Central don’t endorse turning Made by Google into a drinking game (it’s five o’clock somewhere but definitely not in Mountain View). But if you took a shot every time they say “Gemini” tomorrow, you’d probably die.
Google introduced the Pixel 9 Pro in the promo video above, but a Gemini generative AI demo takes center stage, and the glimpse of the Pixel 9 Pro’s new camera bar is surrounded by an “Oh hi, AI” quote. It’s clear Google will try to stand out from iPhones and Galaxy phones by going all-in on Gemini, for better or worse.
A recent leak suggested Google will give a free year of Google One AI Premium ($20/month) for all Pixel 9 buyers, plus Fitbit Premium and YouTube Premium trial runs. But will new AI tricks tempt Pixel 8 Pro buyers to upgrade?
Our biggest question with the new Pixel 9 series is the Tensor G4 CPU. Google’s Samsung LSI-made chips have always prioritized AI and camera performance compared to Snapdragon’s raw power, with the Pixel 8 Pro and older models frequently overheating.
An alleged Google insider claimed that the Tensor G4 will have middling Cortex cores and a new layout designed to improve cooling performance. While it could have a new modem with satellite connectivity, the GPU would remain unchanged.
While this rumor has some Android Central staffers planning to wait for the Pixel 10, we assume that Google’s NPU for AI tricks and camera processing will be industry-leading. So even though the Tensor G4 benchmarks only give a “slight boost” over the G3, some Pixel 8 owners may still want to upgrade.
That same Pixel 9 Pro leak suggests it’ll have a 42MP selfie camera and a triple rear camera array: a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP telephoto lens. At first glance, all three rear sensors are the same as the Pixel 8 Pro’s, but Google could easily upgrade in other areas like exposure, zoom, or AI tricks.
Still, if you’re a fan of selfies, that might be the main reason to get excited about the Pixel 9 Pro.
One other 8 Pro to 9 Pro upgrade: You’ll allegedly have the chance to pay extra for 16GB, 4GB more than previous flagships. That could make stomaching another year of average Tensor speeds a little more bearable.
What about the newest Pixel Fold, you ask? Our staff is chock-full of foldable nerds excited to see what Google has in store, especially after Google showed us a glimpse of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in another Gemini-infused promo video last month.
Why call it the Pixel 9 Pro Fold instead of the Pixel Fold 2? It’s mostly a marketing choice, we’d guess; it makes it easier to group all the phones into one family on billboards or in commercials. Plus, it allegedly has the same 6.3-inch cover display you get with the standard Pixel 9 Pro.
At first glance, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold switched its camera bar for a square with two tiers of camera sensors, and the unfolded display looks a bit more square-shaped than its predecessor.
Curious what Pixel 9 colors you can expect this year? Leaks suggest that all Pixel models and sizes will ship in Obsidian or Porcelain. Specifically, the 9 Pro could come in Rose and Hazel finishes, while the base Pixel 9 supposedly has similar (but distinct) Pink and Green colors. The Pro Fold will only have Obsidian and Porcelain, supposedly; Google must think foldable fans hate anything colorful.
As far as we know, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will have the same color options, though interestingly, the TikTok leak suggests the XL will have a glossier finish, while the standard 9 and Pro will look more matte.
We haven’t talked much yet about the standard Pixel 9, but that might actually sport the most exciting upgrades for more frugal shoppers.
According to that 91Mobiles leak, it’ll jump to 12GB of RAM, with a 50MP main camera, 10.5MP selfie cam, and 48MP ultrawide cam. That’s 4GB extra memory and 4X the UW resolution compared to the Pixel 8, though the other cameras might remain unchanged, and you’re still not getting a telephoto lens.
Plus, of course, you’re getting a 6.3-inch display, the same size as the Pixel 7 before Google shrunk it last year. And it’ll have all the same Tensor chip and Gemini AI tricks for a few hundred less than the Pro.
Enough about phones! Let’s talk the Pixel Watch 3: Google hasn’t revealed it early like the Pixel 9 series, but we’re all but certain it’ll make an appearance after so many leaks about it and the new XL version.
Google’s choice to move Made by Google up two months makes the Pixel Watch series more compelling. Up until now, Galaxy Watches got new Wear OS upgrades months before Pixel Watches, even though Google makes the software. Now, even though the Galaxy Watch 7 got Wear OS 5 first, the Pixel Watch 3 won’t be so far behind.
Back in May, Google announced Wear OS 5 fitness features like running form analysis and better battery efficiency during workouts. They also promised new watch faces with different “Flavors” to let you put your own colorful spin on them. Aside from this, we don’t know what other software tricks the Pixel Watch 3 will bring, though that Gemini buzzword is a good guess.
According to leaks, the Pixel Watch 3 will have the same CPU, MCU, and RAM as the Pixel Watch 2. We don’t think Qualcomm has made a new Snapdragon W5 chip yet, and it’s still on the cutting-edge in terms of performance speed for Android watches.
The main downside is that we’ll probably see similar battery life as the Pixel Watch 2 last year: 24 hours with always-on display active. That’s not terrible compared to, say, an Apple Watch, but plenty of watches like the OnePlus Watch 2R and TicWatch Pro 5 can last three days per charge now, and the Galaxy Watch 7 is closer to two days (without AOD).
The leaked Pixel Watch 3 XL is going to grab the most attention. Like Google’s XL phones, its only difference is its display size; it’ll have the same specs otherwise. We love the Pixel Watch 2’s edge-to-edge design, but did find the small display and large bezel somewhat limiting. Now it appears both Watch 3’s will have a smaller display border, plus doubled brightness and a faster refresh rate.
Need some new wireless earbuds? We’re pretty darn certain the leaked Pixel Buds Pro 2 will make an egg-shaped appearance.
We really liked the Pixel Buds Pro, so we hope the Pro 2 continues in that vein. We don’t know much about them, except that they’re likely to support hands-free Gemini conversations, the case could have a slight battery capacity increase, and you’ll see some florid new colors like Raspberry, Haze, and Mojito.
Here’s one thing we haven’t talked much about: Android 15. It’s been in public beta since April and reached platform stability this summer; it’ll launch alongside the Pixel 9 series.
Google might talk about some of its useful tricks, like Notification Cooldown, partial screen recording, better multitasking and a persistent taskbar on foldables, and a laundry list of other features that are more functional than snazzy. But we expect Google will breeze by these to focus more on Gemini, as it did at Google I/O 2024.
It’s honestly a bit of a shame that Google hasn’t treated Android as an exciting OS on its own merits since Android 12 (aside from AI stuff).
What does Google have in store for us with Gemini? We’ll no doubt see some new Gemini extensions connecting to other Google products, like Google Home and Spotify.
We could also see the Gemini Live Background mode, which will show useful information on your Pixel 9 Pro lock screen like Flights, Hotels, or YouTube info without having to unlock your phone.
That covers most of the Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3 leaks! In terms of official Google news, the company just announced the new Nest Thermostat and Google TV Streamer, so those might make a brief appearance today.
The Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) has a 2.7-inch LCD display with Dynamic Farsight and a customizable display. Basically, it sees how close you are and changes the amount of detail as you get closer. Otherwise, this should give you the same AI-generated smart schedules for saving energy as before, only with an “Adaptive Eco” mode that balances between savings and comfort. It costs $280.
The Google TV Streamer is a Chromecast replacement — Google sure loves rebranding well-known devices — with twice the memory and 32GB of storage, plus support for 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. You can control your Google Home devices through it, as well as the usual casting tricks. It costs $100.
We’re just under an hour away from the Made by Google event starting! Our Wearables Senior Editor Michael Hicks is on the ground in Mountain View, ready to take pictures of the stage. Everyone else on staff will be watching the livestream event with you all.
You can watch the livestream on YouTube or the Google Store website if you’re particularly eager about preordering your next phone straight away.
We are LIVE folks!
Good for Google being honest about their demo happening in real time and it messing up.
Last week before the Made by Google event, our Senior Editor of Phones, Nick Sutrich, had a hands-on window with the new Pixel 9 phones! It’s definitely worth a read before you decide whether or not to preorder one.
Nick has thoughts on the “controversial” and “iPhone-inspired” redesign, the “astounding” Add Me AI trick, and a bunch of new Gemini tricks that “blow the competition out of the water” for AI supremacy.
Looks like “Add Me” is the new Magic AI trick of this generation. Instead of relying on a timer or having one person out of a group shot, you can take two photos and merge them together so that the photographer is included.
Google also says it’s improving Magic Editor so that it can reframe, crop, and/or expand a photo by default, or “reimagine” a photo to add scenery to make things look cooler, the same way you might add a filter. I think it’s fair to say this is both cool and a bit eerie, when it comes to trusting whether a photo is “real” these days.
Looks like the leakers were right: The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL will have a Tensor G4 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, and a year of Google One AI Premium (get ready to pay $20/month after that).
The rear main and telephoto sensors appear to be unchanged, while the 48MP UW has a slightly larger aperture. The 42MP Dual PD selfie cam is the main upgrade, with a wider FOV and much more detail.
The Pixel 9 Pro will cost $999, or $1,099 extra for the 9 Pro XL. That means you’re paying $100 more to get the same size as the Pixel 8 Pro, unfortunately.
Senior Editor Andrew Myrick got his own hands-on time with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. He has a ton of praise for the “complete redesign” compared to the OG Fold, how it takes more notes from the OnePlus Open than the Galaxy Z Fold series, and how it fixed the hinge.
He also notes how Gemini is pervasive throughout the Pixel 9 Pro Fold software, which has both positives and negatives. He’s also a bit disappointed with the cameras’ shortcomings. I recommend reading the whole thing before you buy one!
YOU GUYS I'M FREAKING OUT KEKE!!!!!!!
Here comes the Pixel Watch 3. A lot of AC staff use the Pixel Watch 2 as their daily watch, and we’re already seeing some important improvements like the smaller display border and 2,000 nits of brightness.
It also looks like the leakers were wrong about the larger size being called “XL.” Looks like that’s a Pixel phone-only thing! It’s simply called the Pixel Watch 3 45mm.
Google has made the Pixel Watch 3 so much more tempting to runners than before. AI-powered daily running workouts, cardio load, customizable workouts with audio or haptic cues, a Morning Brief of your Daily Readiness, and an improved HR algorithm all show that Fitbit wants to challenge Garmin head on. We’re excited to test things out.
If you’re not much of an athlete, the Daily Readiness score (now free instead of Premium-locked) is a nice perk similar to Samsung’s Energy Score, but maybe not enough for an upgrade.
If you own a Nest Doorbell, being able to check who’s at the door with a live feed from your wrist is a pretty neat trick. We only wish this would work with other home security cams, not just Google’s.
Looks like the Pixel Watch 3 41mm and 45mm have aluminum cases and weigh 31g/ 37g without a band (the PW2 was also 31g). The 1.2- and 1.4-inch displays will have an industry-standard 320 PPI and 2,000 nits of brightness, plus a 60Hz refresh rate (matching the highest we’ve seen on a watch).
As expected, it’s the same Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage as before. Even the 306mAh capacity is the same; the PW 3 45mm jumps to 420mAh, but that extra capacity will go straight to the larger display. And we’re still using Gorilla Glass 5 instead of Sapphire Glass.
Most of the excitement is for the new software, the better displays, and the new size, in other words. And the new 45mm option is a bit expensive at $399, $50 more than the 41mm ($349). Samsung and Apple usually charge $30 for a display size bump, for context.
With Made by Google coming to a close, we asked the staff which announcement had them most excited, or the most disappointed. Here’s what they said!
Shruti Shekar, EIC: “FINALLY!!!!!!! THE FOLD IS COMING TO CANADA! And rightfully so, this is a great market and opportunity for Google and I’m so excited about this! That was the thing that got me so excited, that and just everything in general. It looks like Google really has gotten it figured out."
Derrek Lee, Managing Editor: “I love that Google is giving users more choice with different sizes for the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel 9 Pro. Having the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel 8 Pro, I feel like my watch is too small and my phone is too big, so being able to choose is a big plus for me.
“Now, if only Google would launch a Pixel Flip already, then I could choose that smaller foldable over the rather large Pixel 9 Pro Fold.”
Michael Hicks, Wearables: “The Pixel Watch 3! Fitbit has always focused more on indoor workouts, but this push with training load, AI-powered running recs, and daily readiness outside the Premium paywall is really promising. Plus I love the larger screen size."
Jerry Hildenbrand, Google Ecosystem: "A lot of the AI things Google showed us for the Pixel 9 actually looks really cool and fun. I love AI when it's fun! I'm left wondering how much of this would work well on the Pixel 8 and how long Google is going to hold it back, though."
Nick Sutrich, Phones: “I really love the thought and effort Google is putting into AI features that are actually useful on a regular basis. Features like Add Me and Call Notes solve real world problems in a way lots of AI-powered tools from other companies don't.
“My biggest disappointment is that Google didn't do anything to improve its low PWM rate. This all but ensures I can't use any Pixel 9 phone long-term without getting headaches or feeling dizzy. Even Samsung doubled its PWM rates this year, so what gives?”
Namerah Saud Fatmi, Accessories: “I cannot believe that Google did not launch Qi2 with the Pixel 9 series. It could have been a bold move that actually brought a new industry standard to the hands of the consumers. For what was once a boisterous and bold phone series, the Pixel lineup seems to be picking a leaf from Samsung's book by playing it too safe this year.”
With the Made by Google event concluded, the preorder links are live for the Pixel 9 series and the Pixel Watch 3!
We have specific preorder guides on each device, so you’ll know whether to buy directly from Google or find a better deal elsewhere.
Thanks so much for hanging out with us for the Made by Google event! Are you planning on buying any of the latest Pixels? Is Google’s new AI push exciting to you, or were you hoping for other upgrades that didn’t make it to these new phones? And does the Pixel Watch 3 do enough to compete with the Galaxy Watch 7? We’re excited to hear what you think!
Now that Google's newest lineup of devices has been revealed, it's time to plan how you're going to preorder the Google Pixel 9. A bunch of retailers and wireless carriers alike were quick to announce their promos shortly after the event came to a close, and the deals on display are pretty enticing. Best Buy and Amazon are both offering free gift cards with the purchase of a Pixel 9 series phone, while Google itself is offering vouchers alongside some generous trade-in credit.
With a steep starting price of $1,799.99, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is just the latest in a long line of super-pricey foldable phones. Fortunately, there are a few preorder deals that should lessen the financial blow ahead of the phone's September release date. From trade-in opportunities to free gift cards, check out our Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold preorder guide to find the offer that's going to work best for you.
Google is being a little confusing with the release calendar this year, so if you missed the info during the event, here are the street dates for all of the upcoming Pixel devices:
- August 22nd: Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
- September 4th: Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- September 10th: Google Pixel Watch 3
- September 26th: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
