Is Google About to Outsmart Apple With Satellite Features? Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3 Updates
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With the launch of the iPhone 14, smartphones with satellite connectivity have become very popular. Now, as per the latest information, Google is also planning to include satellite emergency calls for the Pixel 9 series, but these can only be used free of charge for a limited time.
Apple and Satellite Connectivity
With the iOS 18 upgrade, the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 can now send and receive text messages via the satellite network in addition to making emergency calls via satellite when they are not connected to a cellular network.
Google and Pixel 9 Series
The fourth beta version of Android 15 has new hints discovered by Android Authority, indicating Google is now formally working on adding support for satellite emergency calls for Android smartphones. It is expected that the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be the first smartphones to take advantage of this feature, which is called Pixel Satellite SOS in the code. This is consistent with earlier reports that a new Samsung Exynos 5400 modem supporting NTN satellite networks will be included in the devices. Additionally, the code says that sending satellite messages is limited to Google Messages. Using the Pixel Satellite SOS network is free for two years when purchasing a new Pixel smartphone.
Comparison with Apple
This is comparable to the Apple iPhone, albeit neither Google nor Apple have disclosed the cost of the satellite subscription or whether making an emergency call would be possible without one. The code includes a notice stating that compatible Pixel smartphones need to be updated to use satellite emergency calls. This implies that the functionality won’t be available at launch on August 13 or will only be available in certain areas.
Upcoming Google Announcements
While our major focus is on Google’s Pixel 9 lineup, let’s not forget that Google is also expected to announce the Pixel Watch 3 in the upcoming Made by Google event. Prices for the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 3 XL are purportedly available in a recent leak from the French website D-Labs. According to it, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will start at €399 for the Bluetooth Wi-Fi model, but regretfully, the LTE version costs €499 more. They might cost $435 and $544 in the United States.
Pricing Comparison
The price of the Wi-Fi and LTE versions of the Pixel Watch 2 are identical, but the LTE version is 50 euros more expensive. As a point of reference, the Pixel Watch 2’s Wi-Fi model starts at $349, while the LTE version debuted in the US for $399. Hopefully, the European pricing will prevent a price hike for the US counterparts, but it’s unclear why the LTE variant costs an extra $100 or euros.
That said, I’ll be ending the discussion for today. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below as well.
