Yes we have full reviews new flagship phones from Google as well as its first smartwatch. Phones fare better than wearables, but we’re on the seventh generation of Pixel smartphones, so that’s to be expected.
Along with new software features and the Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 Pro gets a number of additional hardware upgrades over the standard Pixel 7. There’s a longer 5x telephoto zoom, and its ultra-wide camera can take macro shots too. The Pixel 7 Pro’s battery doesn’t last as long as its smaller, cheaper sibling, but it will easily last a day. But crucially, priced at $899, the Pixel 7 Pro offers more bang for your buck than most of its rivals.
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With the $599 Pixel 7, the specs and hardware haven’t changed a ton since last year’s device, but battery life is good, lasting almost 6 p.m. during our video test. It also has a nicer matte finish than the glossy Pro. Check out our full review of both phones here.
Meanwhile, we’ve got all the big news from Microsoft, including first impressions of some new Surface PCs.
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The imperfect marriage of Google and Fitbit.
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The Pixel Watch, well, feels good. As Engadget’s Cherlynn Low puts it, it’s like a “smooth, shiny pebble.” As a smartwatch, though? The software is competent and Fitbit’s health tracking integrations are excellent. Unfortunately, the Pixel Watch has a relatively short battery life and a Fitbit Premium paywall barricades many health metrics. But if you’re looking for an Android-compatible wearable that feels as premium as Apple, this might be it.
No, you did not misread this processor model.
Microsoft
It’s been four years since we’ve had the Surface Studio 2, Microsoft’s flexible all-in-one PC. Now is the time for a, uh, slight upgrade. The Surface Studio 2+ is indeed much faster than before, thanks to Intel’s 11th Gen processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 3060 graphics. But we’ve also spent most of this year being impressed by Intel’s terrific 12th-gen hybrid chips, which deliver much better performance than 11th-gen processors. It’s not called the Surface Studio 3 for some reason I guess, but prices still start at $4,300.
Can Intel and ARM models live in harmony?
The Surface Pro 9 is pretty much what we expected: a leap to 12th Gen Intel processors. But Microsoft has surprised us with a huge redesign for its tablet PCs. There’s also a Surface Pro 9 running a custom ARM SQ3 chip, which includes built-in 5G. Choices! Either way, you get tablet PCs that can easily turn into functional laptops with their keyboard cases.
The SQ3 Arm model also has a few features that the Intel version doesn’t, thanks to its neural processor. This includes some real-time improvements to video chats, like blurring your background. According to Microsoft, it is possible to bring these features to Intel chips when they have their own neural chips, but unfortunately these are not available in Intel’s current lineup.
But how long before they can play “Doom”?
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Researchers who grew a culture of brain cells in a lab claim to have taught the cells to play a version of pong. Scientists from a biotech startup called Cortical Labs say it’s the first demonstrated example of a “mini-brain” learned to perform purposeful tasks. DishBrain received a strong, consistent feedback signal (actually a form of stimulus) when the racquet hit the ball and a short, random pulse when it missed. Apparently after playing pong for 20 minutes, the culture has improved to the game.
It launches a video doorbell, cameras and smart bulbs.
Roku is expanding beyond home theater setups and into smart home devices. The initial batch of Roku Smart Home products, which it collaborated on with Wyze, include a smart doorbell, cameras, smart bulbs, smart light strips, and smart plugs. The company didn’t reveal specs for the devices in advance, but previous reports suggested they were rebadged versions of Wyze products, including Cam v3, Cam Pan V2, and Bulb Color. You’ll also be able to use the Roku voice remote to view live camera feeds on your TV. Roku didn’t provide a price breakdown, but said its cameras “start below $27.”
Listen to music (and meetings).
It’s always nice to see something beyond what we expect from Microsoft. Microsoft has unveiled an Audio Dock which, as the name suggests, combines a speaker with a laptop hub. The design centers around an omnidirectional speaker and includes a 60W USB-C connection for charging your computer, two regular USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 jack, and a single USB-A port. The company relies heavily on the usefulness of the Audio Dock for meetings, whether from the office or the home office. You’ll find large dedicated buttons for the microphone toggle (handy for working from home) and launching Teams. Because Microsoft.
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