I have been a happy iPhone owner since 3GS in 2009, and yes, I have upgraded since then. Not once in these 16 years, I was really tempted to go to Android or a pixel phone. But watching the launch of Google Pixel 10 this week has been the first time in some time that I have started to entertain at least an unsuitable future.
Google’s new pixels are far from perfect, and I’m still far from switching. But it is the general tone of the event (from the point of view of technology, rather than the festal of fame) which left me the detection of a change of momentum in smartphones. The pixels will continue to be niche compared to iPhones, but Google knows that AI is its time – and the launch of Pixel 10 has shown that its implucinity is well founded.
Pixels are the most iPhone phones on Android – rather than flashy specifications and reference battles, they are all features. And it was these features, as well as Google’s surprise in repairability and fun accessories, which attracted my attention as a long -standing fan of Apple.
Here are the five things I think that Apple must answer when launching the iPhone 17 in September.
1. Really useful AI characteristics
The big asterisk here is that we do not know exactly how the new features of Google AI, like Magic Cue, will operate in practice. And I also lost the account of the number of times Google has promised us a seamless IA magic, only for it to collapse in contact with the real world.
But my impression of the launch of the Pixel 10 is that Google has excellent ideas and, above all, is the best position to remove them. Take Magic CUE, for example – it is presented as the AI smartphone assistant that we wanted all in recent years, appearing with relevant files or calendar entries when we send messages or telephone friends.
Even as an iPhone user, I am still in the world of Google as a calendar, Maps and Gmail user. I even use the Gmail application instead of Apple Mail on my iPhone. So the idea of an AI assistant who can establish links between all these services is attractive – and I don’t really see Apple Intelligence doing this better than Gemini as soon as possible.
Obviously, there are confidentiality problems, and it will probably be a slow combustality functionality at the start, but many google AI features, such as voice translation, work well on device. It has been a long time since Apple plays catching up in AI spaces that I like the most, which are not Genmojis and Playground image. And the launch of Pixel 10 really struck this house.
2. First foldable steps
Google knows that he is not a foldable leader, but I like the fact that he is ready to throw his hat at least in the ring and to iterate. While our practical review of Google Pixel 10 times ends, it is not a reinvention and remains a few steps from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 because of its weight, its thickness and its lower cameras.
But the existence of the foldable makes the Pixel 10 more exciting range. If I was on Team Pixel rather than on Apple, I would be comforted to know that although Google is not a champion of foldables, he refines at least his job and obtained comments from the real world, he needs to make a big fold of pixel one day. Maybe.
After so many years with Apple, I know that this is not how it drives with new technology. He waits for the others to publicly postpone the folds before jumping everyone with the polished version to which they stumbled. In theory, at least.
Am I convinced that it will do this with foldables? Not particularly, if the Apple Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence are something to pass. The iPhone fold is supposed to solve a lot of foldable problems (screen folds, weak hinges, and even more), but when it starts, I may be more enthusiastic about AI gadgets without screen that will make the foldables look like a pioneer organizer.
3. AI Health Coach
Health and physical form are the field where I am the most excited by the personalized potential of AI. Although I have long been a fan of swimming in free water and triathlons, I have never been a real data with BPM and VO2 Max – that’s why the new health coach of Google really uses.
Unfortunately, we have not heard much that the details, but the concept is exciting – a personal health coach, trained on your exercise, sleep and nutrition data, which can make small adjustments to your plans according to your measurements and how you feel.
To watch
I have always had trouble with the tension between training plans and real life, with injuries, bad sleep and other events, often by linking my good intentions, and causing prolonged ruptures. In theory, the new health coach for the redesigned Fitbit application could solve this problem – for example, allowing me to discuss conversational with the exercise assistant for my stiff back or the best alternative training for my body deprived of sleep.
Does Apple do something like that? Almost certainly, with rumors on the Mulberry project, recently suggesting that an AI health coach will be part of an alleged Apple health application. But I am not yet convinced that Apple is the best placed to win here – the AI coach of Google is propelled by the Gemini, and so far, the features of Apple’s intelligence have been disappointing.
4. Camera coherence
I have long been a buyer of Pro Model iPhones, because the cameras are important for me – but I no longer see why the telephoto lens cameras should be reserved for more expensive models. The Pixel 10 series has removed this disparity, even the basic model has now come with a 5x telephoto lens.
This reflects the Pixel series as a whole. They are much more user -friendly for the average photographer than iPhones, which would again be to keep their telephoto lens cameras limited to the pro models on the iPhone 17 range. Even as a professional owner, it is a bit nasty.
This feeling of making photography accessible to everyone is also behind Camera Coach, a new AI feature that indicates the best way to compose and take photos. It is not a feature that I would use, but I like the concept and I am happy that exists.
That said, I’m not a fan of all the features of the Google AI camera. Its new 100x pro zoom functionality (not to be confused with Super Res Zoom) resembles the brand in branding in terms of the amount of details created by AI on our photos. It does not yet work on people, and the photos of Zoom Pro. Are tagged as “modified with AI tools”, but it always looks like a slippery slope for a default camera application.
5. Repair of the repairability of the Pixel Watch 4 watch
I am a longtime owner of Apple Watch, but the new Pixel Watch 4 beat it to a very cool functionality. As long as you have a Torx screwdriver, you can replace your battery or display at home.
Impressive, this well -necessary feature does not affect the stretch of the smartwatch. The only drawback is that Google had to move the load pins to the side of the device, which still means another new charging station. However, this platform also looks cool, and repairability is generally a large net victory.
Although I expect the Apple Watch to correspond to the satellite connectivity without (satellite without telephone of Watch 4 by Pixel Watch 4 – I am less confident than we will see the major design changes to the Apple Watch 11 of this year.
Rumors point to a major overhaul for the Apple Watch 12, but there is still nothing in speculation on repairability. This is another area where he still has the impression that Apple is lagging behind and happy to rest on his laurels “ neutres in carbon ”, but I hope that I am pleasantly surprised in September.
