On a Thursday in New York, Google formally introduced two new smartphones and its first smartwatch — devices that together signal the company's deepening conviction that it must own its own hardware destiny, from silicon to software. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro carry Google's second-generation custom chip, while the Pixel Watch weaves in Fitbit's health legacy under a new roof. Launching October 13, these products arrive on the momentum of record Pixel 6 sales, yet against a market still dominated by Apple's gravitational pull — making this less a coronation than a considered wager on a longer
Google launches Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch on Oct. 13
Google is doubling down on building its own hardware from the silicon up
Mark
Why does Google need to build its own chips? Qualcomm makes processors for most Android phones.
Mimi
Because Google wants to bake AI features directly into the hardware in ways that a generic chip can't do as well. The Tensor G2 is designed specifically for things like on-device translation and advanced camera processing. It's about control—and differentiation.
Mark
But the Pixel still has a tiny market share compared to Apple. Why spend billions on this?
Mimi
That's the real question, isn't it. Google makes almost all its money from ads, not hardware. But hardware is how you reach people, how you keep them in your ecosystem. The Pixel 6 was their fastest-selling phone ever. They're trying to prove the strategy works.
Mark
The Pixel Watch integrates Fitbit. That's a $2.1 billion acquisition. Is that a smart use of money?
Mimi
It makes sense if you believe people want health tracking built into their watch from day one. Fitbit has millions of users already. Instead of building that from scratch, Google bought the user base and the expertise. The watch lasts 24 hours on a charge—longer than an Apple Watch. That matters.
Mark
What's the real competition here—is it Apple, or is it just the idea that phones need to do more?
Mimi
It's Apple. Everything Google does with the Pixel is measured against what Apple does with the iPhone. The specs, the price, the ecosystem lock-in. Google knows it can't win on market share yet, so it's trying to win on features and integration. The custom chip is their way of saying: we can do things Apple can't.
Mark
Do you think it works?
Mimi
We'll know in October. The Pixel 6 proved there's an audience for this. Whether that audience grows depends on whether the Pixel 7 actually delivers on the promise of those chips. And whether people care about Fitbit integration enough to choose Google over Apple.
O Pulso
- Google is betting its hardware future on custom-built Tensor G2 chips, deliberately walking away from Qualcomm in a move that signals it wants to control its own technological fate the way Apple does.
- The Pixel Watch enters a crowded smartwatch arena carrying Fitbit's health-tracking credibility and a 24-hour battery life that quietly outpaces the Apple Watch Series 8 by six hours.
- Despite record-breaking Pixel 6 momentum, Google's entire hardware and services revenue segment still amounts to a fraction of what Apple earns from iPhones alone in a single quarter — the gap is humbling.
- October 13 is the pressure point: phones priced from $599 and a watch starting at $349.99 must now prove that integrated software, AI-powered cameras, and ecosystem cohesion can convert curiosity into loyalty.
On a Thursday in New York, Google formally introduced two new smartphones and its first smartwatch — devices that together signal the company's deepening conviction that it must own its own hardware destiny, from silicon to software. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro carry Google's second-generation custom chip, while the Pixel Watch weaves in Fitbit's health legacy under a new roof. Launching October 13, these products arrive on the momentum of record Pixel 6 sales, yet against a market still dominated by Apple's gravitational pull — making this less a coronation than a considered wager on a longer game.
Google took the stage in New York on Thursday to formally unveil three devices it had been previewing since May: the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and its first-ever smartwatch, the Pixel Watch. All three go on sale October 13.
The timing is deliberate. CEO Sundar Pichai had already declared the Pixel 6 series the fastest-selling in the company's history, and Google is hoping to carry that momentum forward. Hardware revenue isn't broken out separately in Alphabet's financials, but the internal confidence is visible in how aggressively the company is investing in its own silicon.
The Pixel Watch is the most novel arrival. Running Wear OS and drawing on Fitbit's health-tracking heritage — acquired for roughly $2.1 billion — it monitors workouts, sleep, heart rate, and steps, and ships with a six-month Fitbit Premium membership. Battery life reaches 24 hours, six more than the Apple Watch Series 8. Emergency SOS is built in, fall detection is coming, and the watch connects to Google's broader ecosystem of apps and services. Pricing starts at $349.99 for WiFi models, rising to $399.99 for LTE.
The phones carry Google's deeper statement. Both the $599 Pixel 7 and $899 Pixel 7 Pro run on the Tensor G2 chip — Google's second generation of custom silicon designed to power AI features, on-device translation, and advanced camera processing that the company says wouldn't be possible on off-the-shelf processors. The main rear camera on both models shoots at 50 megapixels, and the standard Pixel 7 shares the same front and ultrawide sensors as the Pro. The Pro's premium buys a dedicated zoom lens and up to 512GB of storage.
The honest context is this: Apple earned $50.5 billion from iPhones in a single quarter. Google's entire hardware-and-services segment brought in $6.55 billion over the same period. The gap is vast. But Google is making a long-term argument — that custom chips, tightly integrated software, and the Fitbit acquisition form a foundation worth building on. Whether that argument lands will begin to be answered on October 13.
Google took the stage in New York on Thursday to formally introduce three devices it had been teasing since May: the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones, and its first smartwatch, the Pixel Watch. The company laid out the full picture—what each device does, what it costs, and when people can actually buy one. October 13 is the date.
The timing matters. During Alphabet's first-quarter earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai called the Pixel 6 series the fastest-selling Pixel phones the company has ever made, and noted that the company had hit an all-time quarterly sales record. Google is trying to ride that wave forward. The company doesn't break out hardware revenue separately—it lumps phones, watches, and other devices into an "other" category alongside Play Store and YouTube revenue—but the momentum is real enough that the company is betting on it.
The Pixel Watch is the new entry. It's a smartwatch that runs Google's Wear OS software and pulls in health-tracking features from Fitbit, which Google bought for about $2.1 billion. If you already use Fitbit on your phone, the watch will sync with your existing account. The device tracks workouts, sleep quality, steps, and heart rate trends. It comes with a six-month Fitbit premium membership, which unlocks access to more than 200 workouts and deeper health analytics. Like the Apple Watch, it has Emergency SOS built in, and Google says fall detection is coming later this year. The watch also connects to Google's ecosystem—Wallet, Gmail, Calendar, Google Home—and can download apps from the Google Play Store. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours on a single charge, which beats the Apple Watch Series 8 by six hours. The Pixel Watch starts at $349.99 for Bluetooth and WiFi models, or $399.99 if you want 4G LTE.
The phones are where Google is making its real statement about the future. Both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro run on Google's custom-built Tensor G2 chip, continuing the company's shift away from Qualcomm processors. Last year, when Google launched the Pixel 6 series, it made the same move—ditching Qualcomm to build its own silicon. The Tensor G2 is designed to enable features Google says it couldn't deliver otherwise: more sophisticated camera functions, on-device translation, and other AI-powered capabilities baked directly into the hardware.
The standard Pixel 7 costs $599 and comes with a 6.3-inch display that Google says is 25 percent brighter than last year's model, a meaningful upgrade for outdoor visibility. Storage options are 128GB or 256GB. The Pixel 7 Pro, at $899, offers up to 512GB of storage for people who need room for large video files. Both phones get a camera upgrade: the main rear sensor now shoots at 50 megapixels, up from the previous generation, which should deliver sharper images. Here's the interesting part—the cheaper Pixel 7 has the same front-facing camera and main and ultrawide rear sensors as the Pro model. The difference is that the Pro adds a dedicated zoom lens on the back, justifying the $300 price gap.
Google's phones have earned a reputation for excellent cameras over the years, though how the Pixel 7 will actually perform against competitors remains to be seen. What's clear is that Google is doubling down on building its own hardware from the silicon up, even though the Pixel line still captures only a small slice of the global phone market. Apple, by contrast, pulled in $50.5 billion in iPhone revenue in its second quarter alone. Google's entire "other" revenue segment—which includes all hardware, the Play Store, and non-advertising YouTube revenue—brought in $6.55 billion for the same period. The gap is enormous. But Google is betting that the combination of custom chips, integrated software, and the Fitbit acquisition will help it grow. The real test comes on October 13, when these devices hit the market.
Citações Notáveis
The Pixel Series 6 is the fastest-selling Pixel ever and set an all-time quarterly sales record.— Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet
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