I am dreading the Pixel 10 event

Phone Arena

3 days ago

I have a confession that might get me ostracized by the tech community. I am not a fan of phone announcements, which is why I am not really looking forward to the Pixel 10 event, which will be held on August 20.
There I said it. On second thought, where does it say that a journalist has to have a special place in their heart for hollow events ( checks the rule book )? For one, thanks to leaks and rumors, smartphone events have lost the surprise element. They are more of a confirmation of what we know. They feel like a repeat telecast of something you have watched numerous times already. I can't pretend to be excited.
But it's not just that. Smartphone makers are actively trying to be brand ambassadors of boring. That includes Nothing too, just btw.
Apple in 2008... and every year since.
I don't want flashy lights. I don't want your best. I want what's actually the best. And you let me down, year in and year out. That's why I am dreading the impending Pixel 10 announcement, though, to its credit, Google does manage to announce interesting software-based stuff at least.
The Pixel 10 Pro will hardly be any different from the Pixel 9 Pro Smartphones have ceased to be exciting. I am not sure if manufacturers are exactly to blame here.The rapid pace of technology has made us ungrateful. What didn't seem possible until a few years ago has landed in our laps. And that has only made us impatient for more. That said, advancements appear to have plateaued. Foldable phones and under-screen cameras are perhaps the only real change we have seen in a long time, and these, too, haven't reached maturity. Most companies never adopted the latter, and it has been ditched by Samsung as well.A faster chipset, larger displays, and marginally better cameras are all great, but is that all we are ever going to get?I can't help but notice that improvements often come at a huge cost. And I am not okay with that.
I am still not over wired earphones. I think Google shouldn't have dropped the Soli sensor. And I think the Fold 7 should have retained S Pen support. Phone makers chase flashy features instead of things that will actually make our lives better. Most phones can barely last a day without a mid-day charge, and many manufacturers have still not nailed the basics, causing batteries to fail and displays to glitch a few years into the ownership.
The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold will likely be minor upgrades, though Google will probably try to jazz things up with AI-related announcements, but, if we are being honest, has AI meaningfully changed how we use our phones? Besides, as a consumer, I don't care about the underlying mechanism behind a feature. Don't tell me about your AI models and the work that went behind a new capability to prove how great it is. It's boring and unnecessary information, and in a world of sensory overload, the last thing we need is an origin story for a feature. I am done with companies making AI the centerpiece of their announcements, even though it should be a means to an end, not the endgame.
Foldable phones are great, and every time I wonder why I don't have one, I am instantly reminded why. They are unjustifiably expensive, and many might have bitten the bullet were it not for the fragility of the product.Sure, the latest crop of foldables is more durable than the earlier devices, but your scientific tests do little to placate the likes of me, who are proudly clumsy and drop their phones more time they can keep track of. Life is too busy to make sure I don't drop my precious phone. Accidents happen, but I'll never forgive myself if I let a $2,000 phone slip from my hand.
Official Pixel 10 invite. | Image Credit - Mark Gurman
The Pixel 10 event, and likely the iPhone 17 event, and any event in between and after that, are guaranteed to be pretty much the same. And that's because the phones themselves are so similar. So, go on, mark your calendars for the Pixel 10 announcement, but don't mind me if I doze off midway through. Secure your connection now at a bargain price!
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