Google to Join This Fall's Smartphone Battle... 'Pixel 8' Expected to Be Unveiled

Invitation Distribution Announces Schedule for New Product Launch Event
Likely to Unveil Pixel 8, Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Buds A, and More

Google's foldable phone 'Pixel Fold'
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Google will unveil its new smartphone, the 'Pixel 8,' this October. This news comes just one day after Apple announced the release schedule for the 'iPhone 15.' With Samsung Electronics also launching its Galaxy foldable phone earlier than usual, competition in the smartphone market is intensifying.

On the 30th (local time), Google distributed invitations for its annual fall product launch event, 'Made by Google,' announcing that it will reveal new hardware products on October 4th in New York. The event will be live-streamed via YouTube and the Google Store website.

Although Google did not specify the exact product names of the new releases, the IT industry expects the unveiling of the new Pixel 8 smartphone series, the 'Pixel Watch 2' smartwatch, and the 'Pixel Buds A-Series' wireless earbuds.

According to leaked information ahead of the launch, the Pixel 8 is expected to feature the Google Tensor G3 processor developed in collaboration with Samsung Electronics and a 6.3-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. The screen size will be slightly smaller than previous models, and the main camera sensor is expected to be larger with improved performance. Battery capacity and charging speed will also be enhanced.

Google’s event invitation was sent just one day after Apple announced the release date for the iPhone 15 series, drawing attention. Industry insiders speculate that Google may have adjusted the invitation release date to target Apple.

Currently, hardware products account for a minimal portion of Google's revenue. Alphabet, Google's parent company, recorded $74.6 billion in revenue in the second quarter, with $66.1 billion coming from advertising, cloud services, and other sectors.

However, in recent years, Google has been strengthening its hardware business by releasing Pixel phones and watches, as well as speakers, home products, and tablets. According to market research firm Canalys, Google held a 4% share of the North American smartphone market in the first quarter of this year. Apple and Samsung Electronics held 59% and 23%, respectively. Nonetheless, the industry views Google's market share as significant.

In particular, Google Pixel traditionally targets the mid-range market. As a result, it is considered appealing to consumers who find the high-priced iPhone and Galaxy series burdensome.

However, Google smartphones have not yet been released in South Korea, and it is unlikely that the Pixel 8 series will be launched there this time either.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.