Alphabet Inc.’s Google refreshed its product line Wednesday with new smartphones, a Chromecast laptop, and a new Nest speaker.
The company
GOOGL,
GOOG,
made the hardware announcements during a slickly-produced, 30-minute virtual news event.
Headlining the offering was the $699 Pixel 5, a 5G-compatible handset with 100% recycled aluminum body, 8GB of RAM, and reverse wireless charging. Also the $499 Pixel 4a with 5G built-in features an ultra-wide lens and software upgrades to HDR technology.
A redesigned $49 Chromecast device with remote that accepts voice commands comes with Google TV. The latter takes over for Android TV as a platform for consolidating streaming services and live TV options.
Nest Audio, a $99 smart speaker with a fabric exterior like the Nest Mini, rounded out the lineup. Google says it has 50% more bass and 75% more volume than the original Google Home, thanks to a new driver setup.