Google’s big Brooklyn show wasn’t your average tech keynote. Picture it: Jimmy Fallon cracking jokes, the Jonas Brothers on stage, Steph Curry dropping by, and Lando Norris firing up the crowd. But once the celebrity dust settled, the real story was clear. Google is all in on AI. And whether they said it out loud or not, Apple was the target in the crosshairs.
Pixel 10 Series: More Brains, More Shine
The stars of the night were the four new phones: Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold. They all run the new Tensor G5 with Gemini Nano built in. Translation? The AI lives on your device now, not just in the cloud.
Here’s what stood out:
- The regular Pixel 10 finally grows up with a triple-lens camera that includes a 5× telephoto. Concert shots in a sweaty crowd? Now actually clear.
- The screen goes up to 3,000 nits of brightness, so scrolling in full sunlight is no longer an issue.
- The Pro models bring a wild 100× Pro Res Zoom, where AI fills in details you didn’t capture. It’s equal parts genius and “hmm, did that detail ever exist?”
- The Pixel 10 Pro Fold feels ready for daily use with IP68 water resistance, a stronger hinge, and a gorgeous 8-inch inner display.
AI Everywhere: Google Can’t Stop Showing Off
The hardware looked sharp, but the real fireworks came from Google stuffing AI into every corner of the experience.
- Magic Cue sits in your Daily Hub, surfacing the right info at the right time. Talking about dinner plans? OpenTable pops up. Mention travel? Your itinerary is already there.
- Gemini Live adds live visual overlays in conversations, pointing out exactly what it’s referencing.
- Voice Translate now mimics your voice in another language during calls. A little eerie, but undeniably cool.
- Camera Coach gives you live tips for better photos. Less “guess and hope,” more “shoot like a pro.”
- And because it’s 2025, Google throws in a year of AI Pro for Pixel 10 buyers.
Pixel Watch 4 and Buds 2a: Sidekicks That Actually Matter
Usually the accessories are filler. Not this time.
- Pixel Watch 4 is brighter, sleeker, and lasts longer. It charges to 50% in 15 minutes, and you can replace the battery and display when they wear out. That’s huge.
- Pixel Buds 2a finally bring proper Active Noise Cancellation, and yes, you can swap out the batteries yourself. Less waste, more savings.
- Pixel Buds Pro 2 add adaptive audio and slick gesture controls. AirPods are starting to feel a little stale.
Apple Shade: Google Didn’t Hold Back
Google never said Apple’s name directly, but the jabs were crystal clear.
- Broken promises. Rick Osterloh went straight for the jugular: “A lot of hype, a lot of broken promises. Gemini is the real deal.” That was Siri catching strays.
- Live beats pre-recorded. Osterloh hyped up Google’s live event as a “game-changing launch.” You don’t need to squint to see the comparison to Apple’s pre-recorded showcases.
- Open vs closed. Adrienne Lofton fired shots at Apple’s walled garden: “Some companies build their phones to lock you in. Android is the most open platform, built for freedom of choice.”
- MagSafe compatibility. Lofton casually mentioned Pixel 10 works with Apple’s MagSafe gear. Fallon joked about her saying “the A-word,” and she coolly replied, “we can say anyone’s name we want on this stage.”
- Bubble wars are done. Lofton called the blue versus green text fight “silly and tired,” pointing out that with RCS now standard, the drama is over.
Why It Matters
This wasn’t just another phone launch. It was Google laying down a marker. The Pixel 10 series feels like the most complete lineup they’ve ever shipped. The AI features are designed to quietly make life easier instead of just looking good on a spec sheet. And the accessories? Finally serious players.
By positioning Apple as the one lagging behind, Google has made the competition personal.
Apple, I hope you’ve got your response queued up—because the timing has never been more urgent.
