Alphabet Inc’s Google has told suppliers to start making its Pixel smartphones in India by next quarter at the earliest, as part of its plan to ship more than 10 million Pixel phones this year, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday.
Google would start manufacturing smartphones in India and its flagship Pixel 8 will be available in 2024, it said last October, as it focuses more on a key growth market.
The move will also help Google diversify its supply chain away from China, the Nikkei report said, citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
The tech giant will prepare production lines for its high-end Pixel 8 Pro smartphones in the coming weeks and start producing phones in the April-June quarter, the report added, citing multiple sources.
The report did not say how many phones Google plans to manufacture India nor if the phones will be for sale in the country or for exports.
Google did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Google Pixel 8 series, with a base Pixel 8 and a Pixel 8 Pro model, was unveiled in October 2023. These two handsets are expected to be joined by a Pixel 8a model. The company has yet to confirm the smartphone, but it has surfaced online several times. Over the past few months, details about the purported phone have suggested some expected features and design elements. A new report indicates that the Google Pixel 8a, expected to launch later this year, was spotted on a certification site that hinted at the handset’s battery details.
A 91Mobiles report claims to have spotted a Google Pixel phone with the model number GH2MB on the UL Demko certification website. The listing suggests that the phone may come with a battery with a rated capacity of 4,942mAh, likely to be listed with a typical capacity of 5,000mAh. The report says that the model could be the Google Pixel 8a. This suggests a considerable upgrade over the Google Pixel 7a‘s 4,385mAh battery.
However, the report notes that since Google is known to pack larger batteries into its flagship models, this listing could also be a Google Pixel 9 series handset. For instance, the Pixel 8 Pro carries a 5,050mAh battery, whereas the base Google Pixel 8 model is backed by a 4,575mAh battery.
The Google Pixel 8a is expected to be announced in May this year at the company’s I/O event. The purported model is expected to support 27W wired charging and measure 152.1mm x 72.6mm x 8.9mm in size. Leaked retail packaging of the handset showed it in a black colour option with a dual camera setup alongside an LED flash arranged horizontally on a raised, visor-like camera module. Previously, leaked renders of the smartphone have appeared with a similar design to the base Pixel 8 model.
The Google Pixel 8 launched in India at Rs. 75,999 for the 8GB + 128GB option, while the 8GB + 256GB model was listed at Rs. 82,999. The Pixel 8 Pro is priced at Rs. 1,06,999 for the 12GB + 128GB variant, and the high-end 12GB + 256GB option is marked at Rs. 1,13,999.
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Google’s last Pixel Feature Drop for 2023, has finally arrived. It brings a ton of new features that will arrive on new and recent Pixel smartphones. Some of these updates also have features that trickle down to other Pixel ecosystem devices. While the highlight of this update includes some new generative AI features that use Google’s recently announced Gemini Nano AI model, these are currently tied down to the Pixel 8 Pro only. Still, there’s plenty to look forward to for those who own older Pixel devices as well.
Google today introduced its new Gemini AI model which has been made available in three different sizes – Ultra, Pro and Nano. According to Google, Gemini Nano is the most efficient model and is the one being used in the Pixel 8 Pro in particular to handle some AI generated tasks locally on the smartphone, without the need to be connected to the internet or the cloud. This includes a new Summarise feature in the Recorder app, which will deliver summaries of recorded conversations, interviews and more without connecting to the internet. Another Gemini Nano AI-driven feature is Smart Reply which has been made available in the GBoard keyboard app. The feature is currently available as a developer preview and works with certain apps only (will be coming to more apps next year). Pixel 8 Pro owners can demo the feature in WhatsApp currently letting them automatically generate replies based on the current chat conversation.
Moving away from the Gemini Nano model, the Pixel 8 Pro gains another feature that according to Google utilises its Tensor G3 processor. Video Boost will now be available for Pixel 8 Pro owners. After enabling the feature in the camera app, all users have to do is shoot a video like they normally would, while Google saves a separate copy of the same video in a different format. Once both videos are uploaded to the cloud, Google’s computational photography models will adjust parameters like colour, lighting, stabilisation, and graininess, helping make videos appear better. Video Boost also works with Night Sight video (once again on Pixel 8 Pro) resulting in videos that have richer colour and more detail once processed in the cloud. The end product is then downloaded back to the phone and replaces the original recorded video on it.
The new Smart Reply feature works with WhatsApp Photo Credit: Google
Both Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 8 owners will also get access to a new Night Sight timelapse feature (found in the same camera mode) letting them shoot timelapse videos with better dynamic range and overall clarity.
The Pixel Fold, apart from the new tools mentioned above, also gets access to a Dual Screen Preview. It lets your subjects view themselves when shooting a photo by looking at themselves in the second preview on the Fold’s cover display.
Moving to older devices (Pixel 7 Pro up to the Pixel 6a), a new Portrait Light tool is available in the Photos app that lets users get rid of harsh shadows and improve the overall lighting of any photos that are stored on the same app, regardless of whether it was shot on a Pixel or not. The Photo Unblur tool also gets some added functionality and now works with dogs and cats as well. Once again, this works regardless of where the source image comes from. Users can also use their Pixel phones as webcam by simply plugging in the USB cable into a computer and selecting ‘Webcam’ in USB preferences. There’s also a Clean feature which can help remove smudges, stains and more from scanned documents.
Repair Mode finally comes to Pixel devices Photo Credit: Google
Photo and camera-centric features aside, Google’s push for passkeys gets stronger with Password Manager now being able to identify apps, services or accounts that support the same, letting you add them when available.
Call Screen, a feature that’s not available in India yet, now makes its way to the Pixel Watch. Owners of the Pixel Watch can now also automatically unlock other Pixel devices when nearby, reducing the need to manually enter a password to unlock them, in case your hands are busy. Users of the first gen Pixel Watch can now also sync their Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Modes from one device to the other. Pixel Tablet also gets AI-enhanced Clear Calling and now supports spatial audio with head tracking when connected to Pixel Buds Pro.
Last but not the least comes the much-awaited Repair Mode. The feature basically keeps your personal data protected when handing over your Pixel device to a service centre for repairs. It mainly reduces the need for users to format or erase their devices when getting them serviced.
You can head here to check whether your Pixel device supports a particular feature from the December Feature Drop. The update is rolling out gradually and will reach supported Pixel devices over the next weeks.
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Google’s Messages app has reportedly added Ultra HDR support in RCS (Rich Communication Services) chats. This functionality will allow users to share high-quality images in their RCS messages. The Ultra HDR image format is available on devices running on Android 14. Google’s new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro handsets are among the first to receive the new feature. Google Messages app already offers features like typing indicators, and photo and video sharing among others.
As spotted by TheSpAndroid, Google Messages has gained support for Ultra HDR images in RCS chats. This would let users improve their messaging experience by exchanging Ultra HDR images on RCS chats. Ultra HDR is a new image format that is available on Android 14. Currently, Google’s Pixel 8 lineup is the only Ultra HDR-capable device available.
As per the APK teardown of the app spotted by the publication, the code “bugle.support_ultra_hdr” suggests support for Ultra HDR images in Google Messages. Google reportedly added support for Ultra HDR images back in September just ahead of the launch of the Pixel 8 series.
The Ultra HDR image format was introduced by Google with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. It is a variation of the standard JPEG format with HDR metadata and offers a better image experience with detailed highlights and shadows. The Ultra HDR images can be viewed on HDR and non-HDR displays.
Google Messages already offers several messaging features including read receipts, typing indicators, inline replies, group chats, video calls, and more in RCS chats.
Google’s major rival Apple is planning to bring the RCS protocol to iPhone models in 2024. The new RCS standard will work alongside iMessage. It will debut on iPhone models via a software update next year and add a wide range of iMessage-style features to messaging between iPhone and Android devices.
Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Google is gearing up for its Black Friday deals in the US, bringing lucrative discounts to its wide lineup of products. Black Friday falls on November 24 this year, kicking off the holiday shopping season in the US. Most brands offer deep discounts on their products around this time and Google has already announced its Black Friday deals on its store, with a timer counting down to when users can avail them. Deals on the Google Store will go live on November 16, according to the company. The search giant is providing sizable discounts on its latest Pixel 8 series, the Pixel Tablet, and its first foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold.
The Pixel Fold, which launched earlier this year in May, gets a $400 discount to sell at $1,399, down from its retail price of $1,799, during the Black Friday sale. The Pixel Fold is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip and features a 5.8-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,092 pixels) OLED outer display that pairs with a 7.6-inch inner display (1,840 x 2,208 pixels).
The recently launched Pixel 8 series also gets discounted on Black Friday. The $699 base Pixel 8 gets a $150 price drop, selling at $549 on Google Store. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro gets a $200 discount to sell at $799. The older Pixel 7a, which came out in May, receives a discount as well, selling at $374 during Black Friday.
In addition to Google’s handsets, the Pixel Tablet also receives a $100 discount to sell at $399. Launched earlier this year at the Google I/O event, the Pixel Tablet sports a 10.95-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) screen.
Google is also selling its wearables and audio devices at reduced prices as part of its Black Friday deals. The Pixel Watch and the Pixel Buds Pro both get a price cut of $80, selling at $199.99 and $119.99, respectively. The Pixel Buds A series, which usually sells at $99, can be bought for $59 on the Google Store, starting November 16.
Aside from its smartphones and wearables, a host of other Google devices like the Chromecast with Google TV, Nest Hub, and Nest Wi-Fi Pro, among others, will be sold at reduced prices as part of the company’s Black Friday deals on its store. The offers go live on November 16 and users in the US can sign up for email updates and get an additional $10 discount on their next purchase. It’s worth noting that these deals are only available on the Google Store to customers in the US.
Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Google Pixel 8 Pro was launched in India on October 4 at the company’s Made by Google 2023 event. It went on sale, alongside Google Pixel 8, on October 12. At the time of the debut last month, the company released the Pro variant in a single 12GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, which was priced at Rs. 1,06,999. The smartphone was available in three colour variants — Bay, Obsidian, and Porcelain. Now, exactly a month later, Google has launched another storage model for the Pixel 8 Pro.
As posted by tipster Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24)on X, the company has released a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant of the smartphone in India. While the Pixel 8 Pro new storage model is priced at Rs. 1,13,999, interested buyers can also avail bank offers. For purchase made through SBI Bank Credit Card, one can get an off of Rs. 9,000, while there is also an exchange bonus of up to Rs. 4,000.
In India, the new variant of the Google Pixel 8 Pro comes only in Obsidian colour option, unlike the 128GB storage variant that has three choices for colours. It is important to note here that Google Pixel 8 Pro 12GB RAM and 128GB storage model can be purchased at Rs. 1,06,999, bundled with the same bank offers as mentioned above.
In terms of specifications, the handset runs on Android 14 out-of-the-box. It sports a 6.7-inch Quad-HD (1,344×2,992 pixels) screen and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Google Pixel 8 Pro is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 SoC and the Titan M2 security chip.
It houses a triple rear camera unit, led a 50-megapixel main sensor, and two 48-megapixel sensors. Meanwhile, for selfies, there is a 10.5-megapixel front camera. The Pixel 8 Pro is backed by a 5050mAh battery with support for 30W wired charging.
Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Google’s Pixel smartphones were never perfect, while they are currently known for their photo editing capabilities today, the company has come a long way from the first Pixel and Pixel XL models, in terms of build quality and performance. Google is able to pull off some interesting tricks with its latest Tensor G3 processor, like Magic Editor and AI noise reduction in videos, but it still seems to be behind the competition when it comes to performance. We aren’t just talking about raw performance, but Pixel owners have taken to various forums posting about poor battery life, heating issues and more.
According to Android Police, many Pixel 8 owners have posted on both Reddit and Google’s support forum, in an effort to find solutions. A user on Reddit has complained about poor battery life claiming that it could be down to the phone’s outdated modem. The user complained that the new Pixel 8 manages about 5-6 hours at the most where the Pixel 7 on average delivered 7-8 hours of usage. The user went on to blame the modem, which is the same as on the Pixel 7, when Google should have included a better one given the newer phone’s noticeably higher price tag.
Meanwhile, another user on Google’s support website claims that a recently purchased Pixel 8 managed under 3 hours of screen time. Turning off 5G and Wi-Fi had reportedly helped improve battery life to an extent.
On the XDA forums, users have been complaining about the Pixel 8 series phones running warm with regular use, especially when used on a cellular connection. Some users even claimed that 5G connectivity consumes battery life a lot faster than 4G connectivity. The phone also heats up less when connected to a 4G network.
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were launched alongside the new Pixel Watch 2, which is also said to bring several improvements over the previous model, even though it has not seen a proper design refresh. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro on the other hand have gotten slighlty updated designs and refreshed internals that bring new features, which are currently only possible on the new models with the Tensor G3 SoC. While the Pixel 8 has received fewer changes, the Pixel 8 Pro has also gotten a manual camera mode along with a new temperature sensor, which can be used to measure the temperature of various materials. You can read our first impressions of the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro here.
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Samsung not too long ago introduced a new feature called Maintenance Mode for its Galaxy devices. This mode can be used by the device owner and activated prior to handing over the device to a service technician at a service centre. The Maintenance Mode by Samsung basically creates a new user profile, locking the main user’s data once the mode is activated. Samsung came up with this feature so that users will not need to backup and reset their smartphones when handing it over for service. This also reduces the need to log into a fresh device and setup everything all over again. According to a recent report, Google too is working on such a mode for its Pixel devices. But now it seems that Google is also working to add the feature natively to all of its Android-powered smartphones.
Called “Repair Mode” the code was spotted by Mishaal Rahman who claims that it will work natively and can be activated and deactivated by using the preferred authentication method set by the user. As per Rahman, Google’s system works very differently compared to Samsung’s Maintenance Mode.
While Samsung’s Maintenance Mode creates a new user profile, Google’s approach to the same basically simulates a factory reset. This is accomplished using a mechanism called Dynamic System Updates (DSU), which was introduced in Android 10. DSU basically makes it possible to boot without overwriting the existing installation, which preserves the user’s data.
The swapping happens in the very next boot, which is when the original system is replaced by the new data image. It was only until Android 14, where it was possible to swap out just the data partition (like with a factory reset), leaving the original data intact. And this is probably what’s happening when a user activates Repair Mode on a Pixel device.
According to Rahman, once Google activates the new Repair Mode in the source, smartphone makers will be able to decide if they want to use their own version of repair mode versus Google’s soon to be native Repair Mode. As for the user, who hands over their phone for service, the technician servicing the phone will basically see a factory reset phone, which can then be used to test out hardware during a service. Google is expected to first release Repair Mode as a feature in the December Pixel feature drop.
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Google on Thursday announced that it plans to start manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India. The search giant will produce the Pixel 8 in India and the first units are expected to be available in 2024. The Pixel 8 was launched by the company in India and global markets earlier this month, alongside the more premium Pixel 8 Pro model. The handset is powered by a custom Google Tensor G3 chip and a Titan M2 security chip. The phone has a dual rear camera setup and is claimed to offer up to 72 hours of battery life with the Extreme Battery Saver mode.
Seven years after the launch of its first Pixel-branded smartphone, the company announced at its Google for India 2023 event that it plans to manufacture its smartphones in India. The company will start by assembling the Pixel 8 in India, and says that it will work with both local and foreign manufacturers.
The production of the Pixel 8 — and presumably Google’s subsequent Pixel smartphones — in India is expected to commence in 2024, according to the company. Customers can expect to see Pixel 8 units manufactured in India by next year.
The announcement makes Google the latest smartphone brand to start manufacturing its handsets in India. Rivals Samsung and Apple also assemble some of their smartphones in the country. However, it is currently unclear whether the pricing of Google’s Pixel handsets will drop once more units are manufactured in the country.
Meanwhile, Google also announced that it plans to expand coverage of its service network to more cities and locations across the country — the company currently offers support in 28 service centres located in 27 cities that are operated by F1 Info Solutions.
“This is an early step in a long journey of expanding our device production capacity and helping meet the country’s growing demand for Pixel smartphones,” Senior VP for Devices and Services Rick Osterloh said on Thursday.
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Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro debuted earlier this month during the Made by Google event with an impressive mix of premium features. Now, the tech giant is bringing an audio quality upgrade for the latest flagship Pixel lineup. Google has confirmed that lossless USB audio will come to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in a future update, allowing music fans to experience their favourite tracks without alteration and any loss of quality. Besides the Pixel 8 series, phones from other manufacturers running on Android 14 will also gain this functionality and app developers will have to adopt the new API (application programming interface) for lossless audio to take advantage of the feature.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything session for Android 14, Dave Burke, Google’s Vice President of Engineering, confirmed that lossless USB audio is coming to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. He notes that this feature will “ensure bit perfect audio” allowing audio to bypass the audio mixer and any processing effects among others. “Pixel 8 and other OEMs are expected to support this mode in their hardware abstraction layer (HAL) implementations in later releases. App developers will need to adopt the new API for lossless audio to take advantage of it.” he said.
The lossless USB audio will be available on the Pixel 8 series and other Android phones in a future release. With this development, music lovers can soon listen to their favourite songs in their purest form with all subtle details, without any processing effects over compatible USB-wired headsets. Music streaming apps like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Tidal already offer lossless audio.
Google is also expected to support display output over the USB Type-C port and could enable this feature in the future through an update. This would allow the handset to drive an attached monitor. The company is yet to confirm the development, though known tipster MishaalRahman (@MishaalRahman) has reported it works and even suggested a method for enabling DisplayPort Alt Mode aka video output over USB Type-C port on Pixel 8 series smartphones. Now, an X user @mile_freak07 has revealed that he was able to get video output over the USB Type-C port working on a Pixel 8 Pro using this method. He also posted a Magisk module on the Xda-developers forum that can enable this quickly on other rooted Pixel 8 handsets.
Both Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are currently up for sale in India via Flipkart. The vanilla model’s price starts at Rs. 75,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model, while the Pixel 8 Pro is priced at Rs. 1,06,999 for the 12GB RAM + 128GB storage model.
Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
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