Google fired back at Apple on Tuesday with a pair of new smart phones, a “convertible” tablet and other gadgetry ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season.
The California tech giant unveiled two new Nexus smart phones with enhanced features including fingerprint sensors and improved cameras aimed at the high end of the market dominated by Apple and Samsung.
Google said it was partnering with South Korea’s LG for its 5.2-inch screen Nexus 5X, and with China’s Huawei for its “phablet” sized 5.7-inch Nexus 6P.
Both handsets will be sold unlocked, with Google hoping to capitalize on a trend in the US and other markets away from smart phone subsidies as part of long-term contracts.
“We care about making sure there are affordable, high quality smart phones for users around the world,” said Sundar Pichai, the Google product chief who is slated to head the company’s largest unit under reorganisation announced earlier this year.
The phones, which aim to showcase the Google Android operating system, were available for ordering in the United States, Britain, Japan and Ireland, with more countries to be added next week, Google said as it unveiled the phones at a San Francisco media event.
The Nexus 5X starts at $379 for US customers and the 6P starts at $499.
The devices will feature the new Android operating system known as Marshmallow, which allows for fingerprint sensors for unlocking and other features including Android Pay.
The new software allows for a voice-commanded Now On Tap virtual assistant to be summoned by holding down the home screen button.
The Pixel C is the first tablet built ground-up by Google and is seen as an alternative to the iPad Pro unveiled this month and Microsoft’s Surface.
The “C” in the name stands for “convertible” because it features an optional keyboard that doubles as a cover and connects magnetically for laptop-computer style use.
Chandra announced that the mobile app of music-streaming service Spotify will work with Chromecast Audio, which avoids Bluetooth connectivity hiccups.
Chromecast Audio promised to provide a low-cost way for people to outfit homes with Internet “smart” stereo systems, according to Gartner analyst Brian Blau.
