Will Sattelberg

The Pixel 11 lineup has earned its reputation as a safe upgrade — or boring, if you’re looking to be a little less generous to Google — but it’s delivering one thing I’ve been begging for literal years: Camera Looks. Google’s take on the iPhone’s Photographic Styles have been a long time coming, and appear to be set to play a big role in shaking up the conversation around the Pixel’s evenly-lit, HDR-heavy processing. I’ve been experimenting with them while working towards my eventual Pixel 11 Pro XL review, and I have to say, I’m mostly satisfied. Mostly.

Welcome to episode 41 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Ben Schoon joins Will to discuss the future of Pixel, as Google’s Pixel 11 attempts to bridge the gap between always-accessible AI assistant and a more minimalist, digital wellbeing-friendly experience. They also dig into the world of AI ads, posters, and more, and wonder whether they’re doing far more harm than good to the people who choose to monetize them.

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Welcome to Pixelated episode 112. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will share their early impressions of the Pixel 11 series, offer a full breakdown of the actual Made by Google event, and share some big picture thoughts on the future of Pixel hardware inspired by this HiLight ad.

Enjoy the episode? You can listen to our brand new weekly members-only Pixelated Pro bonus episode by signing up for 9to5Google Pro!

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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Google’s new Pixel 11 series seems really promising, but they’re also all $100 more expensive across the board than last generation. Luckily, if you’re already sold from our various hands-ons, there are a ton of surprisingly excellent pre-order deals and trade-in valuations you can take advantage of to bring that price tag down — and frankly, no one has Amazon beat.

The Pixel Watch 5 might offer a much more robust experience than the display-less Fitbit Air that Google launched earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean the smartwatch team isn’t pulling from the Air’s playbook. Alongside all of the standard options for the Pixel Watch 5, Google is also launching a special Steph Curry-branded variant for those of us focused on athletics over all else.

The Pixel 11 series might look familiar on the outside, but Google’s packed plenty of changes both behind the scenes and under the hood, and nowhere is that more evident than when you dive into its cameras. From new processing styles and a full creator-focused editing suite to that fancy new HiLight LED flash, there’s a lot new this year.

It’s been a couple of years since Google rolled out a new set of Pro-branded earbuds, and while it’s still not ready to debut a true third-gen set for its premium audio offering, it does have a fresh colorway for the Buds Pro 2 alongside a fresh software upgrade for all users both new and existing.

You might think you know everything about Google’s next-gen Pixel 11 lineup, but the company is still hoping to surprise you at tonight’s live primetime-adjacent Made by Google event and it’s sounding like one you won’t want to miss.

Google has spent the past few years ramping up its efforts to get Android users to download more apps — and, in turn, to spend more cash on games, in-app purchases, and more. Today, Google is adding Venmo as an all-new way to make purchases on the Play Store, meaning that $40 you keep forgetting to transfer to your bank account just became your ticket to movie rentals, ad-free apps, and more.

Welcome to Pixelated episode 111. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will preview what to expect at next week’s official unveiling of the Pixel 11 series, including final rumors, leaks, expectations, and some very wrong guesses on who the host might be.

Enjoy the episode? You can listen to our brand new weekly members-only Pixelated Pro bonus episode by signing up for 9to5Google Pro!

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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These days, the easiest way to pay for anything at practically any shop — save for Walmart, I suppose — is through the digital wallet stored on your phone or smartwatch. Of course, that makes it difficult for kids and teens to ever actually pay for anything on their own, especially if they don’t have their own bank account and your household is primarily cashless. With its latest update, that’s the exact problem Google Wallet is trying to fix.

Welcome to Pixelated episode 110. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will lean into a news lull ahead of the Pixel 11’s launch to zoom out to take a look at the state of Android. They tackle what Google and others are doing right, what there’s room to improve on, and and what we can expect from the future of our favorite platform.

Enjoy the episode? You can listen to our brand new weekly members-only Pixelated Pro bonus episode by signing up for 9to5Google Pro!

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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Fresh off some leaks showcasing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold in official-looking renders, we’re getting new looks at all three of Google’s non-folding Pixel 11 models in seemingly all of this year’s color options, including a long-awaited all-matte option for the Pixel 11 Pro.

Samsung’s latest foldables are finally up for pre-order, but unlike past launches, the best deal you’ll actually find isn’t on the company’s own website — it’s at Amazon. Whether you’re chasing after the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra or looking at the newly-rectangular Z Fold 8, Amazon can knock off up to $600 with the right trade-in, all while bundling a $350 gift card with every purchase.

Welcome to episode 40 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will is joined by Kai Tang and Joe Hollier of Light to discuss the recent announcement of the Light Flip, the urge to disconnect from your smartphone, and finding the right balance between being offline without being inconvenienced.

Sponsored by NordVPN: Listeners to The Sideload can save up to 76% on a two-year subscription alongside four extra months for absolutely free by signing up for NordVPN using this link. Thanks to NordVPN for sponsoring this week’s episode.

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Practically every streaming service not named Netflix has turned to bundling options over the past few years, with so-called competitors teaming up to deliver combo packs like Disney+ and HBO Max. No service has been bundled quite as much as Peacock, though. If you’ve somehow managed to avoid one of the many, many ways one can gain access to The Office these days, YouTube Premium members are the latest to join in on the fun.

Welcome to Pixelated episode 109. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will dive into everything Samsung announced at this week’s Galaxy Unpacked, the legacy of the original Pixel Fold, and whether flip phones have a future ahead of them.

Enjoy the episode? You can listen to our brand new weekly members-only Pixelated Pro bonus episode by signing up for 9to5Google Pro!

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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It’s a tough time to be in the market for any type of gadget, and that includes practically everything Samsung announced today. While its refreshed lineup of foldables and smartwatches all look excellent, they’re also more expensive than their predecessors across the board. That makes Samsung’s typical trade-in values — even on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 — more vital than ever.

After months of rumors and leaks, Samsung finally unveiled its summer gadget lineup. While it’s tough to beat the overhaul that was last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, the company’s returning to the table with two book-style foldables: a familiar-looking Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the short-and-stumpy Fold 8. It’s also back with two new smartwatches, plus a revised clamshell, though as you might expect, not everything has been upgraded across the board this year. Here’s what’s actually new across all five devices.

Like clockwork — sorry, sorry, I’m sorry — Samsung’s returned yet again to its Unpacked stage with a slate of new gadgets ready to beg for your wallet. Alongside a crop of three new foldables, both the standard Galaxy Watch series and the Galaxy Watch Active are getting new hardware, and while not a massive leap over last generation, it’s sounding like a pretty promising package.

Light has built a name for itself in the minimalist smartphone space thanks to its stark designs, custom OS, and a deep focus on nothing more than the basics. But for as impressive as last year’s Light Phone 3 sounded on paper, its initial $800 launch price — now down to $700 for Light’s next preorder window — made for a tough pill to swallow. Light’s latest device knocks a whole bunch of cash off that price, and it arrives in a pretty familiar package.