Aug. 20 (UPI) — At its product event on Wednesday, Google announced new hardware, which includes the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, as well as the Pixel Watch 4 and the Pixel Buds 2a.

There are hardware improvements along with lots of new AI-powered software features.

The Pixel 10 series isn’t much different from the Pixel 9 series, sharing nearly the same design but in new colors.

But one big hardware change will shake up the smartphone accessory ecosystem: Qi2 wireless charging support. This isn’t like Samsung’s Qi2-Ready devices. Google’s new phones have magnets embedded in the back, just like iPhones, allowing new Qi2 accessories that can be shared with Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem. The Pixel 10 Pro XL supports the new Qi2 25-watt standard, allowing it to recharge even quicker.

The Pixel 10 series incorporates new AI and camera features. The base model Pixel 10 starts at $799. A more powerful Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL with a larger screen and 256GB of base storage starts at $1,199. Google is also releasing an updated version of its folding phone, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which starts at $1,799.

All Pixel 10 models have the new Tensor G5 chipset, which Google says is on average 34 percent faster than its predecessor. The imaging signal processor has been upgraded for improved image and video quality, and Tensor G5 runs the latest Gemini Nano model, powering more than 20 on-device generative artificial intelligence experiences.

Soniya Jobanputra, director of product management at Google, told Wired that the Pixel 10 series is about giving you back time by “taking the mundane and boring out of your life.”

One interesting new addition to the Pixel Camera app is the Camera Coach. It’ll ask you to scan the scene you want to shoot. It’ll then ask you what you want in the photo while offering different example shots based on the subject matter. If you tap the “Get Inspired” option, it’ll offer AI-generated example photos based on the scan.

The phones are the first to launch with Android’s new Material 3 Expressive design language, which offers more fluid, springy animations, smoother interactions, and emphasized typography.

The new Pixel Watch 4 is the first smartwatch with integrated, standards-based satellite communications. Powered by Skylo’s commercial Non-Terrestrial Network and Qualcomm Technologies’ new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platforms, the Pixel Watch 4 offers standalone emergency messaging — without a phone or cellular plan.

The watch also claims longer battery life and better sleep tracking, issues in earlier models. It starts at $349.

“This launch isn’t just a new feature — it redefines what’s possible with satellite connectivity in everyday devices, including the one that’s in your pocket or on your wrist,” said Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO and co-founder of Skylo Technologies, in a statement. “By embedding Skylo’s service into phones and wearables, we’re making coverage accessible to people in the moments that matter most.”

Pixel Buds 2a claim to have Clear Calling, which blocks background noise so wind, external chatter or other distractions won’t interrupt conversations. It also has a tracking app to find them when they’re lost. They retail for $229.

Apple is expected to announce new iPhone models in September. Samsung just had an event in July. The next launch will be at Samsung Unpacked in January 2026, which will launch the Galaxy S26.