Google employs some of the best scientists and researchers in the world, and some of this research makes its way to consumers: For example, the company announced that Night Sight Timelapse videos are coming to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. It can turn a 20-minute 4K video into a 10-second time lapse, with special optimizations for shooting in low light conditions.
What’s more, the Pixel 8 Pro is apparently the first smartphone designed for Gemini Nano. In case you missed it, Gemini is Google’s latest artificial intelligence, and a version of it powers Bard. A version of Gemini powers the Pro Pixel’s Summary feature in the Recorder app and Smart Reply in Gboard.
It’s exciting stuff, and you can be at the forefront with a Pixel 8 Pro. The larger model, which also gets special treatment when it comes to software on top of the hardware perks, is available at a $100 discount.
Without a “pro” tag in its name, the Pixel 8 loses out on some features: the Gemini stuff, but also things like a periscope. At least the main camera is the same as the Pro as are the video recording capabilities, so the Night Sight Timelapse feature is not affected.
Here are the official Google cases made of stain-resistant silicone that also absorbs the shock of impacts. The colors were specifically chosen to complement the Pixel 8 colorways.
There’s also the Google Pixel Stand, a Qi wireless charger. It’s not very powerful with an output of 23W (but that’s the most the Pixel can handle), but it still includes a fan to keep the temperature in check. Special software integration allows your phone to transform into a Nest controller for your smart home or a display for your Nest cameras. The stand has also been optimized for Google Meet video calls, and you can turn your phone into a digital photo frame while the battery charges.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 gets the S-class update program of 4 OS updates (it already had one: Android 14) and 5 years of security patches (so it will be good until 2028). The Pixel 8 offers longer support (7 years), but also costs more. The A54 has a microSD slot (which not even S-phones have anymore) and is IP67 rated for dust and water resistance.
Bose recently launched QuietComfort Ultra headphones, both over-ear and TWS models. Both have received positive reviews, especially when it comes to active noise cancellation (ANC), which has always been one of the strong points of QC headphones. The other is the comfort to wear and this is also why the Ultra modes got a high score.
These are only about a month old, which means the discounts are small. However, you can always buy Sony’s rival headphones: WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5.
Apple users may prefer Apple headphones, so here are the second-generation AirPods Pro (have a USB-C charging port) and the AirPods Max (over-ear, still using the Lightning port).
Speaking of Apple users, new iPhones are quite expensive, but they age slower than most smartphones. So if you can’t fit a new device into your budget, check out these refurbished deals.
There are the older iPhone 12 and 12 Pro from 2020. They predate the Dynamic Island and USB-C of the current models, but will receive software updates and in-store support for many years to come.
The 2021 iPhone 13 and 13 Pro bring some relatively major upgrades like sensor-shift image stabilization for the main camera and larger batteries. On the 13 Pro, the main camera also has a larger sensor (1.9μm vs. 1.4μm pixels) and a longer telephoto lens (3x vs. 2x). Furthermore, the batteries are slightly larger.
We also found an offer for the iPhone 13 mini, perhaps Apple’s latest mini. And you can’t even find it on apple.com anymore because it’s been discontinued. While you may find new units at other stores, you could also save some money and opt for a refurbished unit.
We’ll end with a PlayStation 5 bundle, the new slim version of the PS5 (disc edition) that comes with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Start a new Thread