Google Pixel

CheckMag The OnePlus 12R and the Google Pixel 7a are great options for those who want flagship features on a budget. However, one offers more value than the other.

Unlike most companies implying 'Artificial Intelligence' when using the common abbreviation ‘AI’, Samsung is using it to mean ‘Advanced Intelligence’. Although the company hasn't made its reasons public, it is apparent it wants to avoid some of the less pleasant connotations of the technology.

The regular 6.2-inch version of Google's latest smartphone series has never been cheaper as an Amazon-owned online retailer currently grants a mentionable 23 percent discount on the unlocked Pixel 8 in the sleek Obsidian color variant.

Google's Minty Fresh refresh has now arrived globally. Available on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in glossy and matte finishes, respectively, the new 'Mint' colour option is joined by various launch offers, including a 'Kick with Pixel' mini-game prize draw.

Google has detailed its first Pixel Feature Drop of 2024. A surprise announcement designed to align with its Pixel 8 'Minty Fresh' update, the January 2024 Pixel Feature Drop not only adds new features to the Pixel 8 series, but also older models like the Pixel 5a and Pixel 6. Even the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 have gained new functionality, too.

A renowned leaker has revealed the design of the Pixel 9, Google's next smaller flagship and rival to the Apple iPhone 16 Pro. Adopting design elements of recent iPhone models, the Pixel 9 has also been shown with a periscope zoom camera and what could well be another outing for Google's temperature sensor.

Google Pixel 8 Pro debuted with a new sensor on the back, which has been seen as nothing but a gimmick at launch. As Google didn’t have the necessary approvals, it could only measure the temperatures of objects. That changed with the latest Pixel feature drop, as the sensor can finally record human body temperature.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro is getting a brand new design, as indicated by the first render images of a transparent protective case developed for Google's next-generation flagship. The fundamentally redesigned camera module cuts a fine figure in a protective case.

If history is any indication, the Pixel 8a will launch around May. That hasn't stopped the mid-range phone's packaging from leaking in the flesh, though, and revealing some key details of the device ahead of time.

Google is taking another leaf from Apple's book by offering a mid-generation refresh of its current flagship smartphones. While Google has already hinted at a Pixel 8 series refresh, a renowned leaker has revealed what the Pixel 8 Pro looks like in its 'fresh' colour option.

OnLeaks has just revealed what Google has in store for us with the Pixel 9 Pro. It comes with a redesigned rear camera module that bears an uncanny resemblance to one of its main competitors.

Carved has introduced unusual protective cases for the Google Pixel 8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which are made entirely of wood and resin for a unique design. The cases promise protection, MagSafe and Qi support wireless chargers.

In principle, both the Magic Editor in Google Photos, which has been available since the Pixel 8, and the new Generative Editor in the Gallery app of the new Galaxy S24 series offer very similar functionality. However, one important difference makes the subsequent editing of images on the Galaxy S24 much more convenient, as demonstrated by a tester on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

While Google’s 2nd-gen Pixel smartwatch brings some significant improvements, it retains the same size as the 1st-gen watch, which is a bit small for some. Google reportedly plans to address this by offering the Google Pixel Watch 3 in two sizes.

Google is teasing a new colorway for the Pixel 8 Pro. According to the official online store, it will be called Minty Fresh. As for when the new color will drop, the teaser video posted by Google has confirmed that it will be available on January 25.

Google has confirmed that its new AI-driven feature, Circle to Search, will launch on the Pixel 8 series on January 31. Some "premium Android smartphones" will get it eventually.

CheckMag The Google Pixel 8a has not been officially released, but the circulating rumors have generated significant anticipation. With advanced features, the availability of two variants, and an upgraded chipset, expectations are high for the Google Pixel 8a.

Android phones will soon get a battery health indicator to indicate the degree of battery degradation, as per Android expert Mishaal Rahman. This is based on the latest Pixel Feature Drop, which adds charge cycle count, and a hidden “battery health” page in Android 14 Beta. While iPhones have had this feature for a few years, Android users have had to rely on inaccurate third party apps.

CheckMag Choosing the best smartphone for videography requires considering factors beyond still photo capabilities. Look for devices with high-resolution cameras, advanced lenses, quality audio recording, and image stabilization to mitigate camera shake. Below are 4 top recommendations and what makes them so good for videography.

Google is further simplifying repairs for Pixel smartphones, as Pixel users will now be able to run system diagnostics directly on their smartphone in order to identify defects and protect their data with repair mode, while the range of tools has been further expanded.

Google appears to be planning to replace Google Assistant on Pixel phones and launch a Pixel-exclusive new assistant called "Pixie" with the introduction of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. Thanks to Gemini, among other things, it is likely to be much more powerful and personalized and also possible to use on low-power devices such as the Pixel Watch.

Google is now rolling out Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 to Pixel devices. While Google has only acknowledged a few bug fixes and known issues in the new beta build, Mishaal Rahman has noticed various changes, some of which are hidden by default.

Based on new analysis, the Pixel 8 Pro cannot keep pace with the battery life or charging capabilities of its peers. As a result, Google's latest flagship sits outside DxOMarks' top 100 smartphones when it comes to battery and charging.

According to Google, the Pixel 8 Pro is supposed to be the best smartphone for low-light video recordings and users can now try out the Video Boost feature that lies behind this bold promise. The first Pixel 8 Pro testers have already tested Video Boost with their own recordings and they appear better only under certain conditions.

DxOMark has now tested the battery capabilities of Google's latest smaller flagship. While the Google Pixel 8 excelled in recent camera analysis, it barely surpasses its predecessor and can only manage a meagre 120th finish despite its 4,575 mAh battery capacity.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is available on Amazon with a 51% discount. At the time of writing, the discount is available on the Snow White color with 128 GB storage. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, tweaked telephoto camera, and the Google Tensor G2 chip, the Google Pixel 7 Pro might be a good purchase at this price.

It turns out that Google may have brought noticeable gaming performance improvements to its current flagships through a new GPU kernel driver. Distributed through its latest monthly update, the new GPU kernel driver has been shown to provide better framerates for the likes of the Pixel 8 Pro in demanding games like Genshin Impact.

CheckMag The ideal companion for any photographer is a smartphone featuring a high-quality camera, ample storage capacity, extended battery life, and a lightweight design. Explore the smartphone selections tailored for your adventures in this comprehensive guide.

Google has unveiled Gemini - a new AI model that will soon power most Google products and services. Gemini Pro is now powering Bard and Gemini Nano is set to bring new features to Google Pixel 8 Pro.

As part of its latest round of updates, Google has now published Android 14 QPR1 for various Pixel devices. Available to the Pixel 5a onwards, the new update introduces dozens of improvements and just as many security fixes via the December 2023 security patch update.

Google has confirmed it is bringing several outstanding Pixel Watch 2 features to its predecessor. Soon, the original Pixel Watch will be capable of mirroring Bedtime Mode and DND modes from a paired smartphone, among other improvements.

(Updated: Now discounted up to 51%) Amazon's latest smartphone deal offers compelling discounts of up to 47 percent on practically all versions of the Pixel 7 Pro, including the top-end model with a whopping 512GB of storage. Therefore, Google's flagship handset from last year might even be a better buy than the slightly improved Pixel 8.

Google has now released a new Pixel Feature Drop for the Pixel 5a 5G onwards. The last of 2023, the latest Feature Drop adds various features to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, with a few Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet-specific changes included, too.

The Google Pixel Watch (first-gen) price has dropped to its lowest-ever level once again, giving folks who missed earlier sales another chance to snag one. The watch is feature-rich with a wide range of health and fitness-related goodies straight from Fitbit’s ecosystem, a sleek design with a comfortable fit, and a vanilla implementation of WearOS.

Google has released a new camera update for its recent Pixel devices. Rolling out as Pixel Camera 9.2, the update brings Ultra HDR support to older Pixel smartphones like the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series, as well as an improved UI for the Pixel 8 Pro.

The mid-range Google Pixel 6a is currently going for a sizeable discount of 50% to reach US$98.99 at Walmart with free shipping. The smartphone which comes in black and has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is a stellar mid-range device with great cameras, solid display, smooth performance, and all-day battery life.

The best is yet to come: As part of its Google Pixel 8 presentation, the Pixel team also announced a feature that is intended to significantly improve nighttime video recordings on the Pixel 8 Pro, but will only be delivered as part of an update. An analysis of the latest Google Photos app provides clues of how the soon-to-be launched feature will actually work.

Google offers a relatively compact, high-performance smartphone in the Pixel 8, which scores particularly well with its main camera, stock Android and seven-year update guarantee. But the latest Pixel smartphone isn't perfect either.

Google is still months away from releasing the Pixel 8a. Nonetheless, official wallpapers of Google's next mid-range smartphone have already appeared online, which are likely to be Pixel 8a exclusives.

An increasing number of Pixel 8 Pro units are experiencing noticeable bulges in their AMOLED panels after a few weeks of use. Google has now commented on the issue, although it has dismissed any claims that it affects device usage.

CheckMag Notebookcheck has reported on numerous fantastic deals this past week. However, these three have stood out, and they are still available at discounted prices. The LG G3 Series OLED TV delivers 65-inch viewing delight, while gamers can check out the powerful Lenovo Legion Pro 5i laptop with RTX 4070 dGPU onboard and smartphone fans should look at Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro price cuts.

Google introduced the Tensor series of chips with the Pixel 6 series in 2021. It was meant to usher in a range of chips specially tailored by Google to keep up with its class-leading AI-based software features. Just three Tensor chips in, and many of Google’s new AI features need to be off-loaded to the cloud for processing.

Google has pushed a new beta build to Pixel devices, which is available for the Pixel 5a onwards. Jumping right ahead to Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1, Google has implicitly confirmed that a new stable quarterly update will soon arrive for eligible Pixel devices.

Set to begin at 3:30 AM ET on November 16 in the US, this year's Black Friday deals on the Google Store will push down the tech giant's mobile flagship devices by up to US$400 (Pixel Fold). The Pixel 8 will get a US$150 price cut as well, and its Pro sibling will be dropping by a generous US$200.

Google is taking the next step towards a password-free future with the Titan Security Key, which can authenticate login processes using passkeys stored on it by simply plugging it into the USB port of a computer or connecting it wirelessly to a smartphone via NFC.

Just four weeks after its launch, the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8 are already receiving steep discounts in Australia. While it is not unusual for Google to discount its new Pixels over the Black Friday sales period, the discounts have hit early and are much larger than we’ve typically seen this early into a launch cycle.

What was once considered "big" in smartphone terms is now the norm in the industry. But one feature seems to be tied specificially to the size of the screen. If you don't like big phones, don't expect to be on the cutting edge of photography. Long zoom cameras are reserved for those with deep pockets and big hands only.

Many years of updates, a bright OLED display, a thick battery, stereo speakers, an extensive camera setup, and much more: this is the Pixel 8 Pro. But behind many of the great features also hide some details that could be dealbreakers for some.