Google unveils eagerly awaited Pixel smartphones

Google unveiled two new smartphones to go head-to-head with Apple and outlined its plans for artificial intelligence at a San Francisco event.

The company showed off its Pixel line of smartphones, with Google’s head of hardware Rick Osterloh announcing the 5in Pixel and the 5½in Pixel XL as expected. “Phones are the most important device we own,” he said.

Much of the detail had already leaked online in recent days. The Pixel will have a choice between 32GB and 128GB of storage and come with 4GB of RAM. The phone will run Qualcomm’s latest 821 processor, have an AMOLED screen and A fingerprint scanner.

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Left to right: Google wifi, Google Chromecast Ultra, Google Home, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel and Google Dreamview VR on display during the presentation of the company’s new hardware in San Francisco. Photograph: Reuters

The phones have 12.3 megapixel rear-facing cameras with optical image stabilisation and eight megapixel front cameras. Smartburst, HDR+ and low-shutter lag are also included.

It comes with a rear glass panel and a polished aluminium case, and “no unsightly camera bump”, said Mr Osterloh.

He said the Pixel brand had always represented the best of hardware and software built by Google.

“The technology needs to be smart and just work for you,” said Mr Osterloh. “That’s why we believe the next innovation is going to take place between hardware and software, with AI at the centre.”

Artificial intelligence

Chief executive Sundar Pichai kicked off the event by outlining the company’s progress in machine learning and its plans for the technology.

“It is clear to me that we are morphing from a mobile-first to an AI-first world,” he said. “Our goal is to build a personal google for each and every user.”

Google has already used its Assistant technology in its Allo messaging app. And Mr Pichai said it would be brought to “two new surfaces” – your phone and your homes.

Pixel will be the first phone to have Assistant built in.

Mr Osterloh also emphasised the phone would never run out of space, with free storage for video and photographs at original resolution, and Clay Bavor took to the stage to outline the phone’s compatibility with Daydream, Google’s virtual reality (VR) platform. He also showed off the Daydream View, Google’s VR headset.

Google also showcased its Amazon Echo competitor, Google Home, a new wifi hub and the Chromecast Ultra 4K streaming device. Google Home is only available in the US and will launch on November 4th.