Google Announces New Pixel Phones, Nest Audio and Chromecast with Google TV

Google had a pretty sneaky announcement event late last night, with a bunch of new products. Here’s what you need to know about the Google Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Nest Audio and Chromecast with Google TV.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

Credit: Google

One of the first Google Pixel phones to come with 5G, it’s an update to the Google Pixel 4a that we reviewed previously and absolutely loved.

There have been some big changes, namely a bigger battery (3885mAh vs 3140mAh), a bigger screen (6.2″ vs 5.8″), a better processor (Snapdragon 765G vs 730) and the addition of a 16MP ultrawide lens on the rear.

There’s also a new Cinematic Pan feature, which essentially activates stabilisation when shooting videos for ultrasmooth panning shots. Night Sight is also now available for use in Portrait mode, so users can capture images with blurred backgrounds even in low light situations.

Unfortunately, the phone will not be available in Singapore at launch and there is no news on when it will be coming to stores here. The phone will be available at launch in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, UK and USA.

Google Pixel 5

Credit: Google

Unlike previous change in models, the Pixel 5 looks quite similar to the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G. There are some improvements in terms of specs, but it’s not a huge jump.

First off, the RAM has been increased from 6GB to 8GB, the phone is using the same Snapdragon 765G chip the 4a 5G is and the screen is a 6″ OLED display that supports 90Hz refresh rate.

Additionally, there’s now IPX8 water resistance, reverse wireless charging and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front. Google has taken away the 3.5mm headphone port, however, which is still present on the 4a and 4a 5G phones.

And of course, Cinematic Pan and Night Sight in Portrait mode are also available on the Pixel 5. Again, the Pixel 5 is not available in Singapore at launch, and it’s unclear if it will be brought in by Google. The phone will be available at launch in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, UK and USA.

Nest Audio

Credit: Google

Google has launched a new speaker, with an emphasis on music this time. The Nest Audio certainly looks interesting, with a rectangular shape and rounded corners.

Google claims that this speaker is 75% louder than the original Google Home speaker, and has 50% better bass response thanks to the 75mm bass woofer and 19mm tweeter.

The speaker enclosure is made of 70% recycled plastic, and you get the trademark fabric covering. It’s definitely a nice touch for Google to be using recycled materials in their products.

And as always, the Nest Audio can control smart home devices with your voice, play music and do everything else the other Google speakers can. For people worried about privacy, there’s a physical switch on the rear that turns off the microphones when activated.

The speaker is now available for preorder in Singapore at a price of S$139 each, with a discount of S$42 if a pair is bought together.

Chromecast with Google TV

Credit: Google

Google is also launching an all-new Chromecast dongle, that comes with a remote this time. Thanks to this remote, users will now be able to control their Chromecast with their voice if they so prefer. There are also dedicated YouTube and Netflix buttons on the remote for easy access.

That’s not the biggest thing though. Google has put in Google TV, a new experience, into the Chromecast. Google TV brings together shows, movies, live TV and more from the user’s subscriptions and organises them, helping users find what to watch next.

Titles trending on Google Search will also be able to be seen, thus allowing users to always find something that’s timely.

The new Chromecast with Google TV is now available in the US and will be coming to other countries by the end of the year. It’s still unclear if it will be coming to Singapore.