Pixel 8 starts at $700 for the base model with 128GB of storage. It comes in Rrose, Black, and Hazel colors. Pre-orders are open in several markets starting today and shipping is expected to start on October 12. The more-capable 8 Pro starts at $900 for the entry-level variant with 128GB of storage.

Google’s Assistant gets smarter with generative AI boost. Google is now calling it Assitant with Bard. The personal assistant can provide details from your emails and other apps to get stuff done faster. It can also understand speech better and recognize pauses more effectively. Assistat with Bard can translate web pages to read them aloud to you. It will be available in the "next few months." Even the Google keyboard gets a cool AI feature that can remove typos and grammatical errors with a one-touch option.

The new Pixel 8 handsets have a new feature that lets you choose the Best Face for your subjects in a series of photos. They also have a new Audio Magic Eraser feature that can isolate and remove distracting sounds in videos. There are a couple more features that will be coming soon, including a Magic Editor and Video Boost. The Pixel 8 Pro gets an additional feature called Zoom Enhance that can help you zoom in on images and recreate fine detail after capture.

The Pixel 8 has a dual camera setup, updating its 50MP main camera with a wider aperture and the 12MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus and macro capabilities. The Pixel 8 Pro takes things a level up with an upgraded 48MP telephoto 5x zoom camera with faster autofocus and a higher-resolution 48MP ultrawide lens, which can focus as close as 2cm in macro mode. Up front, both phones have a new 10.5MP selfie snapper with autofocus. The 8 Pro also gets manual controls and can capture high-res 50MP images.

Google's Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have a punch-hole cut-out with matte glass finish on the latter. They are powered by a new Tensor G3 chipset. Google has partnered with iFixit to easily repair the handsets. The display on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro sport a new display which is much brigther and smoother than the last-gen models. The Pro version's panel supports 1-120Hz fresh rate and up to 2,400-nits of brightness.

The new Pixel Watch 2 mostly looks similar to the original model while boasting a more durable cover glass and recycled aluminum chassis. There are new sports bands on offer too along with a new metal bracelet band. Last year’s bands will still work with the latest smartwatch. The battery life has been improved to 24 hours on a single charge with the Always-On Display. A 30-minute top-up should deliver 12 hours of charge. There's also a new multi-path heart-rate sensor, revamped AI algorithms, a quad-core chip, and Safety Check feature for emergencies. The wearable is available in Wi-Fi and LTE variants.

Google is bringing a bunch of updates to the Pixel Buds Pro. The flagship earbuds will use Bluetooth Super Wide Band to reduce ambient noise for clear calling. They will also offer reduced latency for better gaming experience. There is also a new conversation detection feature that pauses media playback and activates transparency mode when users start talking. All of these features will be packaged in firmware version 5.9.

Pixel is fastest-growing smartphone brand in Google's top markets, says Rick Osterloh.

Google's Pixel event will start in just a couple of minutes. Stay tuned to catch all the updates. You can also watch the event via Google's YouTube channel.

One of the key announcements Google will make for its upcoming Pixel 8 range of smartphones will be industry-leading software support. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will get "security updates" and "new Feature Drops" for as many as seven years. However, it remains to be seen if the handsets will get that many annual Android upgrades too.

Google has already revealed the design of the Pixel Watch 2. It will have a new crown design and an upgraded sensor array for better health tracking. Rumors also suggest it will incorporate features from Fitbit, which is also owned by Google. Expected features include stress detection, multi-path heart rate sensor, automatic exercise detection, and Safety Check for emergencies.

In comparison to the Pixel 7 Pro from last year, the Pixel 8 Pro will boast a new Tensor G3 chipset, an upgraded 48MP ultrawide rear camera with autofocus, a new 10.5MP selfie snapper, and Pro controls within the Camera app. It will house a new body temperature sensor too. The camera features will be similar to Pixel 8, including Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Macro Focus.

The Pixel 8 will retain the design and feel of last year's Pixel 7 while boasting some hardware upgrades. It will get a smoother 120Hz AMOLED display instead of the 90Hz panel with have seen on Pixel 7. Dimensions-wise, the screen will be marginally smaller at 6.2-inch as compared to Pixel 7's 6.3-inch. Other upgrades will include a new Tensor G3 SoC, autofocus-enabled ultrawide rear camera, a new 10.5MP selfie snapper, and a host of AI-base photography and videography features.

'Made by Google' is being held at a venue in New York City with an in-person audience. You can follow along by watching the livestream on Google's YouTube channel. As always, we will also keep you updated through our live blog.

Google is all set to kick-off its Pixel launch event in nearly an hour from now. To be precise, the event will start at 7:30pm IST. The spotlight will be on the latest Google hardware, including the Pixel smartphones and the new Pixel smartwatch.