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The base Pixel 9 is one of four new models, starting at $799. | Image: Google

At its most recent Made by Google event, the monopolistic search giant announced four new phones: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This is more phones than Google has ever sold at once — especially when you throw in the midrange Pixel 8A from May — making the decision on which to get somewhat confusing.

So, we thought it might be helpful to explain the key differences and similarities between the four new models and succinctly lay out all the finer specs for you to peruse. Hopefully, this will help you choose between the new Pixels, which are set to launch in waves on August 22nd and September 4th.
The biggest differences between Pixel 9 phones: price and size
What immediately separates most of the Pixel 9 phones from one another is size and price. The base Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 60 to 120Hz and a starting price of $799 for 128GB of storage, which is $100 more than the Pixel 8’s starting price.
The next step up is a dual-prong approach to the “Pro” spec, which now consists of the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro starting at $999 and the larger 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL starting at $1,099 (both Pros have OLED displays with 1 to 120Hz refresh rate and 128GB of base storage).
At the top of the range is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the sequel to last year’s Pixel Fold, which now arrives alongside the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, thus making it less of an outlier. The 9 Pro Fold sports a 6.3-inch OLED outer screen (60 to 120Hz) and an eight-inch, tablet-like inner screen (1 to 120Hz); it starts at $1,799 with 256GB of storage.
A new processor for all and somewhat new cameras (for some)
Where all Pixel 9 phones are united is in their OS longevity and choice of processor, as all models offer seven years of Android updates and utilize Google’s new Tensor G4 system-on-chip. This is a change from last year when the Pixel Fold came in mid-2023, before the G3-powered Pixel 8 generation, and was based on the G2 chipset from 2022.

But one of the biggest determining factors for people in choosing a phone is the camera(s). There’s a bit of a hierarchy here, with the high-end Pixel 9 Pro Fold getting a triple-camera array with lower specs than the others — including the Pixel 9, which relies on a dual-camera array. In fact, the 9 Pro Fold’s camera specs sound a lot more like last year’s Fold than they do the rest of the Pixel 9 range, which feature 50-megapixel standard wide cameras and 48-megapixel ultrawides (with 48-megapixel telephotos on the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL). Yet, let’s not forget that the 50-megapixel sensor utilized by three-fourths of the Pixel 9 range sounds pretty similar to last year’s Pixel 8.
Here are the detailed specs, side by side, to dive into at your leisure.

So, what do you think? Is one of these new Pixel 9 phones appealing enough for you? Does Google’s shotgun approach of four new options all at once have you thrilled for the luxury of choice or baffled by analysis paralysis?
I’d be lying if I said the thought of a “Pro” phone at a more modest size wasn’t appealing. But then there’s always that temptation of the bigger battery in a surfboard-sized phone. Let us know what you think in the comments.

The base Pixel 9 is one of four new models, starting at $799. | Image: Google

At its most recent Made by Google event, the monopolistic search giant announced four new phones: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This is more phones than Google has ever sold at once — especially when you throw in the midrange Pixel 8A from May — making the decision on which to get somewhat confusing.

So, we thought it might be helpful to explain the key differences and similarities between the four new models and succinctly lay out all the finer specs for you to peruse. Hopefully, this will help you choose between the new Pixels, which are set to launch in waves on August 22nd and September 4th.

The biggest differences between Pixel 9 phones: price and size

What immediately separates most of the Pixel 9 phones from one another is size and price. The base Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 60 to 120Hz and a starting price of $799 for 128GB of storage, which is $100 more than the Pixel 8’s starting price.

The next step up is a dual-prong approach to the “Pro” spec, which now consists of the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro starting at $999 and the larger 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL starting at $1,099 (both Pros have OLED displays with 1 to 120Hz refresh rate and 128GB of base storage).

At the top of the range is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the sequel to last year’s Pixel Fold, which now arrives alongside the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, thus making it less of an outlier. The 9 Pro Fold sports a 6.3-inch OLED outer screen (60 to 120Hz) and an eight-inch, tablet-like inner screen (1 to 120Hz); it starts at $1,799 with 256GB of storage.

A new processor for all and somewhat new cameras (for some)

Where all Pixel 9 phones are united is in their OS longevity and choice of processor, as all models offer seven years of Android updates and utilize Google’s new Tensor G4 system-on-chip. This is a change from last year when the Pixel Fold came in mid-2023, before the G3-powered Pixel 8 generation, and was based on the G2 chipset from 2022.

But one of the biggest determining factors for people in choosing a phone is the camera(s). There’s a bit of a hierarchy here, with the high-end Pixel 9 Pro Fold getting a triple-camera array with lower specs than the others — including the Pixel 9, which relies on a dual-camera array. In fact, the 9 Pro Fold’s camera specs sound a lot more like last year’s Fold than they do the rest of the Pixel 9 range, which feature 50-megapixel standard wide cameras and 48-megapixel ultrawides (with 48-megapixel telephotos on the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL). Yet, let’s not forget that the 50-megapixel sensor utilized by three-fourths of the Pixel 9 range sounds pretty similar to last year’s Pixel 8.

Here are the detailed specs, side by side, to dive into at your leisure.

So, what do you think? Is one of these new Pixel 9 phones appealing enough for you? Does Google’s shotgun approach of four new options all at once have you thrilled for the luxury of choice or baffled by analysis paralysis?

I’d be lying if I said the thought of a “Pro” phone at a more modest size wasn’t appealing. But then there’s always that temptation of the bigger battery in a surfboard-sized phone. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Read More 

Image: Paramount

Ahead of its upcoming merger with Skydance Media, Paramount is winding down its TV production studio as part of a larger restructuring effort that will put 15 percent of its current workforce out of jobs.
In a memo sent to employees today and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount TV head Nicole Clemens and Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks announced that Paramount Global is shuttering the studio. Clemens, who joined Paramount in 2018 following former exec Amy Powell’s sudden exit, is also set to leave the company, and all of Paramount’s currently airing TV series and projects still in development will transition to CBS Studios.
In the memo, Clemens and Cheeks insisted that while Paramount TV is coming to an end, “our ethos will live on in shows that will continue to be enjoyed by global audiences for years to come.” Last week, Paramount said that in order to bring down its spending costs, it was preparing to slash its headcount by 15 percent across its marketing, comms, tech, and finance divisions. That plan was always meant to be rolled out in three phases, and today, Cheeks and fellow co-CEOs Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins shared in a memo of their own that 90 percent of those job cuts should be finished by this September.
“The industry continues to evolve, and Paramount is at an inflection point where changes must be made to strengthen our business,” the CEOs said. “And while these actions are often difficult, we are confident in our direction forward.”

Image: Paramount

Ahead of its upcoming merger with Skydance Media, Paramount is winding down its TV production studio as part of a larger restructuring effort that will put 15 percent of its current workforce out of jobs.

In a memo sent to employees today and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount TV head Nicole Clemens and Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks announced that Paramount Global is shuttering the studio. Clemens, who joined Paramount in 2018 following former exec Amy Powell’s sudden exit, is also set to leave the company, and all of Paramount’s currently airing TV series and projects still in development will transition to CBS Studios.

In the memo, Clemens and Cheeks insisted that while Paramount TV is coming to an end, “our ethos will live on in shows that will continue to be enjoyed by global audiences for years to come.” Last week, Paramount said that in order to bring down its spending costs, it was preparing to slash its headcount by 15 percent across its marketing, comms, tech, and finance divisions. That plan was always meant to be rolled out in three phases, and today, Cheeks and fellow co-CEOs Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins shared in a memo of their own that 90 percent of those job cuts should be finished by this September.

“The industry continues to evolve, and Paramount is at an inflection point where changes must be made to strengthen our business,” the CEOs said. “And while these actions are often difficult, we are confident in our direction forward.”

Read More 

Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge

A Texas judge who was assigned two cases involving Elon Musk’s X platform has recused himself from one of them, shortly after a report that he owns stock in Tesla.
US District Court Judge Reed O’Connor was assigned to X’s recent antitrust lawsuit against advertisers over their boycott of the service, as well as a separate case against Media Matters, which the company sued for a report showing that X displayed ads from major brands next to pro-Nazi content. On Tuesday, O’Connor filed a notice to the court clerk recusing himself from the antitrust lawsuit. He still appears to be assigned to the Media Matters case as of Tuesday afternoon.
The recusal came just a few days after NPR reported on O’Connor’s Tesla stock holdings, which, according to a financial disclosure, fall between $15,001 and $50,000. Musk, of course, is Tesla’s CEO.
The report raised questions about O’Connor’s impartiality and X’s motivations in bringing the suits in this particular court. NPR reported that the federal court in northern Texas, unlike many other courts where judges are randomly assigned, doles out cases to judges based on which division they’re filed in. That gives plaintiffs an unusual level of certainty in who will likely hear their case. X and the suits’ defendants are not based in Texas, though Musk said recently he plans to move it to Texas. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Critics have accused X of forum shopping, or looking for a sympathetic judge or district to file its cases. Their argument is underscored by the fact that antitrust experts think X will have a tough time proving advertisers’ boycott violated the law. Former DOJ antitrust chief Bill Baer told the BBC that in general, “a politically motivated boycott is not an antitrust violation. It is protected speech under our First Amendment.”
Musk’s lawsuits have already been able to punish opponents with legal fees. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), an advertiser coalition created by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), a defendant in X’s suit, reportedly disbanded in the wake of the complaint. Business Insider reported that the group felt it needed to use its limited funds to fight the suit.
X’s legal strategy has backfired in a different recent lawsuit, though. A California judge dismissed X’s suit against the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate, saying the suit was about “punishing the Defendants for their speech.”

Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge

A Texas judge who was assigned two cases involving Elon Musk’s X platform has recused himself from one of them, shortly after a report that he owns stock in Tesla.

US District Court Judge Reed O’Connor was assigned to X’s recent antitrust lawsuit against advertisers over their boycott of the service, as well as a separate case against Media Matters, which the company sued for a report showing that X displayed ads from major brands next to pro-Nazi content. On Tuesday, O’Connor filed a notice to the court clerk recusing himself from the antitrust lawsuit. He still appears to be assigned to the Media Matters case as of Tuesday afternoon.

The recusal came just a few days after NPR reported on O’Connor’s Tesla stock holdings, which, according to a financial disclosure, fall between $15,001 and $50,000. Musk, of course, is Tesla’s CEO.

The report raised questions about O’Connor’s impartiality and X’s motivations in bringing the suits in this particular court. NPR reported that the federal court in northern Texas, unlike many other courts where judges are randomly assigned, doles out cases to judges based on which division they’re filed in. That gives plaintiffs an unusual level of certainty in who will likely hear their case. X and the suits’ defendants are not based in Texas, though Musk said recently he plans to move it to Texas. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Critics have accused X of forum shopping, or looking for a sympathetic judge or district to file its cases. Their argument is underscored by the fact that antitrust experts think X will have a tough time proving advertisers’ boycott violated the law. Former DOJ antitrust chief Bill Baer told the BBC that in general, “a politically motivated boycott is not an antitrust violation. It is protected speech under our First Amendment.”

Musk’s lawsuits have already been able to punish opponents with legal fees. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), an advertiser coalition created by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), a defendant in X’s suit, reportedly disbanded in the wake of the complaint. Business Insider reported that the group felt it needed to use its limited funds to fight the suit.

X’s legal strategy has backfired in a different recent lawsuit, though. A California judge dismissed X’s suit against the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate, saying the suit was about “punishing the Defendants for their speech.”

Read More 

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Apparently, turning the cliched “enhance!” meme into reality wasn’t as easy as Google might have initially expected. Today, the company confirmed in a blog post that Zoom Enhance is finally rolling out to the Pixel 8 Pro and will also be present on the Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold at launch.
Google announced the AI-powered Zoom Enhance during last year’s Made by Google event, but we’ve made it all the way to a new generation of phones, and only now is the software feature ready for release. “When you pinch in, Zoom Enhance can intelligently sharpen and enhance the details of your images, so you can get closer than ever, even when you forget to zoom” is how Google’s hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, explained the feature last October.
Fast-forward to today, and Google describes it as such:
Zoom Enhance intelligently fills in the gaps between pixels and predicts fine details for high-quality, post-capture zoom results. It will be available on Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and is rolling out to Pixel 8 Pro starting today.
As my former colleague Jon Porter wrote last year, enhance has been seen in “countless sci-fi movies and police procedural shows that have shown characters zooming impossibly far into photos to reveal clues and details that simply could not have been present in the original image.” The example of Zoom Enhance in Google’s latest blog post isn’t exactly mind-blowing, so it’s possible the company has dialed back its ambitions while developing this feature.
Zoom Enhance joins a slew of new camera software tricks coming to Google’s new Pixels — like Add Me, Reimagine in Magic Editor, and more — and this time, all of them will be available when the phones ship. Seems like Google learned its lesson in that regard.
Check out Becca Farsace’s preview below showing a lot of what’s new with the Pixel camera in 2024.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Apparently, turning the cliched “enhance!” meme into reality wasn’t as easy as Google might have initially expected. Today, the company confirmed in a blog post that Zoom Enhance is finally rolling out to the Pixel 8 Pro and will also be present on the Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold at launch.

Google announced the AI-powered Zoom Enhance during last year’s Made by Google event, but we’ve made it all the way to a new generation of phones, and only now is the software feature ready for release. “When you pinch in, Zoom Enhance can intelligently sharpen and enhance the details of your images, so you can get closer than ever, even when you forget to zoom” is how Google’s hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, explained the feature last October.

Fast-forward to today, and Google describes it as such:

Zoom Enhance intelligently fills in the gaps between pixels and predicts fine details for high-quality, post-capture zoom results. It will be available on Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and is rolling out to Pixel 8 Pro starting today.

As my former colleague Jon Porter wrote last year, enhance has been seen in “countless sci-fi movies and police procedural shows that have shown characters zooming impossibly far into photos to reveal clues and details that simply could not have been present in the original image.” The example of Zoom Enhance in Google’s latest blog post isn’t exactly mind-blowing, so it’s possible the company has dialed back its ambitions while developing this feature.

Zoom Enhance joins a slew of new camera software tricks coming to Google’s new Pixels — like Add Me, Reimagine in Magic Editor, and more — and this time, all of them will be available when the phones ship. Seems like Google learned its lesson in that regard.

Check out Becca Farsace’s preview below showing a lot of what’s new with the Pixel camera in 2024.

Read More 

Google’s latest wearable is both bigger and brighter than its predecessors. | Image: Google

Now that Google has officially announced the Pixel Watch 3 after a deluge of leaks and rumors, Android users have even more wearables to choose from. Google’s latest smartwatch will arrive on September 10th and start at $349.99, with the last-gen Pixel Watch 2 hanging around for $249.99. Sadly, Google has dropped the original model from its lineup, though you can still buy it on sale from third-party retailers.

With almost identical names and similar domed displays, it can be confusing to distinguish which watch is which — never mind which to buy. Yet, they’re more different than they appear, with each wearable offering more features and capabilities than its predecessor. The new Pixel Watch 3 offers several advanced running features, for instance, along with a 45mm configuration that’s likely the best option for those with larger wrists. Nonetheless, if price is your main concern, the last-gen model still has plenty to offer.
To help you decide which model is right for you, we’ve compared the forthcoming Pixel Watch 3 with both the original and second-gen models. We’ve even dug into each smartwatch’s raw specs so you can see how all three wearables compare (at least on paper).
Differences in size and screen
Size is one of the main differentiators between the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Watch 2. Google’s last-gen Pixel Watch 2 is only available in one size, 41mm, while the Pixel Watch 3 is the first smartwatch from Google to offer a 45mm size, potentially making the new wearable better suited for those with larger wrists.
The Pixel Watch 3’s display also offers more visible space than its predecessors. With its thinner bezels, the Pixel Watch 3 offers 10 percent more visible space on the 41mm watch and 40 percent more on the 45mm. That should make it easier to read messages, check metrics, and fit in even more information on the display.
Last but not least, the Pixel Watch 3 is also twice as bright as its predecessor, offering up to 2,000 nits of brightness while continuing to dim to as low as 1 nit with a variable refresh rate of 1 to 60Hz. Google says that means you can clearly see stats on your display in dark settings as well as bright daylight, though we’ll have to see how well that claim holds true once we properly test the Pixel Watch 3.

You can see the improvements in screen brightness and bezel size when compared to the Pixel Watch 2 (left).

Health and fitness features
During our brief time with the Pixel Watch 3, we were impressed by the sheer number of features Google managed to fit into its latest wearable. Size might be the most obvious differentiator at first glance, but it’s what’s inside that really distinguishes the most recent models.
First, Google’s added even more ways to monitor your health with the Pixel Watch 3. Notably, the watch can now detect when you lose your pulse and connect you with emergency services — though, said feature will be exclusive to Europe at launch. Google will also deliver a “Morning Brief” when you wake up, summarizing your sleep, progress toward your goals, the weather, and other health metrics.

Google’s latest watch also lets you take advantage of other new fitness features. The Pixel Watch 3 sports several new advanced running features; the Fitbit app dashboard, for instance, now breaks down even more running metrics, including stride length. You can also program custom workouts from your phone and send them to your wearable, while your Daily Readiness Score now factors in how hard your heart is working while exercising. A new AI feature, meanwhile, generates workout suggestions based on your recent workout history.
Robust Google integration
In addition to new health and fitness features, the Pixel Watch 3 offers deeper integration with more Google devices and services. It continues to offer access to the same Google services as the Watch 2, including Google Wallet and Gmail, but now features offline Google Maps capabilities. It’s also now possible to view a Nest Doorbell or Nest Cam feed directly on your smartwatch — a feature that worked well enough when we tried a brief demo of it, letting us have a conversation with the person on the other side. Plus, you can now control your Google TV and the camera on your Pixel phone or even record audio.

You’ll be able to view your Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell feed straight from your wrist.

Battery life and power
We were happy to see Google fixed the battery life issues that plagued the original Pixel Watch when it released the Pixel Watch 2. The second-gen watch offered all-day battery life, and from the looks of it, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will as well. It offers the same 306mAh battery capacity, with Google promising up to 24 hours of battery life with the always-on display turned on.
The new 45mm Pixel Watch 3, however, is a different story. It packs a larger 420mAh battery, which means it could theoretically last longer — but we’ll have to test it to be sure. Google promises up to 36 hours of battery life in the new battery-saver mode for both Pixel Watch 3 models, so even the 41mm could potentially outperform its predecessor.
As for the chipset, both the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear W5 Gen 1. However, only the Pixel Watch 3 sports an ultra wideband chip, which lets you unlock your Pixel phone and even select BMW models.
By the numbers
Those are just the main factors that differentiate Google’s latest wearables, but there are other differences to consider. Google, for example, now sells a matte hazel colorway, though that option is only available when you purchase the 45mm Pixel Watch 3. You’ll also have to pay $100 for cellular connectivity on the Pixel Watch 3, whereas it’ll only set you back $50 to add it to the Pixel Watch 2.
If you want to dive even deeper into their differences, we’ve rounded up the raw specs in the chart below.

Google’s latest wearable is both bigger and brighter than its predecessors. | Image: Google

Now that Google has officially announced the Pixel Watch 3 after a deluge of leaks and rumors, Android users have even more wearables to choose from. Google’s latest smartwatch will arrive on September 10th and start at $349.99, with the last-gen Pixel Watch 2 hanging around for $249.99. Sadly, Google has dropped the original model from its lineup, though you can still buy it on sale from third-party retailers.

With almost identical names and similar domed displays, it can be confusing to distinguish which watch is which — never mind which to buy. Yet, they’re more different than they appear, with each wearable offering more features and capabilities than its predecessor. The new Pixel Watch 3 offers several advanced running features, for instance, along with a 45mm configuration that’s likely the best option for those with larger wrists. Nonetheless, if price is your main concern, the last-gen model still has plenty to offer.

To help you decide which model is right for you, we’ve compared the forthcoming Pixel Watch 3 with both the original and second-gen models. We’ve even dug into each smartwatch’s raw specs so you can see how all three wearables compare (at least on paper).

Differences in size and screen

Size is one of the main differentiators between the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Watch 2. Google’s last-gen Pixel Watch 2 is only available in one size, 41mm, while the Pixel Watch 3 is the first smartwatch from Google to offer a 45mm size, potentially making the new wearable better suited for those with larger wrists.

The Pixel Watch 3’s display also offers more visible space than its predecessors. With its thinner bezels, the Pixel Watch 3 offers 10 percent more visible space on the 41mm watch and 40 percent more on the 45mm. That should make it easier to read messages, check metrics, and fit in even more information on the display.

Last but not least, the Pixel Watch 3 is also twice as bright as its predecessor, offering up to 2,000 nits of brightness while continuing to dim to as low as 1 nit with a variable refresh rate of 1 to 60Hz. Google says that means you can clearly see stats on your display in dark settings as well as bright daylight, though we’ll have to see how well that claim holds true once we properly test the Pixel Watch 3.

You can see the improvements in screen brightness and bezel size when compared to the Pixel Watch 2 (left).

Health and fitness features

During our brief time with the Pixel Watch 3, we were impressed by the sheer number of features Google managed to fit into its latest wearable. Size might be the most obvious differentiator at first glance, but it’s what’s inside that really distinguishes the most recent models.

First, Google’s added even more ways to monitor your health with the Pixel Watch 3. Notably, the watch can now detect when you lose your pulse and connect you with emergency services — though, said feature will be exclusive to Europe at launch. Google will also deliver a “Morning Brief” when you wake up, summarizing your sleep, progress toward your goals, the weather, and other health metrics.

Google’s latest watch also lets you take advantage of other new fitness features. The Pixel Watch 3 sports several new advanced running features; the Fitbit app dashboard, for instance, now breaks down even more running metrics, including stride length. You can also program custom workouts from your phone and send them to your wearable, while your Daily Readiness Score now factors in how hard your heart is working while exercising. A new AI feature, meanwhile, generates workout suggestions based on your recent workout history.

Robust Google integration

In addition to new health and fitness features, the Pixel Watch 3 offers deeper integration with more Google devices and services. It continues to offer access to the same Google services as the Watch 2, including Google Wallet and Gmail, but now features offline Google Maps capabilities. It’s also now possible to view a Nest Doorbell or Nest Cam feed directly on your smartwatch — a feature that worked well enough when we tried a brief demo of it, letting us have a conversation with the person on the other side. Plus, you can now control your Google TV and the camera on your Pixel phone or even record audio.

You’ll be able to view your Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell feed straight from your wrist.

Battery life and power

We were happy to see Google fixed the battery life issues that plagued the original Pixel Watch when it released the Pixel Watch 2. The second-gen watch offered all-day battery life, and from the looks of it, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will as well. It offers the same 306mAh battery capacity, with Google promising up to 24 hours of battery life with the always-on display turned on.

The new 45mm Pixel Watch 3, however, is a different story. It packs a larger 420mAh battery, which means it could theoretically last longer — but we’ll have to test it to be sure. Google promises up to 36 hours of battery life in the new battery-saver mode for both Pixel Watch 3 models, so even the 41mm could potentially outperform its predecessor.

As for the chipset, both the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear W5 Gen 1. However, only the Pixel Watch 3 sports an ultra wideband chip, which lets you unlock your Pixel phone and even select BMW models.

By the numbers

Those are just the main factors that differentiate Google’s latest wearables, but there are other differences to consider. Google, for example, now sells a matte hazel colorway, though that option is only available when you purchase the 45mm Pixel Watch 3. You’ll also have to pay $100 for cellular connectivity on the Pixel Watch 3, whereas it’ll only set you back $50 to add it to the Pixel Watch 2.

If you want to dive even deeper into their differences, we’ve rounded up the raw specs in the chart below.

Read More 

Who among us can resist the pull of a High Republic cruiser? | Image: Massive Entertainment

Before every influencer began pedaling goods on TikTok, there was QVC. The well-known shopping network isn’t one we often cover at The Verge dot com, at least in terms of deals, but every so often it rolls out a promo that’s hard to pass up. Right now, for instance, QVC is offering new customers $30 off an order of $60 or more when they use promo code WELCOME30, letting first-time buyers save on a range of classic video games, new releases, and preorders.

The current QVC promo applies to a laundry list of first- and third-party titles — assuming they meet the $60 threshold — which makes it a great opportunity to save on forthcoming releases that haven’t been discounted yet. This includes Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world Star Wars game, which will be hitting the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, and PC on August 30th. For a limited time, the PlayStation and Xbox editions are down to just $39.99 ($30 off) with the aforementioned coupon code, which remains the best deal we’ve seen outside of Best Buy’s ongoing gift card promo.
As for older games, notable standouts include last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is on sale at QVC for $39.99 ($30 off) using said coupon code, as well as Insomniac’s latest exclusive for the PS5, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (also $30 off). However, QVC’s promo code can only be used toward a single item, so make it count.

More deals and discounts

Preorders for Sony’s forthcoming Astro Bot controller for the PS5 may have sold out everywhere within the first several hours, but you can still pick up the limited edition controller at Antonline with a physical copy of the latest Astro Bot game for $132.99 ($7 off). The new collab — which launches on September 6th — isn’t all that different from your standard DualSense, except it features shiny blue grips, subtle sci-fi accents, and the bot’s adorable eyes on the touchpad.
Google may be gearing up to launch the Pixel Watch 3, but if you’re looking for a more back-to-basics wearable, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $79.95 ($20 off), matching its second-best price to date. The minimalist fitness band packs a color OLED display, basic notifications, and up to 10 days of battery life, along with some of the best sleep tracking available in a wearable right now. Read our hands-on impressions.

Anker’s beefy 633 Magnetic Battery is now matching its all-time low of $44.98 ($35 off) at Amazon and Anker’s online storefront (with offer code WSPEV2P6GEWL). While not as speedy as Anker’s new Qi2 chargers, the 10,000mAh battery pack still features a USB-C port for 20W PD charging and a built-in Qi wireless pad, which allows for 7.5W charging speeds when used with a newer MagSafe-compatible iPhone. It also touts a flip-out kickstand, just in case you want to leverage the excellent StandBy mode built into iOS 17.

Who among us can resist the pull of a High Republic cruiser? | Image: Massive Entertainment

Before every influencer began pedaling goods on TikTok, there was QVC. The well-known shopping network isn’t one we often cover at The Verge dot com, at least in terms of deals, but every so often it rolls out a promo that’s hard to pass up. Right now, for instance, QVC is offering new customers $30 off an order of $60 or more when they use promo code WELCOME30, letting first-time buyers save on a range of classic video games, new releases, and preorders.

The current QVC promo applies to a laundry list of first- and third-party titles — assuming they meet the $60 threshold — which makes it a great opportunity to save on forthcoming releases that haven’t been discounted yet. This includes Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world Star Wars game, which will be hitting the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, and PC on August 30th. For a limited time, the PlayStation and Xbox editions are down to just $39.99 ($30 off) with the aforementioned coupon code, which remains the best deal we’ve seen outside of Best Buy’s ongoing gift card promo.

As for older games, notable standouts include last year’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is on sale at QVC for $39.99 ($30 off) using said coupon code, as well as Insomniac’s latest exclusive for the PS5, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (also $30 off). However, QVC’s promo code can only be used toward a single item, so make it count.

More deals and discounts

Preorders for Sony’s forthcoming Astro Bot controller for the PS5 may have sold out everywhere within the first several hours, but you can still pick up the limited edition controller at Antonline with a physical copy of the latest Astro Bot game for $132.99 ($7 off). The new collab — which launches on September 6th — isn’t all that different from your standard DualSense, except it features shiny blue grips, subtle sci-fi accents, and the bot’s adorable eyes on the touchpad.
Google may be gearing up to launch the Pixel Watch 3, but if you’re looking for a more back-to-basics wearable, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $79.95 ($20 off), matching its second-best price to date. The minimalist fitness band packs a color OLED display, basic notifications, and up to 10 days of battery life, along with some of the best sleep tracking available in a wearable right now. Read our hands-on impressions.

Anker’s beefy 633 Magnetic Battery is now matching its all-time low of $44.98 ($35 off) at Amazon and Anker’s online storefront (with offer code WSPEV2P6GEWL). While not as speedy as Anker’s new Qi2 chargers, the 10,000mAh battery pack still features a USB-C port for 20W PD charging and a built-in Qi wireless pad, which allows for 7.5W charging speeds when used with a newer MagSafe-compatible iPhone. It also touts a flip-out kickstand, just in case you want to leverage the excellent StandBy mode built into iOS 17.

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Image: Microsoft

Microsoft is starting to test a new compact version of its Game Bar with Xbox Insiders today. Similar to the Xbox app on Windows PCs, the Game Bar is getting its own compact mode that is designed for smaller screens, Windows-powered handhelds, and even for when you’re playing on a PC with a controller.
“With Compact Mode enabled, access to widgets and navigation is simplified to ensure you can get access to the content you want as easily as possible,” explains Oliver Xu, senior product manager for Xbox Experiences. “When using a controller, you can switch between widgets quickly with left and right bumpers (LB/RB).”

Image: Microsoft
You can easily quit games from the Game Bar using a controller.

The home widget in the compact Game Bar lets you view any recent or currently running games, and you can even quit games from here, too — ideal if you’re using a controller. You can also quickly access widget options using a controller and this compact mode or access the widget store to get additional features for the Game Bar.
Microsoft is testing this new compact mode for the Game Bar with Xbox Insiders today, and you can sign up to test it and then enable the new mode under settings. Microsoft has been gradually improving its Xbox app on Windows in recent months, including a compact mode and controller improvements for navigation and launching games.

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft is starting to test a new compact version of its Game Bar with Xbox Insiders today. Similar to the Xbox app on Windows PCs, the Game Bar is getting its own compact mode that is designed for smaller screens, Windows-powered handhelds, and even for when you’re playing on a PC with a controller.

“With Compact Mode enabled, access to widgets and navigation is simplified to ensure you can get access to the content you want as easily as possible,” explains Oliver Xu, senior product manager for Xbox Experiences. “When using a controller, you can switch between widgets quickly with left and right bumpers (LB/RB).”

Image: Microsoft
You can easily quit games from the Game Bar using a controller.

The home widget in the compact Game Bar lets you view any recent or currently running games, and you can even quit games from here, too — ideal if you’re using a controller. You can also quickly access widget options using a controller and this compact mode or access the widget store to get additional features for the Game Bar.

Microsoft is testing this new compact mode for the Game Bar with Xbox Insiders today, and you can sign up to test it and then enable the new mode under settings. Microsoft has been gradually improving its Xbox app on Windows in recent months, including a compact mode and controller improvements for navigation and launching games.

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Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Google announced a new image generation app during its Pixel 9 event today. The company says the app, called Pixel Studio, will come preinstalled on every Pixel 9 device.
Pixel Studio, much like Apple’s forthcoming Image Playground app that’s set to roll out on iOS 18 at some point after the operating system launches, lets you create an image from a prompt. Users can edit images after the fact, using the prompt box to add or subtract elements, and change the feel or style of the picture.

During the onstage demo, a picture of a bonfire gradually changed into a beach hangout invite with the Golden Gate Bridge and fireworks in the background, made in a pixel art style and complete with invite details and stickers of the presenter’s friends pasted over it. The feature is built on Google’s Imagen 3 text-to-image model.
The feature joins other AI features that Google debuted for Pixel phones, like a new Pixel Screenshots feature that acts like Microsoft’s Recall feature, except instead of taking constant screenshots, you take each one manually.

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Google announced a new image generation app during its Pixel 9 event today. The company says the app, called Pixel Studio, will come preinstalled on every Pixel 9 device.

Pixel Studio, much like Apple’s forthcoming Image Playground app that’s set to roll out on iOS 18 at some point after the operating system launches, lets you create an image from a prompt. Users can edit images after the fact, using the prompt box to add or subtract elements, and change the feel or style of the picture.

During the onstage demo, a picture of a bonfire gradually changed into a beach hangout invite with the Golden Gate Bridge and fireworks in the background, made in a pixel art style and complete with invite details and stickers of the presenter’s friends pasted over it. The feature is built on Google’s Imagen 3 text-to-image model.

The feature joins other AI features that Google debuted for Pixel phones, like a new Pixel Screenshots feature that acts like Microsoft’s Recall feature, except instead of taking constant screenshots, you take each one manually.

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Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Google has announced Pixel Screenshots, a new AI-powered app for its Pixel 9 lineup that lets you save, organize, and surface information from screenshots. Pixel Screenshot uses Google’s private, on-device Gemini Nano AI model to analyze the content of an image and make it searchable.
During a demo at its Pixel launch event, Google showed how you can take a screenshot and then save it to a collection, like “gift ideas.” You can also search through all your other screenshots by typing in a keyword, like “bikes” or “shoes.” Pixel Screenshots will then pull up all relevant results.

How many forgotten screenshots are on your phone? Pixel Screenshots will help you save, organize and recall them by analyzing the photos to make them searchable. This feature will run on #Pixel9 devices with the help of Gemini Nano and Tensor G4. #MadeByGoogle pic.twitter.com/yXR4sRLTHm— Google (@Google) August 13, 2024

Additionally, Pixel Screenshots can give you information about what’s inside an image. So, if you’re looking for the price of a shirt you screenshotted, you can type in “t-shirt price,” and Pixel Screenshots will extract the information from your screenshots to surface an answer. The app will only be available on Pixel 9 devices.
Pixel Screenshots sounds a bit like Recall, an upcoming Windows feature that Microsoft delayed over privacy concerns. But, unlike Recall, Pixel Screenshots doesn’t use AI to scan everything on your device — it’s limited to the screenshots you take manually. It actually seems pretty useful, and it’s nice that Google is giving users control over what exactly its AI can process.

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Google has announced Pixel Screenshots, a new AI-powered app for its Pixel 9 lineup that lets you save, organize, and surface information from screenshots. Pixel Screenshot uses Google’s private, on-device Gemini Nano AI model to analyze the content of an image and make it searchable.

During a demo at its Pixel launch event, Google showed how you can take a screenshot and then save it to a collection, like “gift ideas.” You can also search through all your other screenshots by typing in a keyword, like “bikes” or “shoes.” Pixel Screenshots will then pull up all relevant results.

Additionally, Pixel Screenshots can give you information about what’s inside an image. So, if you’re looking for the price of a shirt you screenshotted, you can type in “t-shirt price,” and Pixel Screenshots will extract the information from your screenshots to surface an answer. The app will only be available on Pixel 9 devices.

Pixel Screenshots sounds a bit like Recall, an upcoming Windows feature that Microsoft delayed over privacy concerns. But, unlike Recall, Pixel Screenshots doesn’t use AI to scan everything on your device — it’s limited to the screenshots you take manually. It actually seems pretty useful, and it’s nice that Google is giving users control over what exactly its AI can process.

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The SpaceX Starship launches on its fourth flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on June 6th, 2024. | Photo: Getty Images

SpaceX allegedly violated wastewater regulations at its Boca Chica, Texas, launch site — sending pollution into bodies of water nearby, according to CNBC. The news outlet says it obtained investigative records and notices that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sent to SpaceX of violations related to its Starbase facility.
SpaceX called the story “factually inaccurate” in a post on Elon Musk’s social media platform X. The Verge has not yet been able to independently verify these reports. We’ve requested records from EPA and TCEQ, and neither agency immediately confirmed the accuracy of the allegations.
Starbase is home to Starship, the reusable transportation system SpaceX is building and testing with hopes of taking people to the Moon and, one day, even reaching Mars. But the violations SpaceX is accused of could jeopardize future launches and put the company at legal risk, according to CNBC.
The violations SpaceX is accused of could jeopardize future launches and put the company at legal risk
Starship’s first test flight last year left behind a mess. The massive spacecraft exploded in the air, and the test wrecked the launchpad. Flying debris smashed into at least one car nearby, and the plume of dust reportedly reached residents several miles away as well as nesting grounds for endangered birds and sea turtles. Starbase lies along the Texas Gulf Coast, near wetlands and wildlife refuges.
After the explosion, CNBC says SpaceX scrambled to rebuild the launchpad and install a water deluge system meant to blunt the tremendous heat, energy, and sound from launches. The company skipped a permitting process in its rush, according to CNBC. The EPA launched a probe and demanded more information on wastewater discharges about a month after SpaceX ran a full-pressure test of the system in July 2023, CNBC says. The agency reportedly notified SpaceX on March 13th that it was in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.
Regardless, SpaceX moved forward with its third test flight on March 14th. Continuing to use the deluge system during launches without proper permits in place raises the legal risks, per CNBC. SpaceX eventually applied for a permit, reportedly more than 100 days after it received notice from the EPA.
TCEQ performed a compliance record review to determine whether SpaceX was following wastewater regulations on July 25th of this year, according to CNBC. It determined that SpaceX had released industrial wastewater without a permit four times since March, CNBC reports. It also says that TCEQ has received 14 at least complaints in the region “alleging environmental impacts” from SpaceX’s deluge system. TCEQ sent its notice of violation to SpaceX last week, according to CNBC.
SpaceX didn’t respond to a request for comment from The Verge, but its post on X claims that both EPA and TCEQ had allowed it to continue using the deluge system and that it was operating under a separate permit system.
“Throughout our ongoing coordination with both TCEQ and the EPA, we have explicitly asked if operation of the deluge system needed to stop and we were informed that operations could continue,” it says.

CNBC’s story on Starship’s launch operations in South Texas is factually inaccurate. Starship’s water-cooled flame deflector system is critical equipment for SpaceX’s launch operations. It ensures flight safety and protects the launch site and surrounding area. Also known as…— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 12, 2024

The company also claims that its deluge system “causes no harm to the environment.” It says it sends air, water, and soil samples from near the pad to “an independent, accredited laboratory” after using the deluge system. So far, it says, those tests have shown “negligible traces of any contaminants.”
CNBC’s reporting counters those claims, especially when it comes to mercury. SpaceX says its samples show “either no detectable levels of mercury whatsoever or found in very few cases levels significantly below the limit the EPA maintains for drinking water.” CNBC writes:
But SpaceX wrote in its July permit application — under the header Specific Testing Requirements – Table 2 for Outfall: 001 — that its mercury concentration at one outfall location was 113 micrograms per liter. Water quality criteria in the state calls for levels no higher than 2.1 micrograms per liter for acute aquatic toxicity and much lower levels for human health
On Monday, the FAA postponed meetings initially planned for this week intended to discuss draft environmental assessments for “SpaceX’s plan to increase the launches and landings of its Starship/Super Heavy vehicles scheduled at the Boca Chica Launch Site.” When asked why the meetings were delayed, a spokesperson for the FAA said it was waiting on “additional documentation” from SpaceX but would not share what those documents are.
A legal battle looks likely. A Rio Grande Valley, Texas, nonprofit called SaveRGV reportedly sent SpaceX a notice of intent to sue in June over its deluge system allegedly discharging wastewater without a permit. It’s seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties for each potential violation of the Clean Water Act.
Musk talked about deregulation in a long-winded conversation with Donald Trump on X last night. “if you deregulate, like have sensible regulations,” he said. “Because a lot of the regulations are nonsensical and cause the cost to be extreme for no reason.”

The SpaceX Starship launches on its fourth flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on June 6th, 2024. | Photo: Getty Images

SpaceX allegedly violated wastewater regulations at its Boca Chica, Texas, launch site — sending pollution into bodies of water nearby, according to CNBC. The news outlet says it obtained investigative records and notices that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sent to SpaceX of violations related to its Starbase facility.

SpaceX called the story “factually inaccurate” in a post on Elon Musk’s social media platform X. The Verge has not yet been able to independently verify these reports. We’ve requested records from EPA and TCEQ, and neither agency immediately confirmed the accuracy of the allegations.

Starbase is home to Starship, the reusable transportation system SpaceX is building and testing with hopes of taking people to the Moon and, one day, even reaching Mars. But the violations SpaceX is accused of could jeopardize future launches and put the company at legal risk, according to CNBC.

Starship’s first test flight last year left behind a mess. The massive spacecraft exploded in the air, and the test wrecked the launchpad. Flying debris smashed into at least one car nearby, and the plume of dust reportedly reached residents several miles away as well as nesting grounds for endangered birds and sea turtles. Starbase lies along the Texas Gulf Coast, near wetlands and wildlife refuges.

After the explosion, CNBC says SpaceX scrambled to rebuild the launchpad and install a water deluge system meant to blunt the tremendous heat, energy, and sound from launches. The company skipped a permitting process in its rush, according to CNBC. The EPA launched a probe and demanded more information on wastewater discharges about a month after SpaceX ran a full-pressure test of the system in July 2023, CNBC says. The agency reportedly notified SpaceX on March 13th that it was in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

Regardless, SpaceX moved forward with its third test flight on March 14th. Continuing to use the deluge system during launches without proper permits in place raises the legal risks, per CNBC. SpaceX eventually applied for a permit, reportedly more than 100 days after it received notice from the EPA.

TCEQ performed a compliance record review to determine whether SpaceX was following wastewater regulations on July 25th of this year, according to CNBC. It determined that SpaceX had released industrial wastewater without a permit four times since March, CNBC reports. It also says that TCEQ has received 14 at least complaints in the region “alleging environmental impacts” from SpaceX’s deluge system. TCEQ sent its notice of violation to SpaceX last week, according to CNBC.

SpaceX didn’t respond to a request for comment from The Verge, but its post on X claims that both EPA and TCEQ had allowed it to continue using the deluge system and that it was operating under a separate permit system.

“Throughout our ongoing coordination with both TCEQ and the EPA, we have explicitly asked if operation of the deluge system needed to stop and we were informed that operations could continue,” it says.

The company also claims that its deluge system “causes no harm to the environment.” It says it sends air, water, and soil samples from near the pad to “an independent, accredited laboratory” after using the deluge system. So far, it says, those tests have shown “negligible traces of any contaminants.”

CNBC’s reporting counters those claims, especially when it comes to mercury. SpaceX says its samples show “either no detectable levels of mercury whatsoever or found in very few cases levels significantly below the limit the EPA maintains for drinking water.” CNBC writes:

But SpaceX wrote in its July permit application — under the header Specific Testing Requirements – Table 2 for Outfall: 001 — that its mercury concentration at one outfall location was 113 micrograms per liter. Water quality criteria in the state calls for levels no higher than 2.1 micrograms per liter for acute aquatic toxicity and much lower levels for human health

On Monday, the FAA postponed meetings initially planned for this week intended to discuss draft environmental assessments for “SpaceX’s plan to increase the launches and landings of its Starship/Super Heavy vehicles scheduled at the Boca Chica Launch Site.” When asked why the meetings were delayed, a spokesperson for the FAA said it was waiting on “additional documentation” from SpaceX but would not share what those documents are.

A legal battle looks likely. A Rio Grande Valley, Texas, nonprofit called SaveRGV reportedly sent SpaceX a notice of intent to sue in June over its deluge system allegedly discharging wastewater without a permit. It’s seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties for each potential violation of the Clean Water Act.

Musk talked about deregulation in a long-winded conversation with Donald Trump on X last night. “if you deregulate, like have sensible regulations,” he said. “Because a lot of the regulations are nonsensical and cause the cost to be extreme for no reason.”

Read More