Google launches Pixel 2 and Home Mini

Google has announced a raft of new devices aiming to rival Amazon’s Echo, Apple’s new iPhones and top of the range hybrid laptops.

At its launch event in San Francisco on Wednesday the tech giant made a significant push into the selling of its own branded items.

Just weeks after the luke-warm launch of Apples iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Google revealed two new smartphones which will be available through third party retailers and directly through its own Google Store platform.

Like Apple, Google has released two versions of its flagship smartphone, the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. Starting from £629 the new Pixel is now available for preorder and comes in three colours “clearly white”, “just black” and “kinda blue”.

Other features include a 5-inch Amoled screen and an “active edge” which will allow users to launch apps by squeezing the phone. It’s bigger brother includes fast charging, water resistance and slimmer bezels.

Meanwhile Google’s answer to the Echo Dot comes in the form of a miniturised Google Home speaker dubbed Google Home Mini. This has been released alongside the Google Home Max, 20 times more powerful than the original.

The Pixelbook was also featured in the launch event. Starting from £999 it runs on the Chrome operating system and allows users with a Pixelbook Pen to circle items on screen to search for them online.